Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Darren Waller vs Tyler WarrenWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Darren Waller is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.6 PPG to Tyler Warren's 8.9 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Darren Waller is the better fantasy play this season.

This one is genuinely close. Darren Waller edges Tyler Warren by 0.7 PPG, but both are in the same production tier. The decision comes down to weekly matchup, not season-long resume. If you are choosing between them in a draft, Darren Waller goes slightly earlier based on volume, but do not reach for the difference.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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TEMiami Dolphins#8PPG LEADER

Darren Waller

PPG

9.6

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

283

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

TEIndianapolis Colts#12

Tyler Warren

PPG

8.9

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

817

Rec TDs

Targets

112

Bye

Week 13

The Edge Chart

Darren Waller

Tyler Warren

Head to Head

9.6 PPG8.9 PPG

8 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

Darren Waller: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #8 at the position). Tyler Warren: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #12 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Darren Waller is producing at 44% of elite pace and Tyler Warren at 40%. That ranking gap means Darren Waller carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Darren Waller vs Tyler Warren: The Full Breakdown

Darren Waller (9.6 PPG) and Tyler Warren (8.9 PPG) produced nearly identical fantasy numbers in 2025. When two tight ends are this close on a per-game basis, the weekly matchup matters more than the season-long resume. Darren Waller played 8 games for the Miami Dolphins; Tyler Warren suited up 17 times for the Indianapolis Colts.

A 0.7-point per-game gap over a full season is essentially noise. It means one extra catch, one fewer target, or a single broken play away from flipping the script. For a weekly start/sit call between these two, matchup analysis matters far more than the season line.

Tyler Warren is the volume tight end in this matchup with 76 receptions for 817 yards, while Darren Waller profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (6 scores on 24 catches). In weeks where Darren Waller finds the end zone he out-scores Tyler Warren, but the floor gap is real.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Darren Waller sits Week 6 while Tyler Warren is off Week 13. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Darren Waller (age 33) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining. Tyler Warren (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Darren Waller outscored Tyler Warren by a projected 12 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Tyler Warren played 17 games in 2025 compared to Darren Waller's 8. That durability gap means Tyler Warren contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Darren Waller scored 6 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.8 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Tyler Warren saw 112 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Tyler Warren is 9 years younger than Darren Waller (24 vs 33), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Darren Waller vs Tyler Warren: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Darren Waller	Tyler Warren
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.6	8.9
Games Played	8	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	77	151
Receptions	24	76
Rec/Game	3.0	4.5
Receiving Yards	283	817
Rec Yds/Game	35.4	48.1
Receiving TDs	6	4
Targets	34	112
Target Share/Game	4.3	6.6
Age	33	24
Experience	10 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 13

Summary

Darren Waller outscored Tyler Warren by 0.7 PPG in 2025 (9.6 to 8.9). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Darren Waller or Tyler Warren in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Darren Waller has the edge at 9.6 PPG compared to Tyler Warren's 8.9 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Darren Waller and Tyler Warren average in 2025?▾

Darren Waller averaged 9.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 8 games in 2025. Tyler Warren averaged 8.9 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 0.7 points per game.

When are Darren Waller and Tyler Warren's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Darren Waller (MIA) has a bye in Week 6, and Tyler Warren (IND) has a bye in Week 13. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Darren Waller or Tyler Warren a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Darren Waller outscored Tyler Warren by 0.7 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.