Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Darren Waller vs Zach ErtzWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Darren Waller is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.6 PPG to Zach Ertz's 7.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Darren Waller is the better fantasy play this season.

Darren Waller has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 1.8-PPG advantage is real (9.6 to 7.8), and Darren Waller's 6 touchdowns show scoring upside. Zach Ertz is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

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

TEWashington Commanders#20

Zach Ertz

PPG

7.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

504

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Darren Waller

Zach Ertz

Head to Head

9.6 PPG7.8 PPG

8 GP13 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Darren Waller: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #8 at the position). Zach Ertz: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #20 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Darren Waller is producing at 44% of elite pace and Zach Ertz at 35%. That ranking gap means Darren Waller carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Darren Waller vs Zach Ertz: The Full Breakdown

Two tight ends who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Darren Waller (Miami Dolphins) finished the 2025 season averaging 9.6 fantasy points per game in 8 games. Zach Ertz (Washington Commanders) came in at 7.8 PPG over 13 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Darren Waller carries a 1.8-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Zach Ertz is the volume tight end in this matchup with 50 receptions for 504 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 Zach Ertz, but the floor gap is real.

Darren Waller has his bye in Week 6, and Zach Ertz rests in Week 7. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at tight end for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

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. Zach Ertz (age 35) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

•Darren Waller outscored Zach Ertz by a projected 31 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Zach Ertz played 13 games in 2025 compared to Darren Waller's 8. That durability gap means Zach Ertz 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.
•Zach Ertz saw 72 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Darren Waller vs Zach Ertz: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Darren Waller	Zach Ertz
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.6	7.8
Games Played	8	13
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	77	101
Receptions	24	50
Rec/Game	3.0	3.8
Receiving Yards	283	504
Rec Yds/Game	35.4	38.8
Receiving TDs	6	4
Targets	34	72
Target Share/Game	4.3	5.5
Age	33	35
Experience	10 yrs	12 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 7

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Darren Waller holds the PPG edge with low-end output at 9.6 points per game. Zach Ertz averaged 7.8 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Darren Waller or Zach Ertz in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Darren Waller has the edge at 9.6 PPG compared to Zach Ertz's 7.8 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 Zach Ertz average in 2025?▾

Darren Waller averaged 9.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 8 games in 2025. Zach Ertz averaged 7.8 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 1.8 points per game.

When are Darren Waller and Zach Ertz's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Darren Waller (MIA) has a bye in Week 6, and Zach Ertz (WAS) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Darren Waller or Zach Ertz a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Darren Waller outscored Zach Ertz by 1.8 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.