Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Chig Okonkwo vs Darren Waller

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Darren Waller is the better fantasy play this season.

Darren Waller has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 4.0-PPG advantage is real (9.6 to 5.6), and Darren Waller's 6 touchdowns show scoring upside. Chig Okonkwo is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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TETennessee Titans#31

Chig Okonkwo

PPG

5.6

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

560

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 10

TEMiami Dolphins#8PPG LEADER

Darren Waller

PPG

9.6

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

283

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 12

The Edge Chart

Chig Okonkwo

Darren Waller

Head to Head

5.6 PPG9.6 PPG

17 GP8 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 12

Fantasy Tiers

Chig Okonkwo: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #31 at the position). Darren Waller: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #8 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Chig Okonkwo is producing at 25% of elite pace and Darren Waller at 44%. That ranking gap means Darren Waller carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Chig Okonkwo vs Darren Waller: Who Should You Start?

Two tight ends who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Chig Okonkwo (Tennessee Titans) finished the 2025 season averaging 5.6 fantasy points per game in 17 games. Darren Waller (Miami Dolphins) came in at 9.6 PPG over 8 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Darren Waller carries a 4.0-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.

Chig Okonkwo is the volume tight end in this matchup with 56 receptions for 560 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 Chig Okonkwo, but the floor gap is real.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Chig Okonkwo sits Week 10 while Darren Waller is off Week 12. 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

If you can acquire Darren Waller at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. Chig Okonkwo is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Chig Okonkwo (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Darren Waller (age 33) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

•Darren Waller outscored Chig Okonkwo by a projected 68 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Chig Okonkwo played 17 games in 2025 compared to Darren Waller's 8. That durability gap means Chig Okonkwo 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.
•Chig Okonkwo saw 79 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Chig Okonkwo is 7 years younger than Darren Waller (26 vs 33), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatOkonkwoWaller

PPG (Half-PPR)5.69.6

Games Played178

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)9577

Receptions5624

Rec/Game3.33.0

Receiving Yards560283

Rec Yds/Game32.935.4

Receiving TDs26

Targets7934

Target Share/Game4.64.3

Age2633

Experience3 yrs10 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 10Week 12

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Darren Waller holds the PPG edge with low-end output at 9.6 points per game. Chig Okonkwo averaged 5.6 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 Chig Okonkwo or Darren Waller in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Darren Waller has the edge at 9.6 PPG compared to Chig Okonkwo's 5.6 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 Chig Okonkwo and Darren Waller average in 2025?▾

Chig Okonkwo averaged 5.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Darren Waller averaged 9.6 PPG over 8 games. That is a difference of 4.0 points per game.

When are Chig Okonkwo and Darren Waller's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Chig Okonkwo (TEN) has a bye in Week 10, and Darren Waller (MIA) has a bye in Week 12. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Chig Okonkwo or Darren Waller a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Darren Waller outscored Chig Okonkwo by 4.0 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.