Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Darren Waller vs De'Von Achane

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

De'Von Achane is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, De'Von Achane (18.1 PPG) is the higher-floor play. Darren Waller (9.6 PPG) could win a specific week on touchdown variance. For FLEX spots, lean toward the player with the softer defensive matchup that week rather than defaulting to season averages.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

The DraftCall app pushes alerts the moment Darren Waller or De'Von Achane's status changes. Free.

Get the App

TEMiami Dolphins#8

Darren Waller

PPG

9.6

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

283

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 12

RBMiami Dolphins#5PPG LEADER

De'Von Achane

PPG

18.1

Games

Rush Yds

1,350

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

488

Bye

Week 12

The Edge Chart

Darren Waller

De'Von Achane

Head to Head

9.6 PPG18.1 PPG

8 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 12Bye: Week 12

Fantasy Tiers

Darren Waller: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #8 at the position). De'Von Achane: Tier 1 (Elite) RB (ranked #5 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 1 (Elite) RB in most league formats.

Darren Waller vs De'Von Achane: Who Should You Start?

Comparing Darren Waller (TE, Miami Dolphins) against De'Von Achane (RB, Miami Dolphins) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Darren Waller averaged 9.6 PPG in 2025 over 8 games, while De'Von Achane posted 18.1 PPG across 16 games.

Cross-position FLEX decisions cannot be made on PPG alone. Positional scarcity, matchup quality, floor versus ceiling, and league scoring format all shift the answer. A 14 PPG tight end in a thin TE week is often worth more than a 16 PPG receiver in a deep WR week, because the opportunity cost on the waiver wire is wildly different.

DraftCall's AI engine weighs all of these signals and returns a verdict with clear reasoning, so you are not cross-referencing four different rankings tabs on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire De'Von Achane at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Darren Waller is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Darren Waller (age 33) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining. De'Von Achane (age 24) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds.

Did You Know?

•De'Von Achane outscored Darren Waller by a projected 145 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•De'Von Achane played 16 games in 2025 compared to Darren Waller's 8. That durability gap means De'Von Achane contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•De'Von Achane scored 12 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.8 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•De'Von Achane saw 85 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•De'Von Achane is 9 years younger than Darren Waller (24 vs 33), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatWallerAchane

PPG (Half-PPR)9.618.1

Games Played816

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)77290

Rushing Yards41,350

Rush Yds/Game0.584.4

Rushing TDs08

Receptions2467

Receiving Yards283488

Targets3485

Total TDs612

Age3324

Experience10 yrs2 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 12Week 12

Summary

Based on 2025 production, De'Von Achane holds the PPG edge with strong output at 18.1 points per game. Darren Waller averaged 9.6 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.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Darren Waller vs De'Von Achane

DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality, recent trends, injury impact, and game script to give you a clear start/sit recommendation.

See everything in the app →

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Darren Waller or De'Von Achane in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, De'Von Achane has the edge at 18.1 PPG compared to Darren Waller's 9.6 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 Darren Waller and De'Von Achane average in 2025?▾

Darren Waller averaged 9.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 8 games in 2025. De'Von Achane averaged 18.1 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 8.5 points per game.

Do Darren Waller and De'Von Achane share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Darren Waller and De'Von Achane share a Week 12 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at tight end for that week.