Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Darren Waller vs Jonathan Taylor

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Jonathan Taylor is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Jonathan Taylor (20.0 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.

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TEMiami Dolphins#8

Darren Waller

PPG

9.6

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

283

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 12

RBIndianapolis Colts#2PPG LEADER

Jonathan Taylor

PPG

20.0

Games

Rush Yds

1,585

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

378

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Darren Waller

Jonathan Taylor

Head to Head

9.6 PPG20.0 PPG

8 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 12Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Darren Waller: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #8 at the position). Jonathan Taylor: Tier 1 (Elite) RB (ranked #2 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 Jonathan Taylor: Who Should You Start?

Comparing Darren Waller (TE, Miami Dolphins) against Jonathan Taylor (RB, Indianapolis Colts) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Darren Waller averaged 9.6 PPG in 2025 over 8 games, while Jonathan Taylor posted 20.0 PPG across 17 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.

Darren Waller has his bye in Week 12, Jonathan Taylor in Week 11. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Jonathan Taylor is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Darren Waller is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Darren Waller (age 33) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining. Jonathan Taylor (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Jonathan Taylor outscored Darren Waller by a projected 177 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jonathan Taylor played 17 games in 2025 compared to Darren Waller's 8. That durability gap means Jonathan Taylor contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Jonathan Taylor scored 20 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.2 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Jonathan Taylor saw 55 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Jonathan Taylor is 6 years younger than Darren Waller (27 vs 33), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatWallerTaylor

PPG (Half-PPR)9.620.0

Games Played817

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)77340

Rushing Yards41,585

Rush Yds/Game0.593.2

Rushing TDs018

Receptions2446

Receiving Yards283378

Targets3455

Total TDs620

Age3327

Experience10 yrs5 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 12Week 11

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Jonathan Taylor at 20.0 PPG, 10.4 points per game above Darren Waller's 9.6. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Darren Waller or Jonathan Taylor in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jonathan Taylor has the edge at 20.0 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 Jonathan Taylor average in 2025?▾

Darren Waller averaged 9.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 8 games in 2025. Jonathan Taylor averaged 20.0 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 10.4 points per game.

When are Darren Waller and Jonathan Taylor's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Darren Waller (MIA) has a bye in Week 12, and Jonathan Taylor (IND) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.