Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Darren Waller vs Mason Taylor

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 4.5-PPG advantage is real (9.6 to 5.1), and Darren Waller's 6 touchdowns show scoring upside. Mason Taylor 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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TEMiami Dolphins#8PPG LEADER

Darren Waller

PPG

9.6

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

283

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 12

TENew York Jets#34

Mason Taylor

PPG

5.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

369

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 9

The Edge Chart

Darren Waller

Mason Taylor

Head to Head

9.6 PPG5.1 PPG

8 GP13 GP

Bye: Week 12Bye: Week 9

Fantasy Tiers

Darren Waller: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #8 at the position). Mason Taylor: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #34 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Darren Waller is producing at 44% of elite pace and Mason Taylor at 23%. That ranking gap means Darren Waller carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Darren Waller vs Mason Taylor: Who Should You Start?

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. Mason Taylor (New York Jets) came in at 5.1 PPG over 13 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Darren Waller carries a 4.5-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.

Mason Taylor is the volume tight end in this matchup with 44 receptions for 369 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 Mason Taylor, but the floor gap is real.

Darren Waller has his bye in Week 12, and Mason Taylor rests in Week 9. 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

If you can acquire Darren Waller at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. Mason Taylor 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. Mason Taylor (age 22) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Darren Waller outscored Mason Taylor by a projected 77 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Mason Taylor played 13 games in 2025 compared to Darren Waller's 8. That durability gap means Mason Taylor 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.
•Mason Taylor saw 65 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Mason Taylor is 11 years younger than Darren Waller (22 vs 33), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatWallerTaylor

PPG (Half-PPR)9.65.1

Games Played813

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)7766

Receptions2444

Rec/Game3.03.4

Receiving Yards283369

Rec Yds/Game35.428.4

Receiving TDs61

Targets3465

Target Share/Game4.35.0

Age3322

Experience10 yrs-

Bye WeekWeek 12Week 9

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Darren Waller holds the PPG edge with low-end output at 9.6 points per game. Mason Taylor averaged 5.1 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 Mason Taylor in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Darren Waller has the edge at 9.6 PPG compared to Mason Taylor's 5.1 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 Mason Taylor average in 2025?▾

Darren Waller averaged 9.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 8 games in 2025. Mason Taylor averaged 5.1 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 4.5 points per game.

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

Darren Waller (MIA) has a bye in Week 12, and Mason Taylor (NYJ) has a bye in Week 9. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Darren Waller or Mason Taylor a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Darren Waller outscored Mason Taylor by 4.5 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.