Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Darren Waller vs Mike Gesicki

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 4.9-PPG advantage is real (9.6 to 4.7), and Darren Waller's 6 touchdowns show scoring upside. Mike Gesicki 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

TECincinnati Bengals#36

Mike Gesicki

PPG

4.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

307

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 10

The Edge Chart

Darren Waller

Mike Gesicki

Head to Head

9.6 PPG4.7 PPG

8 GP12 GP

Bye: Week 12Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Darren Waller: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #8 at the position). Mike Gesicki: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #36 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Darren Waller is producing at 44% of elite pace and Mike Gesicki at 21%. That ranking gap means Darren Waller carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Darren Waller vs Mike Gesicki: Who Should You Start?

Darren Waller and Mike Gesicki are both viable fantasy tight ends heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Darren Waller averaged 9.6 PPG across 8 games with the Miami Dolphins, while Mike Gesicki posted 4.7 PPG in 12 appearances for the Cincinnati Bengals.

A 4.9-PPG gap gives Darren Waller the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Both see steady target volume for the tight end position. Darren Waller had 24 catches for 283 yards; Mike Gesicki posted 28 for 307. At a position where most starters barely clear 7 PPG, this class of tight end is where the fantasy advantage lives week to week.

Darren Waller has his bye in Week 12, and Mike Gesicki rests in Week 10. 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. Mike Gesicki 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. Mike Gesicki (age 30) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

•Darren Waller outscored Mike Gesicki by a projected 83 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Mike Gesicki played 12 games in 2025 compared to Darren Waller's 8. That durability gap means Mike Gesicki 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.
•Mike Gesicki saw 42 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatWallerGesicki

PPG (Half-PPR)9.64.7

Games Played812

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)7756

Receptions2428

Rec/Game3.02.3

Receiving Yards283307

Rec Yds/Game35.425.6

Receiving TDs62

Targets3442

Target Share/Game4.33.5

Age3330

Experience10 yrs7 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 12Week 10

Summary

Darren Waller outscored Mike Gesicki by 4.9 PPG in 2025 (9.6 to 4.7). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Darren Waller or Mike Gesicki in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Darren Waller has the edge at 9.6 PPG compared to Mike Gesicki's 4.7 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 Mike Gesicki average in 2025?▾

Darren Waller averaged 9.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 8 games in 2025. Mike Gesicki averaged 4.7 PPG over 12 games. That is a difference of 4.9 points per game.

When are Darren Waller and Mike Gesicki's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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

Is Darren Waller or Mike Gesicki a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Darren Waller outscored Mike Gesicki by 4.9 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.