Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Darren Waller vs Noah Fant

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Darren Waller is the better fantasy play this season.

Darren Waller is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 9.6 PPG and 287 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Noah Fant (4.4 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Darren Waller as the starter and Noah Fant as depth.

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

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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#39

Noah Fant

PPG

4.4

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

288

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 10

The Edge Chart

Darren Waller

Noah Fant

Head to Head

9.6 PPG4.4 PPG

8 GP13 GP

Bye: Week 12Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Darren Waller: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #8 at the position). Noah Fant: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #39 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Darren Waller is producing at 44% of elite pace and Noah Fant at 20%. That ranking gap means Darren Waller carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Darren Waller vs Noah Fant: Who Should You Start?

Darren Waller and Noah Fant 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 Noah Fant posted 4.4 PPG in 13 appearances for the Cincinnati Bengals.

A 5.2-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; Noah Fant posted 34 for 288. At a position where most starters barely clear 7 PPG, this class of tight end is where the fantasy advantage lives week to week.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Darren Waller sits Week 12 while Noah Fant is off Week 10. 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. Noah Fant 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. Noah Fant (age 28) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Darren Waller outscored Noah Fant by a projected 88 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Noah Fant played 13 games in 2025 compared to Darren Waller's 8. That durability gap means Noah Fant 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.
•Noah Fant saw 41 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Noah Fant is 5 years younger than Darren Waller (28 vs 33), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatWallerFant

PPG (Half-PPR)9.64.4

Games Played813

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)7757

Receptions2434

Rec/Game3.02.6

Receiving Yards283288

Rec Yds/Game35.422.2

Receiving TDs63

Targets3441

Target Share/Game4.33.2

Age3328

Experience10 yrs6 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 12Week 10

Summary

Darren Waller outscored Noah Fant by 5.2 PPG in 2025 (9.6 to 4.4). 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 Noah Fant in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Darren Waller has the edge at 9.6 PPG compared to Noah Fant's 4.4 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 Noah Fant average in 2025?▾

Darren Waller averaged 9.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 8 games in 2025. Noah Fant averaged 4.4 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 5.2 points per game.

When are Darren Waller and Noah Fant's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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

Is Darren Waller or Noah Fant a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Darren Waller outscored Noah Fant by 5.2 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.