Darren Waller

Carolina Panthers
Tight End
FANTASY NEWS STATS INJURY

Darren Waller News RotoBaller

Darren Waller Looking to Remain Involved in Week 6 Game Versus Eagles

Carolina Panthers tight end Darren Waller (toe) enters Sunday's Week 6 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles with 13 receptions for 148 yards (11.4 yards per reception) and two touchdowns. He will look to continue his solid production against the Eagles. Warren is dealing with a toe injury and was limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday before being upgraded to a full participant on Friday. He will come into Sunday's game without an injury designation and is good to go. Waller faces a Philadelphia defense that allows 238.8 passing yards per game (26th in the NFL), but, according to Pro Football Reference, only gives up 4.9 fantasy points per game to tight end (eighth in the NFL). Waller has caught both of his touchdowns in the red zone this season. He is RotoBaller's No. 18 tight end for Week 6 (half-PPR).

Oct 17, 2026 6:48 AM EST

Darren Waller Carries No Injury Designation Into Week 6

Carolina Panthers tight end Darren Waller (toe) practiced in full Friday and carries no injury designation into Sunday's Week 6 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, according to the team's final injury report. Waller was listed as a limited participant Wednesday and Thursday, although Wednesday's participation was only an estimate because Carolina did not practice. He has caught 13 passes for 148 yards and two touchdowns through four games, with both scores coming against Atlanta in Week 2. His involvement in the passing game has increased recently, drawing eight targets against Cleveland in Week 3 and six against Detroit in Week 4 after receiving just five combined over the first two games. However, those 14 targets produced only eight catches for 87 yards without a touchdown. With Jalen Coker also cleared to play, Waller remains a touchdown-dependent TE2 option for fantasy managers in Week 6.

Oct 16, 2026 11:35 AM EST

Darren Waller Remains Limited With Toe Injury

Carolina Panthers tight end Darren Waller (toe) was limited in Thursday's practice, according to Joe Person, matching his estimated participation from Wednesday's walkthrough. Waller dealt with the same injury ahead of Carolina's Week 4 victory over Detroit but was able to play, catching three passes for 36 yards. The 34-year-old has recorded 13 receptions for 148 yards and two touchdowns on 19 targets through four games, with both scores coming against Atlanta in Week 2. His involvement has increased recently, drawing 14 targets over his last two appearances and turning those opportunities into eight catches for 87 yards. That usage offers some encouragement for fantasy managers, although Waller hasn't found the end zone since Week 2. Fellow tight end Tommy Tremble (ribs) has also been limited this week, leaving Carolina with some uncertainty at the position ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. Waller remains a potential streaming option in deeper leagues.

Oct 15, 2026 12:03 PM EST

Darren Waller Carries Limited Week 6 Streaming Appeal

Carolina Panthers tight end Darren Waller returns from his Week 5 bye having drawn 14 targets over his last two games, but a difficult matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles makes him a risky fantasy option. Waller has caught 13 of 19 targets for 148 yards and two touchdowns through four games, with both scores coming against Atlanta in Week 2. His involvement increased against Cleveland and Detroit, although those 14 targets produced only eight receptions for 87 yards. Waller also played just 53% of Carolina's offensive snaps against the Lions, with Tommy Tremble and Mitchell Evans continuing to see substantial playing time. The Panthers could also welcome back Jalen Coker (quadriceps), who is reportedly on track to return after missing Week 4. Philadelphia has generally defended opposing tight ends well, adding another obstacle for a player whose fantasy production has been inconsistent outside his two-touchdown outing. Rostered in just 16% of leagues, Waller remains worth considering in 14-team formats, but his uncertain workload makes him a touchdown-dependent streaming option rather than a priority waiver addition.

Oct 13, 2026 8:00 AM EST

Darren Waller Could Hit Waiver Wires with Panthers on Bye

In a Week 4 win played without one of the team's leading receivers, Carolina Panthers tight end Darren Waller caught only three passes for 36 yards. With Jalen Coker (quadriceps) sidelined by a quadriceps injury, the passing offense was funneled primarily through second-year receiver Tetairoa McMillan, who set or matched career highs across the board with 14 receptions on 16 targets, 192 yards, and two touchdowns. Still, despite a quiet outing, Waller remains a critical piece of one of the league's most improved offenses. Following a disappointing performance, and with the Panthers on a Week 5 bye, he is likely to hit waivers in a number of leagues, making the 34-year-old veteran an intriguing stash candidate for contending teams with adequate bench space. Unfortunately, the Panthers face an Eagles team in Week 6 that has been the most difficult tight end matchup through the first month of the season.

Oct 6, 2026 9:13 AM EST

Darren Waller Comes Up Short in Favorable Spot

Carolina Panthers tight end Darren Waller had a favorable setup Sunday night and did very little with it. Waller caught three of six targets for 36 yards in the 32-26 win over Detroit, a disappointing result against a defense that had already allowed six touchdowns to tight ends through three games. The opportunity was there, too. Carolina played without Jalen Coker and Xavier Legette, while Bryce Young threw 41 passes for 329 yards. Waller still finished well behind Tetairoa McMillan, who dominated the passing game with 14 catches for 192 yards and two touchdowns. The veteran also played only 53% of the offensive snaps as Mitchell Evans and Tommy Tremble remained heavily involved. Waller has now gone two straight games without a touchdown after scoring twice in Week 2. With Carolina heading into its bye, his fantasy stock has cooled considerably.

Oct 5, 2026 6:45 AM EST

Darren Waller a Priority Streaming Option in Week 4

The Carolina Panthers' receiver room is battling injuries, but tight end Darren Waller should see more targets in Week 4. Waller was dealing with a toe injury leading up to Week 4, but was off the injury list and a full practice participant on Friday. The veteran has hauled in 10 receptions on 13 targets for 112 yards this season, and his target share should spike in Week 4 since receiver Xavier Legette (knee) is out and Jalen Coker (quad) is questionable to play. Detroit has struggled to contain tight ends this season and is allowing a league-high 299.3 passing yards per game. Even if Coker plays, Waller is a priority streaming option against a struggling Detroit D.

Oct 2, 2026 12:40 PM EST

Darren Waller a Premier Tight End Streamer Ahead of Week 4

Carolina Panthers tight end Darren Waller was heavily involved in his team's passing game in their Week 3 loss to the Cleveland Browns, recording five catches for 51 yards on eight targets. The 34-year-old has gotten off to a solid start to the season, hauling in 10 receptions for 112 yards and two touchdowns on 13 targets across three games. Waller's increased usage came after Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker (quad) left the game with a quad strain. Coker reportedly avoided serious injury, but his status for Carolina's Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions is up in the air. Even if Coker plays, Waller could be in position for a big game in Week 4. The Lions' pass defense has really struggled to begin 2026 and has already given up six receiving touchdowns to tight ends this season. In leagues where he's available on the waiver wire, Waller profiles as a priority tight end streamer for fantasy managers.

Sep 28, 2026 5:09 PM EST

Darren Waller a Red-Zone Threat in Week 3

Carolina Panthers tight end Darren Waller is a touchdown threat in Week 3 against the Cleveland Browns. Waller's receiving volume figures to stay low, but if you are in dire need of a start at the position, Waller could deliver. The Panthers should find themselves in scoring position often on Sunday, and the team clearly wants to get Waller heavily involved around the goal line. He scored two touchdowns in Week 2 and had a touchdown called back due to a penalty in Week 1. Waller has yet to earn more than three targets in a game this season, so he is very touchdown-dependent. However, he is about as good a bet as anyone to score a touchdown in Week 3. Additionally, Cleveland has allowed at least 8.8 fantasy points to the opposing team's starting tight end in each game this season. If you are struggling with poor play at tight end, Waller could provide streaming value this week.

Sep 25, 2026 2:41 PM EST

Darren Waller Showing Great Red Zone Chemistry with Bryce Young

Carolina Panthers tight end Darren Waller has shown a strong connection with Bryce Young in his first two games with the Panthers, making an immediate impact after joining the team in August. He didn't play in the preseason, but when the games started to count, he became a prime option for Carolina in the red zone. Waller had a short touchdown called back due to a penalty in Week 1, but he found the end zone twice in Week 2. The 34-year-old caught all five of his targets for 61 yards in his two games and will continue to be a go-to option in the red zone due to his ability to win contested catches. He only played 35% of the team's snaps in Week 1 and 44% of the snaps in Week 2, so there is also the potential for more growth in other areas of the field as he settles into the team's offense. Waller is definitely a tight end on the rise and is a pickup to consider in all formats if you need tight end help. This week, he and the Panthers visit the Browns in Cleveland.

Sep 24, 2026 5:10 AM EST

Darren Waller Has Played His Way onto 12-Team Rosters

Carolina Panthers tight end Darren Waller made the most of limited work Sunday, catching all three of his targets for 33 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-3 win over Atlanta. The touchdowns will get the attention, but the role still needs some context. Waller played 29 offensive snaps, or 44%, while Tommy Tremble and Mitchell Evans both played more. That was still a step up from Week 1, when Waller logged 24 snaps and had a touchdown wiped out by penalty. Carolina clearly has a use for him near the goal line, and this is not new territory. Waller scored six times on only 24 catches for Miami last season. The volume may stay frustrating, but tight end is thin enough that those scoring chances matter. RotoBaller's Week 3 waiver coverage has him as an add in 12-team leagues, with one column calling him a must-add at that depth. He is worth picking up now, but managers should expect some low-target weeks along the way.

Sep 22, 2026 7:13 AM EST

Darren Waller a Boom-or-Bust Tight End Option Vs. Atlanta

Carolina Panthers tight end Darren Waller caught both of his targets for 28 receiving yards in last Sunday's 59-37 loss to the Chicago Bears. The 34-year-old did have a one-yard touchdown called back on a penalty. Waller signed a one-year, $1.3 million contract with the Panthers during training camp and did not play a preseason game. He will look to build chemistry with quarterback Bryce Young as he continues to learn Carolina's offense. The veteran TE is a boom-or-bust option in fantasy as he rotated with Tommy Tremble and Mitchell Evans throughout Week 1. Waller logged 24 snaps compared to Tremble's 34 and Evans' 27. Waller is touchdown-dependent and is an option in very deep leagues, and is RotoBaller's TE32 in the latest Week 2 rankings.

Sep 18, 2026 7:47 PM EST

Darren Waller Active for Week 1 Season Opener

Carolina Panthers tight end Darren Waller is officially active for his debut with the Panthers in the Week 1 season opener on Sunday against the Chicago Bears, according to Darin Gantt of the team's official website. With Waller active, Ja'Tavion Sanders is the odd man out as a healthy inactive to begin the 2026 season. Waller said earlier this week that he was practicing as if he was going to play against the Bears, and that turns out to be the case. However, the 34-year-old veteran will most likely be on a snap count as the Panthers continue to ease him into their offense after signing him in training camp. The Panthers also have Tommy Tremble, Mitchell Evans, and Feleipe Franks active to help carry the workload at tight end on Sunday against Chicago. Waller certainly has the most fantasy football appeal of any tight end on Carolina's roster for his red-zone prowess, but durability is a major concern, and he should be left out of starting lineups in Week 1, even in two-TE leagues.

Sep 13, 2026 8:35 AM EST

If Active, Darren Waller a Dart Throw in Week 1 Vs. the Bears

Carolina Panthers tight end Darren Waller signed a one-year contract with the Panthers this offseason and is expected to be the team's starting tight end. Waller practiced all week and recently worked with the first-team offense, with the plan to play in Week 1 against the Chicago Bears. According to Steve Reed of the Associated Press, Waller is not on the injury report for Week 1, but continues to ramp up his conditioning after joining the team in mid-August. The 33-year-old caught 24 passes for 283 yards and six touchdowns in nine games for the Dolphins last season. He gives quarterback Bryce Young a red zone weapon, but the Bears were stingy against tight ends last year, allowing the second-fewest fantasy points to the position. Waller ranks 31st in our tight end rankings and is mainly an option in deep-league TE premium leagues heading into Week 1. Even if Waller is active, he should be left on the bench and is a dart throw at best for the regular season opener.

Sep 12, 2026 4:31 AM EST

Darren Waller Ready to Go But Still Up in the Air for Sunday

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said that tight end Darren Waller is ready to go, but he stopped short of saying whether he will be active on Sunday for the Week 1 regular-season opener against the Chicago Bears, according to Steve Reed of The Associated Press. Waller is not on the injury report in Week 1, but the 33-year-old continues to ramp up his conditioning after joining the Panthers in the middle of training camp. He said earlier this week that he was preparing to play this Sunday against the Bears, but even if he is active, Waller will be a tough sell for starting fantasy lineups in single-TE leagues. After retiring in 2024, the former sixth-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens in 2015 from Georgia Tech made a return last year to play for the Miami Dolphins, where he played in only nine games and caught 24 passes for 283 yards and six touchdowns. Waller is still an intriguing red-zone tight end because of his size when he's active, but with a likely short leash if he plays this weekend, we would caution against throwing Waller out there right away if he plays against Chicago.

Sep 11, 2026 10:22 AM EST

Darren Waller Making Smooth Transition to Carolina Panthers

Carolina Panthers tight end Darren Waller is receiving positive buzz from the Carolina coaching staff as he prepares to be ready for Week 1. Head coach Dave Canales had this to say about the veteran tight end, on Panthers Wire, "Big and fast. The offensive stuff, the playbook stuff has been really smooth, really easy for him. And we have totally different terminology then where he was at in Miami before. Intelligent guy, hard worker. So he's been great from a mental standpoint." Waller played in nine games for the Miami Dolphins last year and caught 24 passes on 34 targets for 283 yards and six touchdowns. At age 33, Waller is still in great shape and is a threat in the red zone. He could emerge as a big target for quarterback Bryce Young in the target areas. He could be an under-the-radar tight end option.

Sep 10, 2026 6:33 AM EST

Darren Waller Takes Part in Team Drills With First-Team Offense

Carolina Panthers veteran tight end Darren Waller continues to ramp up for the start of the 2026 season and was in full pads while taking part in team drills with the first-team offense in Wednesday's practice, according to Kassidy Hill of the team's official website. "It was good," head coach Dave Canales said of Waller's practice. "Just backed him off a little bit (Tuesday), let him go today. Got RVAs (routes versus air) in, had a couple of nice targets out there on the field, made one catch; another one, Bryce progressed to somebody else. But he looked fast. He looked huge. So it was good to see his big frame out there moving around." After signing late in training camp on Aug. 12, the 33-year-old Waller figures to be the team's top pass-catching tight end for quarterback Bryce Young if he can stay healthy. After coming out of retirement to play for the Miami Dolphins in 2025, Waller only played in nine games and caught 24 passes for 283 yards and six touchdowns. The former Pro Bowler had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2019 and 202, but Waller is not the same player as he was back then, and he will likely be eased into the offense in Week 1 against the Chicago Bears. Waller will for sure be a red-zone weapon for Young because of his size (6-foot-6, 245 pounds), but outside of two-TE leagues, he will probably go undrafted.

Sep 2, 2026 6:02 PM EST

Darren Waller Playing With First Team, Seeing Snaps in the Slot

Carolina Panthers veteran tight end Darren Waller was seen lining up in the slot with the first-team offense in training camp practice on Wednesday, and per Kyle Bailey, it looks like Waller still has "some real burst off the line." The 33-year-old came out of retirement last year to join the Miami Dolphins, but he managed to play in only nine games while catching 24 of his 34 targets for 283 yards and six touchdowns. Fantasy managers should not be getting too excited yet about Waller in his new digs in Carolina, but it is notable that he is mixing in with the first-team offense in practices. The Panthers are going to continue to ease Waller into the fold, but if he is healthy, he figures to be their top pass-catching tight end option over Ja'Tavion Sanders, who could now be on the roster bubble. Waller is a former Pro Bowler who had two straight 1,000-yard seasons with 12 combined touchdowns in 2019 and 2020 with the Las Vegas Raiders. Durability is the biggest question mark for the oft-injured Waller as he embarks on his 10th NFL season in 2026. Right now, he is merely a sleeper at the position in two-TE fantasy leagues.

Aug 26, 2026 7:53 AM EST

Darren Waller Not Expected to Play in Preseason Finale

Carolina Panthers tight end Darren Waller is not expected to play in the preseason finale against the Houston Texans. Head coach Dave Canales said, "he'll pop into team drills, and we'll get him some exposure against the Texans in joint practices this week." Waller signed a one-year, $1.3 million contract with Carolina last week and appears to be in incredible shape heading into his tenth NFL season. Last season with the Miami Dolphins, Waller caught 24 of 34 targets for 283 yards and six touchdowns in nine games, ranking TE14 in half-PPR fantasy points per game. The former Raiders star tight end is currently ranked TE33 in RotoBaller's positional rankings and is unlikely to be a key fantasy contributor this season.

Aug 24, 2026 5:47 PM EST

Darren Waller in Phenomenal Shape Entering 2026 Season

Carolina Panthers tight end Darren Waller is in phenomenal shape heading into the 2026 season. Waller said his conditioning is "Night and day" compared to last season. Waller reportedly tore his quad two weeks after unretiring and signing with the Miami Dolphins last season, which kept him out for eight games in 2025. Despite the injuries and the Dolphins' lackluster passing attack, Waller still managed 283 yards and six touchdowns in nine games. Now in Carolina, head coach Dave Canales is excited about what Waller brings to the table, saying, "It's a unique element that he brings to whatever offense he's been a part of." Currently ranked TE35 in RotoBaller's positional rankings, Waller looks primed for a solid season that should surpass his ADP in 2026.

Aug 21, 2026 9:02 AM EST