Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller (groin) will be placed on Injured Reserve on Friday, according to Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN. Waller will miss the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday versus the division-rival New England Patriots. The 33-year-old veteran came out of retirement to play for the Dolphins in 2025 and will finish with 24 catches for 283 yards and six touchdowns in only nine games played. Waller got a late start to the season as he worked his way into playing shape and also missed time with a hamstring injury. He was not the same player he was earlier in his career with the Raiders, but Waller still had plenty of red-zone prowess in his return this year. It remains to be seen if he'll attempt to return in 2026 with Miami or another organization. Greg Dulcich should be the Dolphins' top pass-catching TE in Week 18.
Jan 2, 2026 12:55 PM EST
Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller (groin) had a rough showing in Week 17 for fantasy managers as he saw only three targets and hauled in one of them for zero yards. On a day where rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers only threw 22 times (for 172 yards), and Jaylen Waddle (ribs) left the game, it was Greg Dulcich who saw the majority of the targets in Week 17 and led the team with six targets. No other pass-catcher saw more than three targets outside of Dulcich. In the two games since Tua Tagovailoa got benched, Waller has only been able to produce four receptions for 40 yards with Ewers, and that was in two solid fantasy matchups against teams that allow a lot of fantasy points to the tight end position (Bengals and Buccaneers). Although Ewers has played solidly in his first two starts, it's hard to trust Waller moving forward as anything better than a low-end touchdown-dependent TE2 in fantasy football, making him fall in the rankings as fantasy managers head into Week 18.
Jan 2, 2026 9:42 AM EST
Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller (groin) was held out of practice on Wednesday as he continues to manage a groin injury, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel's David Furones. Waller also missed practice last week on Wednesday before playing in the Week 17 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but he played only 38% of the offensive snaps and caught one of his three targets for no gain. Meanwhile, fellow TE Greg Dulcich caught five of his six targets for 58 yards and a touchdown. The 33-year-old Waller came out of retirement in 2025 to join the Dolphins, and he has 24 receptions for 283 yards and six touchdowns in his nine games played. However, rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers has taken more of a liking to Dulcich since taking over as the starting QB in Miami. At best, Waller will be a touchdown-dependent TE2 streamer in fantasy in Week 18 if he's active.
Dec 31, 2025 5:26 PM EST
Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller is working with a rookie QB in Quinn Ewers, so he has a wide range of possible outcomes this week at home against the Buccaneers. Waller has shown he still has a nose for the end zone with six touchdowns in eight games, but Ewers is still looking for his first NFL touchdown as he makes his second career start. Last week, Waller was second on the team with five targets and finished with three catches for 40 yards. While he did miss some practice earlier this week to manage his workload, Waller has no injury designation this week against the Bucs, who have been a top-10 matchup for tight ends this season. Tight ends have six touchdowns in the last five weeks against Tampa and 10 touchdowns on the season. Waller is the No. 16 TE in RotoBaller's rankings this week, but he has the potential to be a starting option if he gets into the end zone again in this game against Tampa Bay.
Dec 27, 2025 7:55 AM EST
Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller (rest, groin) could not find the end zone again in Week 16's 45-21 lopsided loss to the Bengals, but projects to be a useful fantasy asset for the remainder of the season. Waller and the rest of the Dolphins' skill players' value took a hit last Sunday when the team announced they'd turn to rookie signal-caller Quinn Ewers. The move was a response to teammate Tua Tagovailoa floundering in his role as a starter. For one game, at least, it was a downgrade for the Dolphins' offense. However, Waller remained involved, placing second on the team in targets (five) behind wide receiver Jaylen Waddle's nine. Waller's upside won't be the same with Ewers under center, but owners can still rely on him as a fringy TE1, particularly against a Buccaneers' defense that's allowed the seventh-most fantasy points per game to the position (15.65).
Dec 25, 2025 1:29 PM EST
Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller didn't find the end zone in Week 16 against the Bengals, but he did still haul in three catches for 40 yards and rank second on the team in targets with five passes thrown his way. Rookie QB Quinn Ewers started and threw for 260 yards and no touchdowns in the team's loss, but he likely showed enough potential to earn another start next week against Tampa Bay. Waller will likely remain the second option in the passing game behind Jaylen Waddle, and he has shown enough upside this season to be a fringe starting option in standard leagues.
Dec 22, 2025 6:35 AM EST
Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller is coming off his best performance of the season during last week's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Waller hauled in seven of his eight targets for 66 yards and two touchdowns on Monday evening. He'll now head into a great matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals defense. This unit has allowed over 22.0 PPR fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends, placing them at the bottom of the sport. However, Waller faces some uncertainty in this contest as rookie QB Quinn Ewers is set to replace Tua Tagovailoa under center. The change at quarterback figures to change the game plan, but Waller should still be involved as the No. 2 pass-catching option, opposite of Jaylen Waddle. The Dolphins might use him as a safety blanket on short routes to avoid having Ewers throw a ton of deep shots. There's enough upside here to keep Waller in the low-end TE1 conversation, given his elite matchup.
Dec 21, 2025 9:07 AM EST
Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller caught a pair of touchdown passes in his team's Monday Night Football loss to the Steelers, giving him six touchdowns in just six full games this season. He's in a great matchup this week against the Bengals, who allow more fantasy points to tight ends than any other team in the NFL by a wide margin. Waller has shown he can still be a key contributor, especially near the end zone, but he will be working with a new quarterback this week as the Dolphins turn to rookie Quinn Ewers under center instead of Tua Tagovailoa. Ewers could look to Waller even more, especially in such a juicy matchup, but there's also a chance that the rookie can't get much going or focuses on other options. He's a volatile play, but he has enough upside to still be a solid starting option, so he's ranked as the No. 9 TE in RotoBaller's Week 16 rankings.
Dec 20, 2025 7:57 AM EST
Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller (knee) practiced in a limited capacity on Thursday. This was the second day in a row that Waller logged a limited practice session. The veteran tight end picked up the injury during Monday's explosive performance in which he caught seven passes for 66 yards and two touchdowns. The lingering injury and change in quarterback from Tua Tagovailoa to Quinn Ewers could hinder his fantasy outlook for Week 16, but on the other hand, he should benefit from a favorable matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. Cincinnati has allowed the most fantasy points to tight ends in 2025, and it's not particularly close. If Waller plays in Week 16, he'll be a low-end TE1 for fantasy football. Managers should get more info on his availability when the Dolphins publish their final injury report on Friday.
Dec 18, 2025 9:28 PM EST
Despite having to deal with a new quarterback in Week 16, Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller (knee, rest) is expected to maintain a critical role in the team's passing game when they line up with the Cincinnati Bengals at home. The 33-year-old is fresh off his best outing of the campaign, hauling in a season-high seven passes and two more touchdowns, giving him six scores in seven appearances. Unfortunately for Waller, any rapport he'd built up with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa won't translate when rookie signal-caller Quinn Ewers takes the field for his first NFL start. With the current state of Miami's offense, there's little reason to believe the veteran's role would shrink, although it's fair to expect diminished production. Favorably, Cincinnati's defense has allowed the most fantasy points per game to TEs (22.66), leaving Waller as a back-end TE1 for the outing.
Dec 18, 2025 11:46 AM EST
Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller (rest, knee) was limited on Wednesday after taking a scary-looking hit to the knee during Monday night's loss to the Steelers. Waller has played in each of the last three games since missing five weeks with a pectoral injury, and began each of those weeks with a limited/rest practice. The additional designation of the knee injury is new for Week 16 and will need to be monitored, though he seemed to finish the game without limitation, catching two late touchdown passes. Waller will be one of the most difficult start/sit decisions for fantasy semifinals. The Dolphins face a historically bad Bengals defense, but the Wednesday news that quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will be benched in favor of 7th-round rookie Quinn Ewers casts a considerable shadow over Miami's offensive outlook. Waller is RotoBaller's TE8 for Week 16, but the new injury designation may be the deciding factor for many fantasy managers to pivot to another streamer.
Dec 17, 2025 8:45 PM EST
Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller recorded seven receptions for 66 yards and two touchdowns in Monday night's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Waller scored the only touchdowns of the night for the Dolphins and notched his second two-touchdown game of the season, with the other coming back in Week 4 against the Jets. Both touchdowns came in garbage time in the fourth quarter as Miami's offense struggled to generate anything for most of the game. The 33-year-old tight end was quiet in the last two games after returning from a pectoral injury, totaling three catches for 60 yards on six targets, but he remains a dangerous threat in the red zone. Waller profiles as an interesting streamer in Week 16 against the Cincinnati Bengals, who have been the worst defense in the league against tight ends.
Dec 16, 2025 12:12 AM EST
Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller hasn't been able to find the same success that he experienced earlier in the season. Since returning from injury, Waller has been held to three receptions for 60 yards over the last two games. The good news is, Waller is heading into a plus-matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 15. A defensive unit that is allowing over 16 PPR fantasy points to tight ends this season, according to Yahoo Sports. Waller has proven he is capable of making big plays when he's given the chance. He could be worth a look as a deep league option for fantasy managers who are desperate for help at tight end.
Dec 13, 2025 7:00 PM EST
Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller flashed enough upside in the early part of the season to get some attention, but he hasn't been as involved since returning from IR in Week 13. He and the Dolphins are taking on the Steelers on Monday Night Football, and he can be a deep-league flier if you're desperate at the position. Waller played only 47% and 37% of snaps in his two games since returning and has only had three catches on six targets for 60 yards in the two games combined. He and Tua Tagovailoa showed a decent connection early in the season, especially near the end zone, as Waller scored four touchdowns in his first three games. Since then, though, he hasn't gotten back into the end zone, and his reduced role makes him very hard to trust as a starter in standard-sized leagues. He's ranked as the No. 22 TE in RotoBaller's rankings for this week, even though he's in a positive matchup aginst the Steelers, who have been generous to tight ends. While he does have touchdown-dependent upside, there are better options likely available in most leagues this week.
Dec 13, 2025 6:26 PM EST
Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller returned in Week 13 after missing four games due to a pectoral injury, but he hasn't been as productive as he was early in the season. Waller has been below a 50% snap share in each of the past two weeks, totaling three receptions for 60 yards on six targets. The 33-year-old was outsnapped by Greg Dulcich and Julian Hill in Week 14. The veteran tight end turned back the clock in his first three games in a Dolphins uniform, recording 10 receptions on 12 targets for 117 yards and four touchdowns. His snaps could increase on Monday night against the Steelers as he gets further removed from his injury, but he profiles more as a touchdown-dependent TE2 in fantasy for Week 15.
Dec 13, 2025 2:06 PM EST
Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller has not looked the same in two games since his return from a stint on Injured Reserve for a pectoral injury. In the last two contests, Waller has three receptions for 60 yards and no touchdowns on six targets. The 33-year-old veteran played only 37% of the snaps in the Week 14 win over the New York Jets on Sunday, which was down from 47% in his return in Week 13. Not only did he see fewer snaps, but he was outsnapped by both Greg Dulcich and Julian Hill at the position. Waller had one catch on three targets for 13 yards and added one carry for four yards versus the Jets. After coming out of retirement to play for Miami, he scored four touchdowns in his first four games. It's possible that Waller needs some time to get back up to speed, but fantasy managers can't afford to wait. He will be a risky, touchdown-dependent TE2 streamer in fantasy in Week 15 versus the Steelers, especially if Dulcich continues to be involved.
Dec 9, 2025 3:38 PM EST
Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller played 37% of snaps on Sunday against the Jets but only finished with one catch for 13 yards on his three targets. The Dolphins' other tight end, Greg Dulcich, caught all three of his targets for 41 yards while playing 54% of snaps. It was a disappointing showing for Waller, who returned from a pec injury in Week 13 with two catches for 47 yards against the Saints. He will remain a boom-or-bust fringe starter at tight end since he does get attention in the Dolphins' passing game, but right now, Tua Tagovailoa is managing the low-volume passing offense, with a focus on short passes and most of the downfield opportunities going to Jaylen Waddle.
Dec 8, 2025 8:01 AM EST
Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller is a viable streaming option if you're desperate for a tight end solution this week, as he and the Dolphins visit the Jets. Waller played 47% of snaps last week in his return from the IR and hauled in two of his three targets for a team-leading 47 receiving yards. Waller played three full games before his pec injury and had 10 catches for four touchdowns and 117 receiving yards. The Dolphins haven't been throwing the ball very much in their recent offensive game plans, typically relying on De'Von Achance to do most of the work. However, since Waller showed upside earlier this season, he is worth a look if you need help at the position. He's the No. 11 TE in RotoBaller's Week 14 rankings, making him a fringe starter in standard-sized leagues.
Dec 5, 2025 8:43 PM EST
Miami Dolphins veteran tight end Darren Waller made his return in Week 13, hauling in two of three targets for 47 yards in the 21-17 victory over the New Orleans Saints. Waller came back in Week 13, after suffering a pectoral injury in Week 7 that forced him to the injured reserve. The former Raiders' star was limited to just 47% of the snaps in his return, while backups Julian Hill played 58%, and Greg Dulcich played 37%. Waller faces a New York Jets defense in Week 14, which has allowed the third-most touchdowns to tight ends this season, with seven scores against them. Waller should see an expanded workload in Week 14, and is a low-end TE1 that could be relied on with injuries and bye weeks affecting other tight ends across the league.
Dec 4, 2025 10:13 AM EST
Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller (pectoral) returned from a pectoral injury that caused him to miss more than a month in Week 13, recording two catches for 47 yards on three targets against the New Orleans Saints. Waller has appeared in just five games this season due to multiple injuries, but he's recorded four touchdown catches in that span. The Dolphins limited Waller to a 47% snap share in Week 13, which is a trend that may continue given the 33-year-old's extensive injury history. However, Waller has proven to be a red-zone target for Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, which gives him streamer appeal for fantasy managers at the tight end position. In fantasy leagues with 12 or more teams, Waller could be worth targeting on the waiver wire as a streamer or injury replacement heading into a Week 14 matchup against the New York Jets.
Dec 1, 2025 10:30 PM EST