Who Should I Start? Darren Waller or T.J. Hockenson

Friday, October 24, 1:09 PM

Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller's pectoral injury is not season-ending, according to head coach Mike McDaniel. Waller suffered a pectoral injury in the Week 7 loss to the Cleveland Browns and was placed on Injured Reserve on Wednesday, but he should be able to make it back this season. However, the 33-year-old veteran will need to miss at least four games and will not be eligible to return for Miami until Week 13. In the meantime, the team will have to make due with a combination of Julian Hill (ankle), Tanner Conner, and Greg Dulcich at the position in an offense that already lost star receiver Tyreek Hill (knee) for the year. Fantasy managers should be avoiding Miami's TE situation until Waller can return. Waller, who came out of retirement after not playing at all in 2024, got a late start in 2025 due to another injury, but he scored four touchdowns in his first three games before getting injured in Week 7.

Friday, November 14, 6:39 PM

After three straight weeks of low volume, Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson should not be relied upon in standard formats when his team plays host to the Chicago Bears in Week 11. The former Iowa Hawkeye is still playing a commanding number of snaps, but has just six catches in the past three weeks and ranks as the No. 24 overall PPR tight end. Given that he has been a top-five fantasy tight end twice with Minnesota, it's fair to say Hockenson has been among the bigger fantasy disappointments of the season thus far. The Bears rank 20th against PPR tight ends, though second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy has consistently favored receiver Jalen Nailor, not Hockenson, as the team's third option behind receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Hockenson should only be considered a TE2 option in formats that play more than one tight end.