Who Should I Start? Darren Waller or Tyler Higbee

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Week 2 Projections

Fant.
Pts.		 Rush.
Yds.		 Rush
TD		 Rec. Rec.
Yds.		 Rec
TD
5.9 0.0 0.0 2.2 23.4 0.2

Darren Waller News

Darren Waller Active for Week 1 Season Opener

Sunday, September 13, 8:35 AM

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.

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Week 2 Projections

Fant.
Pts.		 Rush.
Yds.		 Rush
TD		 Rec. Rec.
Yds.		 Rec
TD
2.6 0.0 0.0 1.0 11.0 0.1

Tyler Higbee News

Tyler Higbee's Crowded Tight End Room Limits Redraft Appeal

Thursday, August 27, 10:10 AM

Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee remains part of the first-team offense, but the depth around him continues to work against his redraft value. Higbee caught 25 passes for 281 yards and three touchdowns in 10 games last season, then re-signed with Los Angeles on a two-year deal in March. He has been healthy this summer and recorded two receptions during the Rams' August 11 joint practice with Dallas, so this is not a case of Higbee falling out of the offense. The problem is volume. Colby Parkinson posted 43 catches for 408 yards and eight touchdowns in 2025, Terrance Ferguson and Davis Allen are both back, and Los Angeles added Max Klare with the 61st overall pick. The Rams leaned heavily on multi-tight end personnel last season, but having five capable options makes it difficult for any one of them to command steady targets behind Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. RotoBaller's August 25 half-PPR rankings have Higbee 368th overall. He can still pop for a touchdown in the right matchup, but standard redraft managers should view him as a streaming option rather than a weekly starter.

Darren Waller vs. Tyler Higbee

Still trying to decide between Waller and Higbee? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Darren Waller is projected to score 5.9 points this week while Tyler Higbee is projected to score 2.6 points.