Fantasy Football

Darren Waller

TE - LV

Height: 6-6

Weight: 255 lbs

Age: 30

College: Georgia Tech

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2022 Season Outlooks

For the first time since his breakout campaign in 2019, Fantasy managers have some concerns about Darren Waller coming into the season. The addition of Davante Adams could be a problem for Waller's target share (at least 24 percent over the past three years), and Waller suffered his first significant injury in 2021 with five missed games due to a hurt knee. Those concerns are valid, but Waller is still a top-five Fantasy tight end this year, even at 29. Once Travis Kelce and Mark Andrews come off the board, Waller is in the next tier with Kyle Pitts and George Kittle. We would draft Waller as early as Round 4, and he should still be an elite player at a thin position. While his targets might decline slightly, he could have an easier time with less coverage thanks to Adams. And we know Derek Carr loves Waller, so even Round 4 might be a steal for a player of his caliber.

Waller’s 2021 campaign was hindered by ankle and knee injuries that basically cost him 7 games. But he remained efficient and productive in the other 10, finishing 6th among TEs in half-PPR points per game – despite underachieving with just 2 TDs. Davante Adams’ arrival will very likely cut into Waller’s volume. But he can afford to lose a target or 2 per game and still finish as a top-5 fantasy TE.

Waller's 2021 season was all over the map. He opened the season with a 10-105-1 receiving line on 19 targets in Week 1, but then went on to score one TD and average 56.0 yards per game the rest of the season, missing six games due to injury along the way. He still ended up sixth in fantasy PPG after finishing no lower than third in targets, receptions, yards and fantasy points the prior two seasons. Waller's targets figure to dip some with a new coaching staff and Davante Adams now in the fold, but that can be offset by better luck in the TD department and a bounce-back in the efficiency department. Waller is still in his prime at age 29 and remains a solid TE1.