Darren Waller
31-Year-Old
2023 Receiving Stats
REC
52
YDS
552
TD
1
AVG
10.6
TAR
74
2024 Projections
2024 Fantasy Outlook
Waller’s 12 games played in his first campaign with the Giants last season marked his highest total since 2020, but he averaged just 46.0 yards per game -- much more in line with his 43.1 from 2022 than the 69.9 yards per game Waller produced over the three preceding seasons. Age and injuries may have permanently caught up to the veteran tight end, who turns 32 in September. Waller dealt with a hamstring injury in 2023, and while he finished the season healthy, his production no longer makes the frequent absences worth stomaching, as Waller finished with only 552 yards and one touchdown in 2024. He’s mulling retirement, and even if Waller continues his NFL career, his odds of a bounce-back season are made longer by the Giants’ uncertain quarterback situation. Daniel Jones is recovering from a torn ACL, so Waller could find himself catching passes from Drew Lock, or perhaps a rookie quarterback, for most or all of the 2024 campaign. Waller’s likelier to remain outside the TE1 range than return to the top-five TE level of his prime. Read Past Outlooks
Should decide on retirement soon
Waller said Wednesday that he's still undecided on retirement but will make a decision "pretty soon," Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
While he doesn't expect to decide before the start of the 2024 league year March 11, the 31-year-old tight end said he doesn't want it become "this drawn-out thing" and will give the Giants time to adjust if they end up needing to replace him. If he waits too long the team might take the decision out of his hands, as Waller doesn't have any guarantees remaining on his contract and is scheduled for at least $12 million in compensation each of the next three seasons. The Giants can free up $11.625 million in cap space by declaring Waller as a post-June 1 release, though multiple reports have suggested they'd rather have him back. The tight end was on pace to catch 85 passes for 923 yards through seven games in 2023 before a Week 8 hamstring injury derailed his season and led to a third straight year with at least five missed games. He had 2,341 yards and 12 TDs in 32 games between the 2019 and 2020 seasons, compared to 1,605 yards and six TDs in 32 games over the past three years combined.
While he doesn't expect to decide before the start of the 2024 league year March 11, the 31-year-old tight end said he doesn't want it become "this drawn-out thing" and will give the Giants time to adjust if they end up needing to replace him. If he waits too long the team might take the decision out of his hands, as Waller doesn't have any guarantees remaining on his contract and is scheduled for at least $12 million in compensation each of the next three seasons. The Giants can free up $11.625 million in cap space by declaring Waller as a post-June 1 release, though multiple reports have suggested they'd rather have him back. The tight end was on pace to catch 85 passes for 923 yards through seven games in 2023 before a Week 8 hamstring injury derailed his season and led to a third straight year with at least five missed games. He had 2,341 yards and 12 TDs in 32 games between the 2019 and 2020 seasons, compared to 1,605 yards and six TDs in 32 games over the past three years combined.
NFL Stats
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Fantasy/Red Zone Stats
See red zone opportunities inside the 20, 10 and 5-yard lines along with the percentage of time they converted the opportunity into a touchdown.
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Advanced NFL Stats
How do Darren Waller's 2023 advanced stats compare to other tight ends?
This section compares his advanced stats with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank.
The longer the bar, the better it is for the player.
Air Yards Per Game
47.8Air Yards Per Snap
1.05% Team Air Yards
16.4%% Team Targets
15.3%Avg Depth of Target
7.7 YdsCatch Rate
70.3%Drop Rate
4.1%Avg Yds After Catch
4.1% Targeted On Route
21.6%Avg Yds Per Route Run
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2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2023 NFL Game Log
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
How often does Darren Waller run a route when on the field for a pass play?
This data will let you see how Darren Waller and the other tight ends for the Giants are being used. Some tight ends may have a lot of snaps, but they're not that useful for fantasy purposes because they're not actually running routes. This data will help you see when this is the case.
Darren Waller
342 routes 74 targets
258 routes 28 targets
47 routes 5 targets
54 routes 4 targets
120 routes 8 targets
Receiving Alignment Breakdown
See where Darren Waller lined up on the field and how he performed at each spot.
Detailed
Grouped
Side
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2023 Darren Waller Split Stats
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Measurables Review
View College Player Page
How do Darren Waller's measurables compare to other tight ends?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
Height
6' 6"Weight
245 lbs40-Yard Dash
4.46 secShuttle Time
4.25 secCone Drill
7.07 secVertical Jump
37.0 inBroad Jump
125 inBench Press
12 reps
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Most of the big ADP changes can be easily explained, but there are also guys like Isiah Pacheco and Kenneth Walker dropping down the ranks for unclear reasons.
Latest Fantasy Rumors
Skipping voluntary workouts
Waller is skipping the Giants' voluntary offseason program as he continues to mull retirement, but the team hasn't given him a firm deadline by which to make a decision, per Dan Benton of USA Today.
ANALYSIS
The Giants have been content to leave the ball in Waller's court as the tight end tries to figure out his future. It wouldn't be surprising to see Big Blue add a tight end in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft as an insurance policy in case the 31-year-old Waller ultimately decides to hang up his cleats.
The Giants have been content to leave the ball in Waller's court as the tight end tries to figure out his future. It wouldn't be surprising to see Big Blue add a tight end in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft as an insurance policy in case the 31-year-old Waller ultimately decides to hang up his cleats.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2017
2016
2015
Waller has demonstrated one of the highest ceilings among tight ends, but numerous factors will be working against him reaching it in 2023. After consecutive seasons with at least 1,145 yards in 2019 and 2020, Waller missed 14 games due to injuries over the last two years. In 2022 under new coach Josh McDaniel, the tight end averaged only 3.1 catches and 43.1 yards per game after averaging at least 5.0 and 60.5, respectively, in each of the previous three seasons. If McDaniels’ offense was the problem, Waller should benefit from a change of scenery following an offseason trade to the Giants, though the 6-foot-6 tight end will have to establish chemistry with quarterback Daniel Jones. While Jones has averaged just 15 touchdown passes per season and hit that underwhelming number on the nose last year, Waller is arguably better than any pass catcher Jones has worked with thus far. The veteran tight end – who turns 31 in September – could become the go-to option in New York’s passing game after being overshadowed by wide receiver Davante Adams in Vegas last year.
More Fantasy News
Not certain to return after all
Waller still hasn't decided whether he will return to the Giants for the 2024 season or retire, Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post reports.
ANALYSIS
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Expected back in New York for 2024
Waller thought about retiring earlier this offseason, but he'll continue playing football and isn't expected to be a cap casualty, Paul Schwartz and Ryan Dunleavy of the NY Post report.
ANALYSIS
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Tallies 45 yards in season finale
Waller brought in five of six targets for 45 yards in Sunday's 27-10 win over Philadelphia.
ANALYSIS
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Five catches in Week 17
Waller caught five of six targets for 51 yards in Sunday's 26-25 loss to the Rams.
ANALYSIS
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Upgrades to full practice
Waller (knee) was a full participant in Thursday's practice, Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
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