Waller returned in Week 13 against New Orleans from a four-game absence with a pectoral injury, and he had two catches for 47 yards on three targets. Prior to getting hurt, Waller had scored at least 9.2 PPR points in three games in a row, with four touchdowns over that span, and I'm hopeful he'll get back on track in Week 14 against the Jets. Four tight ends have scored at least 8.4 PPR points against the Jets in the past three games with David Njoku, Harold Fannin Jr., Hunter Henry, and Kyle Pitts, and I like Waller as a low-end starter in all leagues in this matchup.
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Dolphins' Darren Waller: Contrarian DFS Play
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Waller was disappointing in his return, but he is still seeing downfield targets and end zone targets. That's the recipe for a big day on low volume. If you choose to go cheap at tight end, he is the most likely cheap tight end to post top-five numbers at the position.
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Dolphins' Darren Waller: Team-high yardage in return
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Waller (pectoral), who was activated from injured reserve Saturday, brought in two of three targets for 47 yards in the Dolphins' 21-17 win over the Saints on Sunday.
Making his return from a minimum four-game stay on injured reserve, Waller finished with a team-high yardage total on a low-volume day for the Dolphins' air attack. The veteran tight end also came close to securing his fifth touchdown reception of the season in the second half, and he turned in an encouraging performance overall. Waller figures to remain a key part of the passing game down the stretch as Miami tries to complete a longshot bid for a wild-card spot.
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Dolphins' Darren Waller: Questionable, still on IR
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Waller (pectoral) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Saints, Travis Wingfield of the Dolphins' official site reports.
Miami designated Waller for return from injured reserve Wednesday, after which he cobbled together three straight limited practices. Per David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel, coach Mike McDaniel said Friday regarding Waller's chances to suit up this weekend that "if there's not a setback, I'm feeling optimistic." The Dolphins will need to activate Waller from IR by Saturday afternoon for him to have a chance to be active for Sunday's 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff.
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Dolphins' Darren Waller: Could return this week
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Coach Mike McDaniel noted Friday that Waller (pectoral) is "in play" to return to action Sunday against the Saints, Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN.com reports.
At this stage, McDaniel indicated that he's optimistic about the tight end's Week 13 status but acknowledged that whether the Dolphins elect to activate Waller of IR is dependent on how things go for him in Friday's practice. Waller has logged back-to-back limited sessions since having his 21-day practice window opened.
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Dolphins' Darren Waller: Limited in return to practice
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Waller (pectoral) has had his 21-day practice window opened and was a limited participant in Wednesday's session, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.
Waller is practicing for the first time since suffering a pectoral injury Week 7 versus the Browns and being placed on IR. While it's possible the veteran tight end could gain clearance to retake the field as early as Sunday's contest against the Saints, he may first need to prove an ability to handle full practice reps. Once back in action, Waller will join Jaylen Waddle (foot), Malik Washington and RB De'Von Achane as one of the Dolphins' top options in the passing game. In the event that Waller misses any more time, Greg Dulcich will continue to operate as Miami's top pass-catching tight end.
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Dolphins' Darren Waller: Expected back this season
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Waller's pectoral injury isn't expected to be season-ending, coach Mike McDaniel said Friday, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.
Waller was placed on injured reserve Wednesday and won't return prior to Week 13. The Dolphins believe he will play again in 2025. Julian Hill, Tanner Conner and Greg Dulcich are set to fill in while Waller's sidelined.
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Dolphins' Darren Waller: Labeled week-to-week
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Waller is considered week-to-week due to a strained pectoral that the Dolphins do not believe will require surgery, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Waller was forced out of Miami's loss to the Browns in Week 7 after playing just 15 offensive snaps without recording a catch, and he now appears to be trending in the wrong direction for Sunday's matchup against the Falcons. With the Dolphins already without Tyreek Hill (torn ACL) for the rest of the season, an absence for any stretch of time on Waller's part will be a significant blow to a passing game that's already struggling. Tight ends Julian Hill and Tanner Conner will benefit from increased workloads Week 8 if Waller can't go, as will wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine in the No. 3 role behind Jaylen Waddle and Malik Washington. Head coach Mike McDaniel said Monday that Waller isn't expected to be available versus Atlanta or on Thursday Night Football against the Ravens in Week 9, per Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network.
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Dolphins' Darren Waller: Won't return Sunday
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Waller (pectoral) won't return to Sunday's game against the Browns.
Prior to his exit, Waller didn't record a catch. In his absence, Julian Hill and Tanner Conner will handle Miami's TE duties versus Cleveland. Waller's next chance to see game action will be next Sunday against the Falcons.
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Dolphins' Darren Waller: Bust Alert (Start/Sit)
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Waller has been great for Fantasy managers so far in the three games he's played thanks to four touchdowns. But what happens if he doesn't score? We almost found out in Week 6 against the Chargers when he finished with two catches for 12 yards on three targets -- with a touchdown. This week, Waller is facing a Browns defense that has limited the production of Mark Andrews (1.4 PPR points), Tucker Kraft (5.9 PPR points), Sam LaPorta (6.9 PPR points) and T.J. Hockenson (9.8 PPR points). None of those tight ends found the end zone, and we'll see if Waller can keep his touchdown streak alive on the road. He's a low-end starter at best in the majority of leagues for Week 7.
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Dolphins' Darren Waller: Another limited practice
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Waller (hip/rest) was limited in practice Thursday, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Waller has consistently had his practice reps capped this season as part of a load management plan, so there's not yet any reason to worry that his availability for Sunday's game against the Browns is truly in jeopardy. It's possible that Waller could carry an injury designation for Week 7, but barring any actual setbacks the veteran tight end figures to take the field on the road versus Cleveland.
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Dolphins' Darren Waller: Limited Wednesday
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Waller (hip/rest) was limited in practice Wednesday, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Waller continues to have his practice reps capped due to a load management plan, though his gameday workload has now increased in three consecutive weeks. The veteran tight end handled a season-high 69 percent of offensive snaps during Miami's loss to the Chargers in Week 6, securing two of three targets for 12 yards and a touchdown. Waller has scored in all three of his appearances with the Dolphins this season. He'll face a challenge to keep up that streak on the road against the Browns' vaunted defense on Sunday, though if Cleveland's pass rush forces Tua Tagovailoa to rely heavily on short-area passes, it could result in increased target volume for Waller.
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Dolphins' Darren Waller: Cleared despite limited practices
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Waller (hip/rest) doesn't carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Chargers, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.
Waller was a limited participant Thursday and Friday after failing to practice Wednesday, but he'll be available for Week 6 action. The veteran tight end has thrived since recovering from a hip injury that sidelined him through Week 3, posting eight catches for 105 yards and three touchdowns across two games since making his Dolphins debut.
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Dolphins' Darren Waller: Limited in practice Thursday
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Waller (hip/rest) was limited at practice Thursday, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.
Waller was deemed a DNP on Wednesday, but his return to a limited session Thursday has him trending toward being available Sunday against the Chargers, and quite possibly without a Week 6 injury designation, as was the case last week after the tight end logged three straight limited listings. With that in mind, it's worth noting that Furones previously relayed via Dolphins TEs coach Jon Embree that Waller is a candidate to continue to see an uptick in playing time after increasing from 16 to 32 snaps between his first and second game back from being sidelined Weeks 1-3.
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Dolphins' Darren Waller: Back at practice Thursday
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Waller (hip/rest) is participating in Thursday's practice, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.
Waller sat out practice Wednesday, though it seems he's simply continuing to have his reps managed. The veteran tight end ramped up his playing time Week 5, handling 58 percent of offensive snaps, and despite playing a part-time role across his two appearances thus far, he's managed to produce an impactful 8-105-3 receiving line on nine targets. With Tyreek Hill (knee) out for the year, Waller seems to have solidified himself as one of the focal points of Miami's offense, joining WR Jaylen Waddle and RB De'Von Achane. Waller will work to gain clearance for Week 6 and keep up his momentum at home against the Chargers on Sunday.
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Dolphins' Darren Waller: Listed as DNP on Wednesday
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Waller (rest/hip) was listed as a non-participant in Wednesday's practice, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.
It sounds like it was more of a rest day than anything else for the veteran tight end, who missed all of training camp and the preseason with the hip injury. After playing 27 percent of the offensive snaps in his Week 4 debut, Waller's playing time skyrocketed to 58 percent in Week 5. Through two games, Waller has a productive 8-105-3 receiving line on nine targets and has put himself in the fantasy TE1 conversation moving forward due to Tyreek Hill (knee) being done for the season.
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Dolphins' Darren Waller: Stays limited in practice
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Waller (hip/rest) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.
Though Waller's reps were capped for the second day in a row, the presumption is that his limitations were maintenance-related as the Dolphins ease up on his practice load following his recent return from a hip injury. Despite playing just 16 of the Dolphins' 58 offensive snaps in his team debut in Monday's 27-21 win over the Jets, Waller made his presence felt during his time on the field with three catches for 27 yards and two touchdowns on four targets. With Miami losing star wideout Tyreek Hill (knee) for the season in Week 4, Waller could be in line for increased involvement in the passing attack in the games to come. For his part, Waller told Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald that he believes he can handle a jump in his snap count in Sunday's game against the Panthers, if the coaching staff feels he's ready for that.
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Dolphins' Darren Waller: Limited in practice Wednesday
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Waller (hip/rest) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.
Waller's limited practice activity appears to be at least partially related to maintenance. The veteran tight end made his team debut during Monday's 27-21 win over the Jets and was highly productive despite playing just 25 percent of offensive snaps, as he secured three of four targets for 27 yards and two touchdowns. The Dolphins figure to continue taking a cautious approach to ramping up Waller's activity, but it will be crucial for him to begin playing closer to a starting role sooner than later with Tyreek Hill (knee) out for the remainder of the season. Waller's next chance to increase his snap count will come Sunday on the road against Carolina.
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Dolphins' Darren Waller: Week 5 Waiver Priority List
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Waller made his Dolphins debut in Week 4 against the Jets, and he made a splash with three catches for 27 yards and two touchdowns on four targets. Tyreek Hill (knee) was injured against the Jets, and Waller could be looking at a big role moving forward. Last year, the Dolphins got tremendous production from Jonnu Smith, who averaged 13.1 PPR points per game. Waller has the chance to be a must-start Fantasy tight end for the rest of the season, and he's worth adding in all leagues for at least 15 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Dolphins' Darren Waller: Remains limited Friday
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Waller (hip) remained limited at practice Friday, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.
Following back-to-back limited practices, Waller is trending toward a return to action Monday night against the Jets, with Furones noting that in such a scenario, the tight end would likely be eased in on certain packages in which he can be featured. In any case, Saturday's final injury report will reveal whether Waller carries a Week 4 designation, but in terms of his initial fantasy viability, a wait-and-see approach is probably in order.
