Dolphins' Darren Waller: Finds end zone despite low volume
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Waller brought in two of three targets for 12 yards and a touchdown in the Dolphins' 29-27 loss to the Chargers on Sunday.
Waller was having a surprisingly forgettable day until the final minute of the contest, when he recorded a seven-yard touchdown grab in the right corner of the end zone with 46 seconds remaining to cap off a 13-play drive and erase a 26-20 deficit. The veteran tight end, who'd come into the day with an 8-105-3 receiving line over his first two games, would have therefore been the hero had Justin Herbert not driven the Chargers down for a game-winning field goal. Waller has now turned a whopping 40.0 percent of his 10 catches to date into touchdowns, and while regression is inevitable, he could be busy in a Week 7 road matchup against a Browns defense that could force the struggling Tua Tagovailoa to get the ball out quickly.
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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: Ready for Week 5
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Waller (hip/rest) doesn't carry an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Panthers, Travis Wingfield of the Dolphins' official site reports.
Waller, who made his regular-season debut Week 4, was listed as a limited participant in practice this week, with the Dolphins managing his practice reps after the tight end parlayed his 16 snaps in Monday's 27-21 win over the Jets into a 3-27-2 line on four targets. On the heels of that effort, Waller is a candidate to see his snap share increase this weekend, and with WR Tyreek Hill (knee) out for the season, he should have an opportunity to claim a key role in Miami's passing offense going forward in the absence of any injury setbacks.
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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: Starting Tight Ends
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I'll take my chances with Waller as a No. 1 Fantasy tight end in all leagues in Week 5 after his solid debut with the Dolphins in Week 4 against the Jets. Waller only had four targets, but he finished with three catches for 27 yards and two touchdowns against New York. Tyreek Hill (knee) is out, and the Week 5 matchup against Carolina is favorable for Waller since the Panthers have allowed a tight end to score at least 9.9 PPR points in three of four games this year.
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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.
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Dolphins' Darren Waller: Limited in practice Thursday
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Waller (hip) was limited in Thursday's practice, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.
Waller is ramping up his activity and remains on track to make his 2025 season debut Monday night against the Jets, though coach Mike McDaniel has already stated the veteran tight end will be on a snap count. It's unclear how much Waller has left in the tank at 33-years-old, especially dealing with an injury after sitting out the entire 2024 campaign.
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Dolphins' Darren Waller: To have snap count in debut
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Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said Monday that Waller (hip) remains on track to make his team debut Week 4 against the Jets but will be on a snap count, Hal Habib of The Palm Beach Post reports.
McDaniel said Waller's reps will be limited to "a situational snap count or a package-type thing" versus New York on Monday Night Football on Sept. 29. Waller's presence figures to provide a much-needed boost for Miami's stagnant offense, especially in the red zone, though fantasy managers will likely want to get a chance to monitor how the veteran tight end looks in his first NFL action since 2023 before trusting him in weekly lineups.
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Dolphins' Darren Waller: Ruled out for TNF
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Waller (hip) is officially ruled out for Thursday's game against the Bills, Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN.com reports.
Waller managed to string together a trio of limited practice sessions, but he nonetheless won't be cleared to retake the field on a short week leading up to Thursday's contest. The veteran tight end figures to have a more realistic chance to make his regular-season debut Week 4 against the Jets in a Monday Night Football matchup on Sept. 29. Julian Hill and Tanner Conner will continue to split reps at the TE position for Miami on Thursday.
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Dolphins' Darren Waller: Logs limited practice Tuesday
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Waller (hip) was a limited participant at the Dolphins' practice Tuesday, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.
Waller is considered unlikely to play Thursday night against the Bills, but his ability to practice in any capacity Tuesday is a step in the right direction. Head coach Mike McDaniel said Tuesday in reference to both Waller and running back Jaylen Wright (knee) that the team will "see how the rest of the week goes," and that "they're putting their best foot forward." Waller will likely have to set his sights on making his Dolphins debut in Week 4 versus the Jets on Monday Night Football.
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Dolphins' Darren Waller: Limited on practice estimate
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Waller (hip) was listed as limited on Monday's practice estimate, Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN.com reports.
Waller, who has been out for the first two games of the season, had been deemed a non-participant in all of the Dolphins' practices leading up to Monday's estimate. Either way, the tight end's status for Thursday night's game against the Bills remains uncertain, with added context in that regard set to arrive via his participation level in Tuesday's session.
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Dolphins' Darren Waller: Won't play Sunday
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Coach Mike McDaniel noted Friday that Waller (hip) will be out for Sunday's game against the Patriots, Travis Wingfield of the Dolphins' official site reports.
With Waller slated to miss his second consecutive game, Tanner Conner (four targets in Week 1 on 28 snaps on offense) and Julian Hill (28 snaps, zero targets Week 1) are in line to continue to lead Miami's tight end corps this weekend. Waller's next chance to see game action will arrive next Thursday against the Bills.
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Dolphins' Darren Waller: Not practicing Thursday
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Waller (hip) remained a non-participant in practice Thursday, Alain Poupart of SI.com reports.
Per David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel, Waller was spotted working out on the side during Thursday's session, but at this stage the tight end's status for Sunday's game against the Patriots remains cloudy. If Waller remains sidelined Week 2, Tanner Conner (four Week 1 targets) and Julian Hill (zero targets Week 1) would continue to lead Miami's TE corps this weekend.
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Dolphins' Darren Waller: Injury setback clouds Week 1 status
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Coach Mike McDaniel revealed Friday that Waller (hip) suffered a setback before Thursday's practice, Travis Wingfield of the Dolphins' official site reports.
As a result, Waller didn't take part in Thursday's session, and at this stage, McDaniel said he doesn't believe the tight end will play Sunday against the Colts, a notion that could be confirmed when Friday's final Week 1 injury report is posted. If Waller is ruled out, Julian Hill and Tanner Conner would be next up for Miami's tight end reps this weekend.
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Dolphins' Darren Waller: Officially misses practice Thursday
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Waller (hip) did not practice Thursday, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Waller's absence from practice Wednesday was merely part of a planned schedule, as he hadn't practice three consecutive days since his return from retirement, and that the veteran tight end would be back on the field Thursday. It's thus possible that his current 'DNP' status represents a setback of some sort, especially given that Waller is being listed with a hip injury. Miami said throughout the preseason that a cautious approach was being deployed simply for conditioning purposes. Friday's practice represents Waller's last chance to get some on-field work in before the Dolphins decide whether he'll carry an injury designation for Week 1, and at this stage he appears uncertain for Sunday's road opener against Indianapolis.
