Start Michael Mayer or Darren Waller? Week 6

Our Week 6 call

Start Michael Mayer over Darren Waller in Week 6.

Market-based projections have Michael Mayer at 7.1 points and Darren Waller at 6.8, a gap of 0.3. That is inside the noise of a single catch, so treat it as close to a coin flip.

What the market projects

Player markets imply 7.1 fantasy points for Michael Mayer, with 100 percent of the markets a TE needs posted.

The market-based projection for Michael Mayer is 28 receiving yards and 2-3 receptions, with a 24% chance to score a touchdown (13, 11 and 12 market sources).

Player markets imply 6.8 fantasy points for Darren Waller, with 100 percent of the markets a TE needs posted.

The market-based projection for Darren Waller is 29 receiving yards and 2-3 receptions, with a 21% chance to score a touchdown (11, 9 and 9 market sources).

That puts Michael Mayer 0.3 points ahead of Darren Waller on the market projections.

Injury status

Michael Mayer is not on the injury report.

Darren Waller is listed as questionable with a toe injury.

Usage before Week 6

Through Week 5, Michael Mayer played 82 percent of LV snaps, drew 15 percent of the targets, earned 8 percent of the air yards and had 4 percent of the red zone chances.

Michael Mayer, Week 2 against LAC: 53 of 63 snaps, 4 targets and 3 catches for 23 yards.

Michael Mayer, Week 3 against NO: 61 of 70 snaps, 3 targets and 3 catches for 32 yards, 1 touchdown.

Michael Mayer, Week 4 against KC: 74 of 84 snaps, 10 targets and 8 catches for 82 yards.

Michael Mayer, Week 5 against NE: 39 of 60 snaps, 1 target and 1 catch for 2 yards.

Through Week 4, Darren Waller played 46 percent of CAR snaps, drew 13 percent of the targets, earned 10 percent of the air yards and had 10 percent of the red zone chances.

Darren Waller, Week 1 against CHI: 24 of 68 snaps, 2 targets and 2 catches for 28 yards.

Darren Waller, Week 2 against ATL: 29 of 66 snaps, 3 targets and 3 catches for 33 yards, 2 touchdowns.

Darren Waller, Week 3 against CLE: 39 of 77 snaps, 8 targets and 5 catches for 51 yards.

Darren Waller, Week 4 against DET: 40 of 75 snaps, 6 targets and 3 catches for 36 yards.

Their 2025 seasons

In 2025, Michael Mayer played 13 games for LV and scored 73.8 PPR points, 5.7 a game, finishing TE38.

He caught 35 of 50 targets for 328 yards and 1 touchdown, with 6 red zone targets and 132 air yards.

He was on the field for 57 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

In 2025, Darren Waller played 9 games for MIA and scored 88.7 PPR points, 9.9 a game, finishing TE33.

He caught 24 of 34 targets for 283 yards and 6 touchdowns, with 7 red zone targets and 210 air yards.

He was on the field for 45 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

Their other Week 6 calls

• Start Michael Mayer over AJ Barner.
• Start Brenton Strange over Michael Mayer.
• Start Cade Otton over Michael Mayer.
• Start Darren Waller over AJ Barner.
• Start Brenton Strange over Darren Waller.
• Start Cade Otton over Darren Waller.