Darren

Waller

The Panthers should have their veteran receiving tight end on the field when they take on the Eagles this week. Waller remains a viable TE1, albeit as a somewhat volatile producer. We expect him to be practicing in full by the end of the week, coming off a restful bye.

Waller saw minimal involvement as quarterback Bryce Young leaned into his top option through the air, feeding Tetairoa McMillan 16 targets on 41 pass attempts in the absence of both Jalen Coker and Xavier Legette. Fantasy managers that scooped Waller off of waivers following his two-touchdown game in Week 2 are surely left disappointed in the recent returns, making Waller a potential drop candidate as the Panthers head to their bye.

With Xavier Legette (knee) sidelined and Jalen Coker (quad) joining him, Panthers tight ends Waller, Tommy Tremble and Mitchell Evans combined for 11/128. It was Waller’s most prolific receiving day of the season even though he didn’t find the end zone. Waller is undoubtedly providing valuable real-life reps for the Cats, but with 10 total receptions through three contests, he is looking like too much of a role player to rise above TE2 streamer status heading into Week 4 against the Lions.

Waller saw as many targets as Tommy Tremble and Mitchell Evans combined. Unlike the other Carolina tight ends, Waller is still an explosive pass-catcher and a de facto wide receiver. When Bryce Young looked his way, it was for a big play. He made good on the minor role with his first two touchdowns as a Panther. Waller only has five targets through two weeks. He will make the occasional big play, but it’s hard to get him in fantasy lineups with such a limited role.

Waller had a short touchdown grab called back on offensive pass interference while rotating snaps and routes with Tommy Tremble. Both Panthers tight ends ran 19 routes on the day and saw two targets from Bryce Young. Waller will continue as a touchdown-reliant TE2 option in Week 2 against the Falcons.

Sanders, who worked through a lingering ankle injury this offseason, won’t suit up for the team’s season opener. That leaves Darren Waller and Tommy Tremble as the Panthers’ top two tight ends against Chicago. Waller will be a touchdown-dependent TE2 option who probably won’t run many routes in the run-first Carolina offense. Tremble should remain on waiver wires.

Waller looked “big and fast” in Monday practice, per head coach Dave Canales, and reportedly hit 20 MPH on one of his routes. The veteran tight end was seen catching passes from Bryce Young and could have a chance to suit up for the Panthers’ Week 1 game against the Bears. It’s still too early to know how significant a role Waller will have in Canales’ offense, but he could have some fantasy viability as a streaming option in what is a very thin tight end room in Carolina.

While the team has yet to decide when Waller will make his 2026 debut, Waller said his readiness for the upcoming season is “night and day from last year to this year.” Last season, Waller was returning from retirement and needed a lot of time to ramp up. Now, it sounds like Waller could be in a position to at least be ready for the start of the season for a Panthers team that’s in need of help at the tight end position. While his days as a weekly TE1 are well behind him, Waller could have some upside as a matchup-based streamer once we get a better sense of his role in the offense.

Waller returned from retirement to play in nine games for the Dolphins last season. He hauled in 24-of-34 targets for 283 and six touchdowns before a groin injury ended his season prior to Week 18. The 33-year-old has a chance at being a red zone target for the Panthers, who previously had Tommy Tremble, Mitchell Evans, and Ja’Tavion Sanders listed at tight end. Waller brings veteran experience as a late add who should get enough usage to make him an option as a low-end TE2 for fantasy purposes.

Waller had seen his role in the offense diminish since Quinn Ewers took over as quarterback. The 33-year-old tight end had 66 yards and two touchdowns in his last game with Tua Tagovailoa, but had just 40 yards in a dream matchup against the Bengals in Ewers’ first start. Last week, Greg Dulcich usurped Waller completely. With Waller’s season now over, Dulcich has the role all to himself in Week 18. Waller finished with 283 yards and six touchdowns in three starts, proving he still has TE1 upside in his range of weekly outcomes even if it comes with a heaping serving of “left Week X’s game and did not return.” Waller, 34 at the start of next season, will be a free agent this offseason.