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Writer's pictureZach Rizzuto

Darren Waller Has Been On Fire with Daniel Jones Out



After an offseason of anticipation and hype for TE Darren Waller as the Giants’ top receiving weapon in 2023, the former Raider got out to a slow start in his first five games in the Big Apple. From Weeks 1-5, Waller was just the TE10 in fantasy points per game (9.4) and the TE9 in total points scored (46.9). He didn’t score a touchdown in any of those games – all of which were quarterbacked by Daniel Jones.


Damn that $160 million deal the Giants gave Daniel Jones! Waller has been everything we wanted him to be over the past two weeks with Tyrod Taylor at QB.

Fast forward to Weeks 6 and 7 – games quarterbacked by Tyrod Taylor while Jones has been out with injury – and Waller looks like the top-flight tight end he was supposed to be in 2023. He’s dominated target share in the Giants receiving room at 26% - no other Giants WR has a target share higher than 17% in that span. Waller has also caught the 2nd-most passes among all TEs in Weeks 6 and 7, behind only Travis Kelce.


Most importantly, though, is the turnaround in his fantasy production. Waller is averaging the second-most fantasy points at the position in that span (again, behind only Travis Kelce) while benefitting from higher-quality QB play from Tyrod Taylor. After averaging just a 79% catchable target rate over the first 5 weeks with Daniel Jones under center, Waller has seen that number increase to 87% with Taylor throwing the ball. Taylor also gave Waller his first two end zone targets of the season, one of which he caught this week for his first score as a Giant. He had zero previously in five games with Daniel Jones.


Bottom line: there’s no reason for the Giants to rush Daniel Jones back. Seriously.

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