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Is Darren Waller out for the season? When is Darren Waller coming back? The latest Darren Waller injury update and fantasy football outlook heading into Week 8 of 2025.
Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller (pectoral) played in just four games this season and got off to a very hot start. He scored 17.7 and 18.8 PPR fantasy points in his first two contests. Unfortunately, in Week 7, he suffered an injury and wasn't able to finish the game.
It doesn't look like he'll play in Week 8 -- he's already been ruled out of his team's next contest. It's a tough break for the 32-year-old, who looked to be having a career resurgence and was set to play a large role in Miami's passing game.
The Dolphins are now down two of their top pass-catchers and have predictably been absolutely collapsing as a result. But will Waller be able to come back this season, or is he done for the year? Let's dive in.
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Is Darren Waller Out for the 2025 Season?
Right now, it looks like this is not the case. The most recent reporting of his injury states that it's not season-ending. He was placed on injured reserve, which means he's required to miss at least four games. The earliest he can return is in Week 13.
The Dolphins have a bye week in Week 12, which will afford him one more week of rest. A timetable for his comeback hasn't been released yet. We'll have to wait for more updates from the Dolphins on the matter.
TUA TO WALLER. DOLPHINS COME ALL THE WAY BACK.
LACvsMIA on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/vMTbTcJfi1
— NFL (@NFL) October 12, 2025
He should have a big role when he returns, if he's fully healthy, though. Keep an eye out for potential snap restrictions around the time of his return, and act accordingly.
Darren Waller 2025 Fantasy Football Outlook
Waller was a beast in tight end-premium leagues before he went down, and his epic two-game fantasy stretch was enough to get him ranked among the top tight ends in the league. When he returns, it will just be a matter of how healthy he is and how much Miami has given up on this season.
The Dolphins look completely deflated. The only piece of the offense that's been working consistently well all year has been running back De'Von Achane. He's had some very explosive games so far. The offensive line has actually also played well, but it hasn't translated into passing game production.
#Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa said part of the reason he didn’t target Jaylen Waddle much vs. the #Browns was because he had trouble seeing him over the O-line and D-line:
“I’m not the tallest guy back there. Sometimes when that happens you don’t want to just throw it blindly.” pic.twitter.com/gxlJOADdjp
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 22, 2025
Well, maybe that's part of the reason. Maybe it's a good thing, because Waller stands 6-foot-6 inches tall, apparently, and perhaps it's easier for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to see him over his offensive line. Bullish for Waller ROS!
Either way, if you have enough injured reserve spots on your roster, it might be worth stashing Waller. Perhaps he'll come back around Week 13 and start to play well again in the fantasy football playoffs, and give you a lifeline if you're struggling at TE at that point. Otherwise, he's a fine player to drop if you need the roster space.
In a lot of leagues, he probably won't be picked up until closer to his return if you do.
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Popular Week 8 Searches - Start/Sit Player Comparisons
Below are some popular Week 8 searches and comparisons from our 'Who To Start' tool for George Kittle, Dalton Kincaid, Travis Kelce, Kyle Pitts, Dalton Schultz compared to others:
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