Darren Waller or Jadarian Price: Who Should You Start?

2026 Week 4 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Start Waller — Price is ruled out.

Jadarian Price is ruled out, which settles it: Darren Waller is the only startable side of this call. Waller projects 9.3 PPR points.

Darren Waller

Darren Waller

TECARvs DET

Projected Points

Toss-Up· low
Jadarian Price

Jadarian Price

RB23SEAvs LAC

Projected Points

OUT — verdict voidSit

Darren Waller’s market

REC
O/U 2.5
-166 / +124
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 26.5
-114 / -114
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+260
Anytime Touchdown Props →
DET@
CARSun, Oct 4, 8:20 PM ETView the game →
LAC@
SEASun, Oct 4, 4:25 PM ETView the game →

Why Darren Waller

Toss-Up· low

Backup TE and veteran pass-catching weapon. Former Pro Bowl-caliber mismatch target back from retirement, still a red-zone threat in a reduced snap share.

Softest DvP (32 of 32) and team-leading receptions/targets per CBS, but 43% snap share and a thin 3-game sample keep him borderline TE1.

  • DET ranks 32 of 32 against TEs (one of the softer matchups, 3-game sample).
  • Vegas implies 22.3 team points as 3.0-point underdogs.
  • Listed TE on the latest depth chart with a 43% snap share.

The call

  • Matchup grades as the softest in the league vs TEs (32 of 32), but it rests on a 3-game sample with only 0.25 confidence, so don't overweight it.
  • CBS Sports (2026-09-29) reports he led the Panthers in receptions and targets with 10 catches for 112 yards and two TDs through three games, which is a real usage signal at a thin position.
  • The workload is the red flag. A 43% snap share and 12% target share are part-time numbers, and his 9.3 projected points sit in fringe TE1 territory.
  • A 22.3 implied team total is middling. Tip it to start if your alternative is a low-volume streamer; sit if you have an established TE with a full-time snap role. ESPN's top-10 TE take is a headline only.

Latest on Waller

Role

Clicked frequently with Bryce Young, leading Panthers in receptions and targets while recording 10 catches for 112 yards and two TDs in first three games.

CBS Sports · Sep 29, 2026
Fantasy football last-minute pickups for Week 4: Raymond, Allen, Waller among top options

If injuries or tough matchups have you seeking help, Matt Bowen provides options at each key position.

ESPN · Oct 2, 2026
Panthers' Bryce Young to Darren Waller has been money in red zone

The veteran tight end's height, catch radius and history of red zone success make him a tough cover in big moments.

ESPN · Sep 24, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Why Jadarian Price

Sit

Rookie RB atop the depth chart. Explosive, home-run-speed runner with no prior NFL sample.

Ruled out — verdict void; pivot to your bench.

  • Currently ruled out — not a viable start until his status changes.
  • LAC ranks 17 of 32 against RBs (a middle-of-the-road matchup, 3-game sample).
  • Vegas implies 24.3 team points as 3.0-point favorites.
  • Listed RB on the latest depth chart with a 37% snap share.

Latest on Price

Status

Jadarian Price is ruled out for Seattle's game Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Jadarian Price Out After Aggravating Chest Injury & Other Seahawks Injury Updatesseahawks.com, ESPN · Oct 2, 2026
Status

Price did not practice Thursday with a chest injury, trending the wrong way for Week 4 availability.

Yahoo Sports · Oct 2, 2026
Seahawks rule out RB Jadarian Price for Week 4

Brady Henderson on the Seahawks ruling out Jadarian Price vs. the Chargers and who'll fill in for him.

VideoESPN · Oct 2, 2026
Seahawks' Mike Macdonald says team still believes in RB Jadarian Price

Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said the team has not lost faith in starting running back Jadarian Price after the rookie first-round pick lost a fumble for the second week in a row Sunday.

ESPN · Sep 28, 2026
Seahawks encouraged by Jadarian Price leading RB room

Seattle's running back committee has no touchdowns through two weeks, but there's another opportunity this week at Commanders.

ESPN · Sep 25, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Head-to-head stats

MetricDarren WallerJadarian Price
Projected points
Consensus rank—RB23
Opponent vs positionDET · 32 of 323-game sampleLAC · 17 of 323-game sample
Receptions32 of 329 of 32
Receiving Yards32 of 3212 of 32
Receiving TDs32 of 32—
Targets32 of 32—
Anytime TD32 of 3213 of 32
Rushing Yards—24 of 32
Rushing TDs—16 of 32
Rushing Attempts—28 of 32
Target share12%7%
Reception share14%6%
Implied total · spread22.3+3.024.3-3.0
Depth chartTE2RB1
Snap share43%37%
Injury designation—out
Start/Sit record0–0+1 toss-up0–1+2 toss-ups

Recent form

Darren Waller — last 3 weeks

Week 3vs CLE
Week 2vs ATL
Week 1vs CHI

Jadarian Price — last 3 weeks

Week 3vs WSH
Week 2vs ARI
Week 1vs NE

Signal breakdown

  • 9.3 vs 10.0 projected PPR pointsJadarian Price +
  • Consensus position rankeven
  • Opponent DvP rank 32 vs 17 (32 = softest)Darren Waller +
  • Implied 22.3 vs 24.3 team pointsJadarian Price +
  • A ruled-out player cannot be a startDarren Waller +
  • 43% vs 37% snap shareDarren Waller +

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