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New York Giants tight end Darren Waller has had a difficult first year with his new team having just 36 catches for 384 yards and one touchdown through eight games played this season after leaving the Las Vegas Raiders this past off-season.
Unfortunately, the 31-year-old got banged up in Week 8 of this season, causing him to have been placed on the Injured Reserve which resulted in him missing at least four weeks. Fantasy managers are surely wondering when the star tight end is expected to return.
When is Waller coming back to action? What is his fantasy football outlook when he returns? Let's dive in.
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Darren Waller Latest Injury Update - December 6
Waller (hamstring) said he ran routes for the first time at practice on Tuesday under the watch of the training staff and said he felt good. Waller is unlikely to come off Injured Reserve to play on Monday night in Week 14 against the Green Bay Packers, but it sounds like he won't be out for much longer. The 31-year-old veteran has already missed the required four games while on IR, so now it's just a matter of his progress and when the Giants feel comfortable putting him back into game action.
Waller should be a top target for rookie quarterback Tommy Devito or veteran Tyrod Taylor (ribs) when he's back, so he should be stashed in all fantasy leagues. Daniel Bellinger has just nine catches (10 targets) for 123 yards and no touchdowns in the four games Waller has missed.
Darren Waller Injury Update for Fantasy Football
Waller (hamstring) originally suffered a hamstring injury in the Week 8 loss to the New York Jets. He exited the game and did not return with a hamstring injury. Just a few days later, he was placed on Injured Reserve, meaning he'd have to sit out at least four games.
The injury was originally viewed as a four-week recovery, so he should be expected to attempt to return to the field after the team's Week 12 bye.
With the state that the New York Giants are in, it is unlikely to take any chances to rush the star tight end, so this is a situation worth monitoring after the bye.
Darren Waller Fantasy Football Outlook
There certainly will be some question marks surrounding Waller's fantasy outlook when he returns to action. Even if he is fully healthy, he is a risky play as the team will be without quarterback Daniel Jones for the remainder of the 2023 season and he will look to build chemistry with newly named starter, Tommy Devito.
Waller has scored just one touchdown this season and the Giants sit dead last at 32nd in the NFL in total offensive yards per game which leaves concern for the tight end's low-floor probability.
When he returns, Waller can be viewed as a low-end TE1 for fantasy managers.
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