Raiders TE Darren Waller had the fifth-most fantasy points ever by a tight end in Week 13

Raiders TE Darren Waller had the fifth-most fantasy points ever by a tight end in Week 13

If you are a fantasy football junkie, you can probably name a few of the greatest fantasy performances ever in a single game. You might have remembered Jerry Rice’s 225 yards and five touchdowns in 1990. Or maybe Jamala Charles’ 59.5 point day against the Raiders in 2013.

But remembering dominant performances at the tight end position might be a little more difficult. Since 2000, only six tight ends have scored over 40 fantasy points (PPR) in a single game. There have been a number of 35 point games, but it’s rare to see someone get into the 40s when it comes to PPR points.

Darren Waller’s performance in Week 13 against the Jets was one for the record books. He caught 13 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns, racking up 45 fantasy points in PPR leagues. That just so happened to be the fifth-best scoring performance by a tight end ever and the most fantasy points at the position since 2002.

In case you were wondering who is ahead of him, here are the top performances ever from the position via Pro Football Reference:

  1. 1981 – Kellen Winslow – 13 receptions for 144 yards and 5 TDs (54.7 PPR points)
  2. 1983 – Kellen Winslow – 14 receptions for 162 and 3 TDs (48.2 PPR points)
  3. 1996 – Shannon Sharpe – 13 receptions for 153 yards and 3 TDs (46.3 PPR points)
  4. 2002 – Shannon Sharpe – 12 receptions for 214 yards and 2 TDs (45.4 PPR points)
  5. 2020 – Darren Waller  – 13 receptions for 200 yards and 2 TDs (45 PPR points)

That’s right. Waller did something that Rob Gronkowski, Travis Kelce, George Kittle, Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez have never done; score 45 PPR points in a single game. It was a historic performance by the Raiders’ best player and it could have been an even bigger day if it weren’t for a few defensive pass interference calls that he drew near the goal line.

The Raiders are going to need the star tight end to carry the offense over the final month of the season if they want to earn a playoff berth for the first time since 2016. And with Josh Jacobs likely out another week, expect the Raiders to lean on Waller heavily once again this week against a really good Colts’ team.

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