Waller finished as the TE2 for Week 9 so far, catching 8 of 10 targets for 90 yards and a TD in a 26-21 loss to the Broncos. He led Carolina in targets, catches and receiving yards. Waller played only 35 snaps (53%), but he ran 29 routes, second-most on the team. That means he drew a target on 34% of his routes. Tommy Tremble (4-24-1) and Mitchell Evans (2-20) also factored in.
2026 Fantasy Football Impact
This was a huge jump in usage. Waller came in averaging 3.6 targets per game (TE31) with a 10.2% target share. He caught just 1 of 2 targets for 11 yards in Week 8 (TE43). He’d been under a 14% targets-per-route rate in six of his seven games. Carolina leaned more on 12 and 13 personnel this week, and Waller’s 12-personnel snap rate jumped from 30% to 50%. His 9.4-yard aDOT ranks 4th among TEs, so he offers big-play upside when the targets come.
Week 10 is at New Orleans, which allows the 7th-most fantasy points to TEs (16.4 per game) and ranks 24th in our Pass Defense Power rankings. Week 11 brings Baltimore (15th-most to TEs, 13.8; 18th in Pass Defense Power). Week 12 is at Tampa Bay (11th, 14.8), which ranks 5th in Pass Defense Power. Waller is worth adding, but this could be a game-plan-specific role. Treat him as a TE2 with upside against the Saints.
