2021 Raiders Rewind: Superstar TE Darren Waller

After a 2020 season that established him as one of the league’s premier tight ends, the hype surrounding Darren Waller of the Las Vegas Raiders couldn’t have been greater in 2021. A roller-coaster season for the veteran. Here’s how it all broke down.

Picking up where he left off

At the conclusion of the Raiders’ 2020 season, Darren Waller was unstoppable. He had over 100 receiving yards in four of the last five games and was targeted a whopping 55 times. Against the Baltimore Ravens in week one of 2021, it appeared as if he and Derek Carr were the only Raiders’ players on the field. On a staggering 19 targets, Waller had ten receptions for 105 yards and a touchdown. Going forward, however, he would play more of a complementary role. Through the next five weeks, Waller would have more than 60 receiving yards only once and score just one touchdown. Defenses had focused on eliminating him, which opened things up for the ascending Henry Ruggs III.

Then came the first injury of the season. He would miss the Week 7 game against the Eagles due to knee and ankle injuries. However, he would return after the bye week to face the New York Giants. In the first game since the Ruggs incident, Waller was needed more than ever. He responded with seven catches for 92 yards in one of his best games of the season, although the Raiders would lose this one. Two weeks later, he would have his best game of the season against the Bengals, with 116 receiving yards on seven receptions.