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Cincinnati Bengals: 4 toughest tight ends on 2021 schedule

By Leigh Oleszczak

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - OCTOBER 11: A Cincinnati Bengals helmet sits on the grass during warm ups before the start of the Bengals and Baltimore Ravens game at M&T Bank Stadium on October 11, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - OCTOBER 11: A Cincinnati Bengals helmet sits on the grass during warm ups before the start of the Bengals and Baltimore Ravens game at M&T Bank Stadium on October 11, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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Cincinnati Bengals
Darren Waller #83 of the Oakland Raiders (Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images) /

Toughest Tight Ends on Cincinnati Bengals Schedule – No. 3: Darren Waller

It’s saying something when Darren Waller is listed as the third toughest tight end on the schedule, but I said before how the Bengals have the two best tight ends on their schedule this year, so Waller appropriately is third here.

Waller is a nice story. He was a sixth-round pick by the Ravens out of Georgia Tech and did very little in Baltimore. Waller then joined the Raiders where he has climbed to the top tight end ranks with how well he’s performed. He’s coming off his best season yet, totaling 107 receptions for 1,196 yards and nine touchdowns.

Despite putting up several huge stat lines throughout the 2020 season, one performance stands out as Waller’s best last year. He had 13 receptions for 200 yards receiving and two touchdowns in a Week 13 win over the Jets and those numbers are terrifying to look at for anyone who’s not a Raiders fan.

Surprisingly, Waller hasn’t put up massive numbers against the Bengals but he’s only faced them twice as a member of the Raiders. In 2019, he caught five passes for 78 yards when the Bengals visited the Black Hole. Waller has yet to score a touchdown against Cincinnati.

The Raiders are one of the more intriguing teams in the league and Waller plays a big part in that. He’s a nightmare matchup for any team, so let’s hope Bates brings his A-game for this one.