Darren Fells is a career quality starter — a tight end whose body of work places Fells in the top half of all players at the position historically. The Knox model values sustained contribution over flash, and Fells's career arc reflects exactly that kind of reliable professional-grade performance.
Darren Fells
Height6'7"
Weight281 lb
BornApr 22, 1986
Age40
CollegeUC IrvineSee College Stats
ConferenceNO FOOTBALL
Rookie yr2014
All-Time Rank & Honors
career ranks, postseason ranks, awards, title contextPostseason all-time ranks
A tight end with a above-average career — the kind of consistent contributor every roster needs. Solid availability (excellent availability over their career) added to their value.
Career Value · VORP
VORP 38 · #2384 · Role PlayerWorth 38 points of value above a freely-available replacement tight end — top 52% of all 4,642 ranked at the position. 4 of 7 seasons cleared the replacement bar, by +9.5 on average.See board →
Seasons above replacement
4 cleared
3 replaced
Beat replacement (adds to VORP) Below it — adds 0, never a debit
46
Replacement
the KC-H bar
→
4
Seasons over
cleared the bar
×
+9.5
Avg surplus
peak +13
4 seasons × ~9.5 surplus ≈ VORP 38
Combined Season Grid
The full season-by-season grids, joined on one timeline. Every selected stat family stays visible at once—no tab hopping.
4 grids split in one view
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | Receiving | Defense | Snap Counts | Advanced (EPA) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tgt | Rec | Yds | TD | Ctch% | Y/R | Y/Tgt | AirYd/T | 1D | Tkl | Solo | Ast | TFL | QBHits | Sk | Dis | Int | PD | FF | FR | TD | Sfty | Off | Off% | Def | Def% | ST | ST% | Pass EPA | Rush EPA | Rec EPA | Pass AirYd | Rec AirYd | |||||
| 2014 | — | ARI | 5 | — | 11 | 5 | 71 | 0 | 45.5% | 14.2 | 6.5 | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 225 | 33.9% | — | 0.0% | 55 | 21.9% | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2014 | — | ATL | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2014 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0.7 | 0 | 106 |
| 2015 | — | ARI | 11 | — | 28 | 21 | 311 | 3 | 75.0% | 14.8 | 11.1 | — | 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 672 | 71.3% | — | 0.0% | 92 | 22.1% | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2015 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 22.6 | 0 | 248 |
| 2016 | — | ARI | 9 | — | 18 | 14 | 154 | 1 | 77.8% | 11.0 | 8.6 | — | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 370 | 36.9% | — | 0.0% | 22 | 19.5% | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2016 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6.9 | 0 | 106 |
| 2017 | — | DET | 13 | — | 26 | 17 | 177 | 3 | 65.4% | 10.4 | 6.8 | — | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 549 | 52.5% | — | 0.0% | 157 | 33.1% | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2017 | — | CAR | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2017 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10.1 | 0 | 116 |
| 2018 | — | CLE | 8 | — | 12 | 11 | 117 | 3 | 91.7% | 10.6 | 9.8 | — | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 420 | 38.8% | — | 0.0% | 186 | 37.9% | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2018 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11.3 | 0 | 57 |
| 2019 | — | HOU | 15 | — | 48 | 34 | 341 | 7 | 70.8% | 10.0 | 7.1 | — | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 740 | 73.6% | — | 0.0% | 82 | 19.1% | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2019 | — | BAL | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 22.1 | 0 | 258 |
| 2020 | — | HOU | 12 | — | 28 | 21 | 312 | 4 | 75.0% | 14.9 | 11.1 | — | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 538 | 54.4% | — | 0.0% | 77 | 17.3% | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 22.8 | 0 | 199 |
| 2021 | — | DET | 3 | — | 5 | 4 | 43 | 0 | 80.0% | 10.8 | 8.6 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 164 | 26.8% | — | 0.0% | 19 | 9.4% | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2021 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0.8 | 0 | 24 |
| Career | — | 79 | — | 176 | 127 | 1,526 | 21 | 72.2% | 12.0 | 8.7 | — | 84 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 3,678 | 48.5% | — | 0.0% | 690 | 22.5% | — | — | 97.3 | 0 | 1,114 | |
Career EPA97.3·97 receiving·12.2/season
Receiving
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | Tgt | Rec | Yds | TD | Ctch% | Y/R | Y/Tgt | AirYd/T | 1D | VAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 28 | ARI | 5 | 0* | 11 | 5 | 71 | 0 | 45.5% | 14.2 | 6.5 | — | 4 | 1.5 |
| 2015 | 29 | ARI | 11 | 10* | 28 | 21 | 311 | 3 | 75.0% | 14.8 | 11.1 | — | 15 | 7.8 |
| 2016 | 30 | ARI | 9 | 0* | 18 | 14 | 154 | 1 | 77.8% | 11.0 | 8.6 | — | 7 | 4.1 |
| 2017 | 31 | DET | 13 | 8* | 26 | 17 | 177 | 3 | 65.4% | 10.4 | 6.8 | — | 12 | 7.2 |
| 2018 | 32 | CLE | 8 | 0* | 12 | 11 | 117 | 3 | 91.7% | 10.6 | 9.8 | — | 6 | 5.3 |
| 2019 | 33 | HOU | 15 | 12* | 48 | 34 | 341 | 7 | 70.8% | 10.0 | 7.1 | — | 22 | 13.3 |
| 2020 | 34 | HOU | 12 | 9* | 28 | 21 | 312 | 4 | 75.0% | 14.9 | 11.1 | — | 16 | 8.5 |
| 2021 | 35 | DET | 3 | 0* | 5 | 4 | 43 | 0 | 80.0% | 10.8 | 8.6 | — | 2 | — |
| Career | 76 | 39* | 176 | 127 | 1,526 | 21 | 72.2% | 12.0 | 8.7 | — | 84 | 47.7 |
* GS not available from free sources — SG* estimated from snap share (nflverse 2012+)
Snap Counts
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | Off | Off% | Def | Def% | ST | ST% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 28 | ARI | 10 | 0* | 225 | 33.9% | — | 0.0% | 55 | 21.9% |
| 2015 | 29 | ARI | 14 | 10* | 672 | 71.3% | — | 0.0% | 92 | 22.1% |
| 2016 | 30 | ARI | 14 | 0* | 370 | 36.9% | — | 0.0% | 22 | 19.5% |
| 2017 | 31 | DET | 16 | 8* | 549 | 52.5% | — | 0.0% | 157 | 33.1% |
| 2018 | 32 | CLE | 16 | 0* | 420 | 38.8% | — | 0.0% | 186 | 37.9% |
| 2019 | 33 | HOU | 16 | 12* | 740 | 73.6% | — | 0.0% | 82 | 19.1% |
| 2020 | 34 | HOU | 16 | 9* | 538 | 54.4% | — | 0.0% | 77 | 17.3% |
| 2021 | 35 | DET | 9 | 0* | 164 | 26.8% | — | 0.0% | 19 | 9.4% |
| Career | 111 | 39* | 3,678 | — | — | — | 690 | — |
* GS not available from free sources — SG* estimated from snap share (nflverse 2012+)
Advanced (EPA)
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | Pass EPA | Rush EPA | Rec EPA | Pass AirYd | Rec AirYd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 28 | — | — | 0* | — | — | 0.7 | 0 | 106 |
| 2015 | 29 | — | — | 10* | — | — | 22.6 | 0 | 248 |
| 2016 | 30 | — | — | 0* | — | — | 6.9 | 0 | 106 |
| 2017 | 31 | — | — | 8* | — | — | 10.1 | 0 | 116 |
| 2018 | 32 | — | — | 0* | — | — | 11.3 | 0 | 57 |
| 2019 | 33 | — | — | 12* | — | — | 22.1 | 0 | 258 |
| 2020 | 34 | — | — | 9* | — | — | 22.8 | 0 | 199 |
| 2021 | 35 | — | — | 0* | — | — | 0.8 | 0 | 24 |
| Career | 39* | — | — | — | 0 | 1,114 |
* GS not available from free sources — SG* estimated from snap share (nflverse 2012+)
Advanced Receiving (2018+)
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | ADOT | YBC/R | YAC/R | BrkTkl | Drops | Drop% | 1D | TgtRate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 32 | CLE | 16 | 0* | 4.8 | 4.6 | 6.0 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 6 | 146.9 |
| 2019 | 33 | HOU | 16 | 12* | 5.4 | 5.1 | 4.9 | 2 | 3 | 0.1 | 22 | 130.3 |
| 2020 | 34 | HOU | 16 | 9* | 7.1 | 6.4 | 8.4 | 6 | 0 | 0.0 | 16 | 150.6 |
| 2021 | 35 | 2TM | 9 | 0* | 4.8 | 4.0 | 6.8 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 2 | 102.5 |
| Career | 57 | 21* | — | — | — | 9 | 3 | — | 46 | — |
* GS not available from free sources — SG* estimated from snap share (nflverse 2012+)
KV-H Anatomy
KV-H 53 · SolidA solid career by KV-H: a well-rounded profile that scores 53 of 100, era-normalized against rec yds/g peers across 7 scored seasons.
51
Sustained
career value
×.6
55
Peak
best 3 seasons
×.4
×1
Longevity
career length
Blend 52.6 × longevity 1 = KV-H 53· confidence 95%
What builds the career mark of 51
On-field 36.9
Availability 14.1
On-field production Staying available
Season-by-season quality (era-relative rec yds/g)
2014bestavg 482020
All-Time Standing
how this career measures against the all-time greats at the position14
Depth
of 100
Reached 11% of the all-time Receiving Touchdowns leader — a rotational/depth all-time profile at the position.
11% of the all-time Receiving Touchdowns leader11
0 categories ≥25% of the all-time leader0
12.16 EPA/season over 8 seasons54
A 0–100 scale where 100 = matched the all-time leaderat this position. Built only from visible encyclopedia data — career production vs. the all-time leader, plus efficiency (EPA) and comparable-player confidence — so it's a transparent context score, not a subjective rating. Tiers: Elite ≥ 85 · Strong ≥ 65 · Solid ≥ 45 · Depth < 45. Comparable-player confidence: 83%.
Per-Snap Impact
Tight Ends · proprietary · 2012+41
Solid
SIS
Yards/snap0.415Touch rate0.048EPA/snap0.026Snap share48.5%Off snaps3,678ReliableCV 0.27
Production per snap — the box score normalized by opportunity. SIS is z-scored within tight ends, shrinkage-regularized so small samples don't spike, over the NFL snap-count era (2012+).
Career Aging Trajectory
vs. position group average · KV-H basisAmber = this player (normalized to own peak). Indigo = average tight ends aging curve. Group peak age: 25. Source: StatVault KV-H era (1999+).
Playoff vs Regular Season
📉 Regular Season Player
Yards / Reception: 12.0 regular season → 9.2 playoffs (3 playoff seasons)
-24%
vs reg season
Postseason Career
5 playoff gamesReceiving
Tgt19Rec12Yds110TD3Ctch%63.2%Y/R9.2Y/Tgt5.81D7
Advanced (EPA)
Rec EPA7.8Rec AirYd121
College stats are not imported for this profile yet.
StatVault has the verified college attribution (UC Irvine), but no parsed college box-score table is present in this profile artifact. The section stays here so every profile has a consistent college-stats landing point without fabricating unavailable rows.
Reference Graph
Career teammates and draft class, derived from year-by-year rosters — every name is linked.
Top Teammates
David JohnsonRB4yEarl WatfordG4yLarry FitzgeraldWR3yCalais CampbellDE3yPatrick PetersonCB3yCarson PalmerQB3yTyrann MathieuFS3yFrostee RuckerDE3yKenny StillsWR3yKevin MinterILB3yTony JeffersonS3yMichael FloydWR3yJustin BethelCB3yJohn BrownWR3yDuke JohnsonRB3yAlex OkaforDE3yChandler CatanzaroK3yDeone BucannonOLB3yJaron BrownWR3yJared VeldheerOT3yJosh MauroDE3yAndre EllingtonRB3yDan SkipperOT3yPhillip GainesCB3y
Franchise Succession
the room, before and afterDarren inherited the Detroit Lions TE room from Eric Ebron (2014–2017), and handed it to T.J. Hockenson (2019–2021).
Similar Players
Statistical + physical similarity across every player in the database, position-relevant (0–100%).
Movementderived from season history
- 2021team change
Joined DET (from HOU)
- 2021final season
Last recorded season with DET
- 2019team change
Joined HOU (from CLE)
- 2018team change
Joined CLE (from DET)
- 2017team change
Joined DET (from ARI)
- 2014signing
Entered the NFL with ARI
Athletic & Unique Profile
verified measurements and curated source-tagged facts6'7" / 281 lb
Frame
Injury History
4 career games missed (Out)From nflverse weekly injury reports · coverage begins 2009.
| Season | Team | Games Out | Designations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | HOU | 0 | W19Questionable· Hip |
| 2016 | ARI | 2 | W5Out· ShoulderW8Out· Ankle |
| 2015 | ARI | 2 | W5Questionable· HipW7Out· ShoulderW8Out· Shoulder |
Knox
StatVault's proprietary player intelligence, informed by full career data. How Knox works →
Historical Knox · KV-H
Era-normalized career quality — z-scored against 7-season peers. See all →
53
peak 55
Season Report Cards· KV-H era-normalized per season
F2014
C+2015
C2016
C2017
C2018
C+2019
C+2020
Availability
Career durability — games played vs. scheduled, across 8 seasons.
86%
Era Translator
Rec Yds translated to the 2025NFL — each season's standing among its own-era peers, projected onto 2025's scoring environment. Modern-era (1999+) coverage.
| Season | Actual Rec Yds | Rec Yds/G | → 2025 Rec Yds | → 2025 /G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 71 | 14.2 | 232+161 | 13.6 |
| 2015 | 311 | 28.3 | 474+163 | 27.9 |
| 2016 | 154 | 17.1 | 293+139 | 17.3 |
| 2017 | 177 | 13.6 | 229+52 | 13.5 |
| 2018 | 117 | 14.6 | 236+119 | 13.9 |
| 2019 | 341 | 22.7 | 412+71 | 24.3 |
| 2020 | 312 | 26 | 477+165 | 28.1 |
Data: nflverse:players, nflverse:player_stats, nflverse:player_stats_def, nflverse:snap_counts, nflverse:advanced-epa (CC-BY 4.0), nflverse:injuries · multi-source verified via the StatVault Oracle · updated 6/18/2026
Career Value · VORP
38 career value over replacement — #2384 all-time of 4,642. 5.4/season above a replacement-level TE.
Fan Rating
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