Jaylen Waddle
Wide Receiver #17
Jaylen Waddle News
Jaylen Waddle Has Volume-Driven Upside Despite Quarterback Change
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle finds himself in the middle of an evolving offense, and not in a good way. The Dolphins endured an ugly season of quarterback play from Tua Tagovailoa, and they replaced the former first-round pick with Malik Willis, who flashed upside in Green Bay but will likely start to get figured out by opposing defenses now that he's a full-time starter. Plus, Willis' top trait has been his mobility and physical running style, leaving some questions about his passing. All in all, that's not great news for Waddle. On the bright side, though, the former first-round receiver is headed for significant volume once again. Much like most of the 2025 regular season, Waddle will enter the 2026 season without Tyreek Hill in Miami's receiving room. Waddle is the No. 1 wide receiver in Miami, and between Tutu Atwell and Malik Washington, there's not much competition. Therefore, even though we're not sold on this offense in 2026, Waddle should still have a productive fantasy season while commanding a heavy target share every week. That type of role resulted in a modest stat line of 64 catches, 910 yards, and six touchdowns last season. We wouldn't be surprised to see him push for 75 catches, 1,000 yards, and another six-plus scores in 2026, keeping him in the mix as a mid-to-low WR2 for fantasy football purposes.
Mar 12, 2026 9:19 PM EST
Dolphins Not Actively Shopping De'Von Achane, Jaylen Waddle
ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacque reports that the Miami Dolphins are not actively shopping running back De'Von Achane or wide receiver Jaylen Waddle for trades this offseason. The Dolphins view Achane and Waddle as "important parts of their franchise," which is in a rebuild with a new front office and coaching staff going into the 2026 season. The Dolphins will listen to offers for both players, but the plan is for them both to remain in Miami, according to general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan. The team already released receiver Tyreek Hill (knee) and is expected to trade or release quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, but they'd like to build around Achane and Waddle after they both had big seasons in 2025. Achane, 24, had his best season in Year 3, rushing for 1,350 yards and eight TDs on 238 carries while adding 67 catches for 488 yards and four more scores in 16 games. Waddle, meanwhile, bounced back in 2025 as the team's leading receiver with a 64-910-6 line in 16 games played.
Feb 24, 2026 7:05 AM EST
Dolphins Want to Keep De'Von Achane, Jaylen Waddle
The Miami Dolphins have a new front office and coaching staff and are looking to get younger heading into the 2026 season. The NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe reports that plenty of teams will be eager to talk to Miami to see which players they might be willing to trade. We already know that the Dolphins want to try to trade quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, but Wolfe says that they prefer not to get rid of running back De'Von Achane and wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, two of their top offensive playmakers. Achane was by far the team's most consistent offensive player in 2025, finishing as the RB6 in half-PPR scoring thanks to a career-high 1,350 rushing yards and eight TDs on 238 carries. He also had 67 receptions for 488 yards and four more scores. Waddle fell short of 1,000 receiving yards for the second straight year, but he bounced back with 910 yards and six TDs on 64 catches. Despite questions at QB and with a new coaching staff, the Dolphins should continue to lean heavily on both Achane and Waddle in 2026 if they stick around.
Feb 20, 2026 6:39 PM EST
Jaylen Waddle Profiles as the Clear WR1 in Miami Heading into 2026
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle rebounded from a down 2024 season in 2025, recording 64 catches for 910 yards and six touchdowns on 100 targets across 16 games played. After fellow Dolphins wideout Tyreek Hill (knee) suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 4, Waddle took over as the team's undisputed WR1 for the remainder of the year. Miami released Hill earlier this week, so Waddle profiles as the team's lead pass-catcher once again heading into 2026. The Dolphins will have a different look in 2026, as the team fired former head coach and play-caller Mike McDaniel and is reportedly looking to trade quarterback Tua Tagovailoa as well. The changes around Waddle muddle his fantasy outlook a bit, but could also be a good thing for the 27-year-old as he heads into his sixth NFL campaign. In dynasty formats, Waddle re-established his value in 2025 and could be in line for the best year of his career in 2026.
Feb 20, 2026 9:48 AM EST
Jaylen Waddle Bounces Back in 2025, Now Faces Coaching-Staff Change
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle bounced back from the worst season of his career in 2024 by catching 64 of his 100 targets for 910 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 16 starts in his fifth year in the NFL in 2025. Waddle also had 28 rushing yards. It was good enough to put him as the WR22 in half-PPR scoring. It was nice to see the 27-year-old pass-catcher bounce back from a disastrous 2024 campaign, but it might have still been somewhat of a disappointment for him, considering Tyreek Hill (knee) missed most of the year with a season-ending injury. Waddle thankfully had a larger target share, but the Dolphins' offense just was unable to find its explosiveness for a second straight season, and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was benched late in the year. Waddle still has the talent to provide plenty of value in PPR fantasy leagues, but his value is in major flux heading into 2026 under a completely new coaching staff. Hill's return (whenever that may be) will also be a negative for Waddle's ceiling.
Jan 28, 2026 1:45 PM EST
Jaylen Waddle Officially Sidelined for Season Finale
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (ribs) is officially inactive for Sunday's Week 18 contest against the New England Patriots. He had been listed as questionable after practicing in a limited capacity. This Quinn Ewers-led offense finds itself incredibly short-handed with Waddle, De'Von Achane (shoulder), Darren Waller (groin, IR), and Tyreek Hill (knee, IR) all sidelined. Malik Washington, Cedrick Wilson, and late-season breakout Theo Wease Jr. should step up as Ewers' top targets in the passing game on Sunday. Those receivers will look to outduel a Patriots defense that has allowed the fifth-fewest yards to opposing wide receivers in 2025.
Jan 4, 2026 3:46 PM EST
Jaylen Waddle Not Expected to Suit Up in Week 18
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (ribs) is not expected to play in Sunday's Week 18 contest against the New England Patriots, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Waddle had been listed as questionable after practicing in a limited capacity. His absence will worsen the chances of the Dolphins, who are incredibly short-staffed, pulling off an upset against the AFC East-leading Patriots. Not only is Waddle sidelined, but Miami also remains without De'Von Achane (shoulder), Tua Tagovailoa (coach's decision), Darren Waller (groin, IR), and Tyreek Hill (knee, IR). This offense might limp to the finish line during the final week of the season. Look for Malik Washington to step up as Quinn Ewers' top target against a Patriots defense that has allowed the fifth-fewest yards to opposing wide receivers in 2025.
Jan 4, 2026 7:32 AM EST
Jaylen Waddle Questionable to Play in Week 18
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (ribs) will be limited in Friday's practice and is questionable to play in Sunday's Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival New England Patriots, according to Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN. Waddle missed practice on Wednesday and was limited on Thursday and Friday. Tight end Darren Waller (groin) won't play in the final game of the season, and both Waddle and running back De'Von Achane (shoulder) could be held out. Waddle had five catches for 72 yards in rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers' first NFL start, but he failed to haul in his only target in last week's win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before injuring his ribs. The 27-year-old could be a game-time decision in Week 18, making him extremely risky for fantasy managers still trying to win a championship.
Jan 2, 2026 12:32 PM EST
Jaylen Waddle Sitting Out on Wednesday
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (ribs) is not practicing on Wednesday due to a rib injury, according to Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald. Waddle is in danger of missing the Week 18 regular-season finale this Sunday against the division-rival New England Patriots after injuring his ribs in the Week 17 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 27-year-old was able to return to Sunday's game, but he played only 26% of the offensive snaps and finished the day with zero catches on one target. However, Waddle is just 90 yards shy of his third career 1,000-yard season, so perhaps that will give him the motivation to play this weekend in New England. If Waddle does not play in Week 18, Malik Washington and Theo Wease Jr., who had a long touchdown last weekend, would be more involved in Miami's passing attack.
Dec 31, 2025 2:56 PM EST
Jaylen Waddle Questionable to Return in Week 17 with Rib Injury
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (ribs) is questionable to return to his team's Week 17 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers due to a rib injury. Waddle recorded one rush attempt for seven yards but was not targeted as a receiver before exiting the game. If he is unable to return, Dolphins wide receivers Malik Washington, Cedrick Wilson Jr., and Theo Wease Jr. will all likely see an uptick in playing time and target share. Miami running back De'Von Achane could play an even larger role in the team's passing game for the remainder of Week 17 as well.
Dec 28, 2025 2:07 PM EST
Jaylen Waddle Is a WR2 in Week 17
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle has been the team's top option since Tyreek Hill's season-ending injury, and he'll be a solid second receiver in standard-sized leagues this week as his team hosts the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Waddle had five catches on nine targets for 72 yards in last week's loss to the Bengals, which was the first career start for rookie QB Quinn Ewers. Waddle led the team with those nine targets, with no other player getting more than five looks. Waddle didn't get into the end zone for a second straight week, but he has six touchdowns to go with his 910 receiving yards this season. He could get to 1,000 yards on Sunday if he has a big game against the Bucs, who rank in the middle of the league as a WR matchup. Waddle is the No. 17 WR in Week 17's RotoBaller rankings, landing him as a solid WR2 this week with a high floor due to this target volume.
Dec 27, 2025 7:42 AM EST
Jaylen Waddle a WR3 While Working With a New Quarterback
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle has clearly been the Dolphins' go-to wide receiver since Tyreek Hill (knee) sustained a season-ending injury, but this week against the Bengals, he'll be working with a new QB, which makes him much higher risk. Last week against the Steelers, Waddle only managed two catches for 26 yards in the Dolphins' defeat. Since that loss eliminated the team from playoff contention, it was also likely the end of the season for Tua Tagovailoa, who will be replaced by Quinn Ewers for this week's matchup. Waddle has turned his 90 targets into 59 catches for 838 receiving yards and six touchdowns this season, and he should remain the focus of the passing game with a high ceiling. The rookie QB taking over does raise Waddle's risk, though, which is why he's slid to no. 24 in RotoBaller's WR rankings this week, making him a WR3 or flex play in standard leagues, instead of a reliable WR2.
Dec 20, 2025 7:44 AM EST
Jaylen Waddle Is a High-End WR2 Against the Steelers
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle will try to help the Dolphins secure their fifth straight win this Monday when they visit the Steelers. While the Dolphins have had a very low-volume passing attack in recent weeks, Waddle has remained a solid starting option in most formats because he is clearly the top option in the offense. Waddle has at least three catches and at least six targets in six straight games with three touchdowns and an average of 67.8 yards per game during that span. He had five catches for 50 yards and a touchdown last week against the Jets, and he will be in a solid matchup against the Steelers, who rank in the top 10 in fantasy points allowed to receivers this season. The Steelers have allowed 12 receiver touchdowns in 13 games, so Waddle has good potential for another productive week if he continues to get so many targets. In RotoBaller's Week 15 rankings, Waddle is the No. 11 WR, making him a low-end WR1 or a high-end WR2 in standard-sized leagues. He should be started in almost all formats since his production has been so reliably consistent.
Dec 13, 2025 6:08 PM EST
Jaylen Waddle Scores a Touchdown in Dolphins' Win
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle secured five of his team-high seven targets to lead the team in receiving yards with 50 and also scored the only receiving touchdown of the day for Miami in the team's 34-10 triumph in New York. Waddle has six scores this season, and he continues to operate as the team's clear No. 1 receiver with Tyreek Hill (knee) out for the year. Waddle is up to 812 yards with four games remaining, so if he stays healthy, he has a good shot to get to 1,000 yards for the fourth time in his five NFL seasons. He'll be a solid play going forward, even though the Dolphins are a low-volume, low-risk pass offense at this point.
Dec 8, 2025 7:54 AM EST
Jaylen Waddle Is a High End WR2 Against the Jets
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle has trailed off a little bit in the last two games, with only three catches each against the Commanders and the Saints. The Dolphins' passing game has been very low-volume in the last few games as they rely heavily on De'Von Achane and the defense to win three straight. This week, Waddle has a good matchup against the Jets, who traded away Sauce Gardner and have allowed four receiver touchdowns in the last six weeks. Even in his down games, Waddle continues to lead the way in targets, so he still has potential upside if the game script calls for passing. He is the WR12 in RotoBaller's Week 14 rankings, making him a solid WR2 with WR1 upside if the Dolphins have to air it out a little more.
Dec 5, 2025 7:48 PM EST
Jaylen Waddle Is a WR1 in Week 13
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle will be coming off his bye week this Sunday for a home game against the Saints. Waddle has been a huge part of the Dolphins' recent surge and emerged as a reliable starter every week. The 27-year-old had over 80 yards five times in his last seven games and has hauled in three touchdowns during that span as well. Waddle has at least six targets in nine of his last 10 games and is averaging 65.6 receiving yards per game. With 6.6 targets per game, he's getting plenty of looks from Tua Tagovailoa, and he's the WR9 in RotoBaller's Week 13 rankings in what should be a favorable spot against the Saints.
Nov 28, 2025 6:18 PM EST
Jaylen Waddle Limited During Wednesday's Practice
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (foot) was a limited participant during Wednesday's practice session. This seems a bit odd as Waddle wasn't dealing with a foot injury before the bye week. It's unclear when he suffered the injury, but the fact he was limited suggests it's a minor issue. Waddle should be ready to go against the New Orleans Saints in Week 13. Fantasy managers should check back on Thursday and Friday just in case something changes.
Nov 26, 2025 8:50 PM EST
Jaylen Waddle Posts a Down Week Before his Bye
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle has been emerging as a regular starter and high-end WR2 since the season-ending injury to Tyreek Hill (knee). He has clearly established himself as the top target in the Dolphins' passing game, and before Sunday, he had posted at least five catches in five of his previous six games. However, in Sunday morning's matchup in Madrid, he was held in check by the Commanders, catching just three passes for 52 yards. He still led he team in targets with seven and receiving yards with 52, but it was a quiet day for the offense aside from De'Von Achane, who had a big day and helped the team claim a 16-13 victory. The Dolphins have their bye week after their Spain trip and return to action in Week 13 against the Saints in what should be a good matchup for Waddle to bounce back.
Nov 17, 2025 5:39 AM EST
Jaylen Waddle Continues to Solidify Starter Status
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle is in a great matchup in Spain this week as his team takes on the Commanders as part of the NFL International Series. Waddle caught five of his seven targets last week against the Bills and finished with 84 receiving yards and his fifth touchdown of the season. He has operated as the clear No. 1 receiver in Miami since Tyreek Hill's knee injury, and he has at least five catches and 80 yards in five of his last six games, including three touchdowns and a 100-yard performance. The Commanders have allowed the third-most fantasy points to receivers this season, and since he'll get so much attention from Tua Tagovailoa this week, Waddle checks in as the No. 13 WR in RotoBaller's rankings, making him a fringe WR1 and an excellent WR2 this week. He should be started in almost all formats.
Nov 14, 2025 10:33 PM EST
Jaylen Waddle Continues To Excel as Dolphins WR1 in Week 10 Win Over Bills
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle led the team in receiving again in their Week 10 upset win over the Buffalo Bills, catching five of his seven targets for 84 yards and a touchdown. Waddle had an outstanding 38-yard touchdown catch where he also drew a pass interference penalty in the game, and continues to assert himself as one of the best wide receivers in the league. Outside of a monsoon game in Cleveland in Week 7, where Waddle caught only one of four targets for 15 yards, the 26-year-old has posted at least 80 receiving yards in every game since Tyreek Hill (knee) went down in Week 4. Waddle has recorded 29 receptions for 485 yards and three touchdowns on 43 targets in that span, averaging 16 PPR points per game. Waddle projects for another strong fantasy day in Week 11 when the Dolphins travel to Madrid to face a putrid Washington Commanders defense.
Nov 10, 2025 12:42 AM EST
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