Who Should I Start? Jaylen Waddle or Jaxon Smith-Njigba


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
12.2 0.8 0.0 4.4 57.8 0.3

Jaylen Waddle News

Troy Franklin Dynasty Value Takes a Hit After Denver Adds Jaylen Waddle

Wednesday, July 15, 12:35 PM

Denver Broncos wide receiver Troy Franklin finally gave fantasy managers something to work with in Year 2. Then Denver traded for Jaylen Waddle. Franklin caught 65 of 104 targets for 709 yards and six touchdowns last season, a big jump from his 28-catch rookie year. That growth should not be tossed aside because the depth chart got ugly. Waddle and Courtland Sutton now headline a room that still has Marvin Mims Jr. and Pat Bryant, and Denver has said it does not plan to trade another receiver. A steady weekly role is no longer a given. Franklin's two seasons with Bo Nix at Oregon help, but familiarity will only take him so far when the ball has to be spread around. RotoBaller has him at WR80 in its latest dynasty rankings. That is low enough to hold rather than sell after one rough offseason turn. Redraft is different. Franklin needs camp to break his way before he is more than a late bench flier, but dynasty managers can wait and see what survives from last year's breakout.


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
17.7 1.8 0.0 6.0 88.2 0.5

Jaxon Smith-Njigba News

Jaxon Smith-Njigba Remains an Elite Wide Receiver Option Entering 2026

Monday, July 6, 12:02 PM

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba was arguably the best pass-catcher in football in 2025, recording 119 catches for 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns on 163 targets across 17 games. The 24-year-old was remarkably efficient, averaging 3.61 yards per route run while seeing 35.8% of the Seahawks' total targets. Entering 2026, Smith-Njigba once again profiles as the clear number one option in a Seattle passing game that lacks another obvious high-volume target-earner. The Seahawks threw the ball at the third-lowest rate in the NFL in 2025 but may be forced to turn to the air more often this season after losing running back Kenneth Walker III to the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency. With Smith-Njigba entering the prime of his career, he has a legitimate case to be the number one overall pick in redraft leagues ahead of 2026.


Jaylen Waddle vs. Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Still trying to decide between Waddle and Smith-Njigba? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Jaylen Waddle is projected to score 12.2 points this week while Jaxon Smith-Njigba is projected to score 17.7 points.