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

Saturday, September 6, 9:44 AM

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (undisclosed) missed practices during this training camp, but he was able to play in the preseason and is ready to start the season healthy in Week 1 against the Colts. He spent most of the offseason working as the team's top receiver since Tyreek Hill (wrist, oblique) was dealing with injury issues of his own. Waddle inked a big contract before last season, but he had his lowest output of his career, totaling 58 catches, 744 receiving yards, and 2 touchdowns. There have been rumblings that his strong connection with Tua Tagovailoa and improved hands could lead to him becoming the primary receiver in Miami, but with both Hill and De'Von Achane (calf) healthy, his workload is uncertain. He's the WR30 in RotoBaller's Week 1 rankings, making him a WR3 against the Colts, although he has a higher ceiling than some other options in that range.

Friday, September 5, 2:11 PM

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is entering his first season as the unquestioned No. 1 wide receiver in Seattle's offense. Smith-Njigba broke out over the second half of the 2024 season en route to 1,130 receiving yards and six touchdowns. He enters the 2025 season with a new quarterback in Sam Darnold and a new play caller in Klint Kubiak. Darnold supported excellent fantasy seasons for wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison in Minnesota in 2024. JSN is going to be a target hog in a rebuilt Seahawks offense tailor-made for Darnold's strengths. In Week 1, Smith-Njigba will draw a relatively tough matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers were No. 5 in fantasy points allowed to wide receivers in 2024. Although San Francisco lost a couple of defensive pieces, they re-signed defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, who is a master of shutting down opposing offenses. Still, volume alone should help Smith-Njigba overcome any challenges the 49ers may present. You can safely deploy him as a WR2 in Week 1.