The suddenly surging Miami Dolphins and fantasy football managers were dealt a tough blow when their breakout rookie wide receiver Jaylen Waddle was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Waddle, who has been a big part of the Dolphins’ five-game win streak, currently leads the team in receptions and receiving yards and has become a favorite target of QB Tua Tagovailoa. With new COVID protocols in place, is Waddle playing today, or will he miss this Week 15 AFC East matchup against the Jets?
Update 12/19/21: The Dolphins did not activate Jaylen Waddle in time for him to play this week’s game against the Jets. He will miss his first game of his young NFL career.
Is Jaylen Waddle playing today?
On Thursday [December 16], the Dolphins added Waddle to the reserve/COVID list. He was their fifth player added this week as the virus runs rampant in the NFL.
With the new COVID protocols in place, there was a chance Waddle could have tested out Saturday to be activated, but that was not the case. Although Miami has not officially ruled him out, the chances that Waddle suits up are slim.
Waddle’s impressive rookie season
The Dolphins faced some criticism when they drafted Waddle in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
However, after a rocky start and constant comparisons to fellow rookie Ja’Marr Chase, Waddle has cemented himself as one of the more reliable pass catchers in the NFL.
Compared to Chase, Waddle is leading in receptions with 86, but Cincinnati’s WR is ahead in yards and touchdowns. Nevertheless, it is important to note that Waddle’s numbers could have been higher if Tua hadn’t been out for five games, leaving Jacoby Brissett to fill in.
Waddle has already set the franchise record for receptions by a rookie. He currently has 849 yards and 4 touchdowns with his 86 receptions. Waddle is also only 15 receptions away from tying an NFL rookie record set by Anquan Boldin in 2003.
Will the Dolphins vs. Jets be a fantasy bonanza?
When you think of the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins, high scoring might not be the first adjective that comes to mind. Furthermore, with a total of only 41 points, sportsbooks also think that this will be a low-scoring affair. Nevertheless, the Dolphins have scored 20 points or more in the last four games. This includes three contests against top-15 defenses in Carolina, Baltimore, and the New York Giants.
The Jets’ defense ranks dead last in points allowed per game with 30.5. Even though they have improved over their last three outings, they’ve still allowed 25.7 points per game over that span. What makes me believe the Dolphins can succeed is the fact that the Jets’ defense is most susceptible against the pass. They’ve conceded 3,471 yards and 20 TDs this season.
On the flip side, the Jets have struggled offensively. Still, Miami’s defense has not been nearly as good as it was last year. They are allowing 22.2 points per game, which is middle of the pack. Yes, over the last three weeks they are second-best in the league allowing only 12 points per game. But they played Mike Glennon, Cam Newton/PJ Walker, and Joe Flacco.
Zach Wilson has had an up-and-down season so far, but he’s started to show signs of progression now that he is healthy. Even if Miami’s defense has improved, I still think that Wilson will perform better than Flacco did a few weeks ago. This game will easily surpass the low total, and fantasy managers will be happy that it did.