The NFL preseason is over and the regular season is less than two weeks away, which means it’s time for fantasy football drafts. Many NFL fans are cramming ahead of their drafts and checking in on the various injuries around the league. What’s the latest on Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, and should you draft him?
The Latest on Jaylen Waddle’s Health
Since early August, Waddle has been dealing with an undisclosed injury that caused him to miss practices. Teams don’t have to disclose injury details until the start of the regular season, so we don’t know what kind of injury the 25-year-old WR sustained.
Recently, Waddle has been a limited participant in practice, but PFN’s Adam Beasley reported that he’s been wearing a non-contact jersey and compression sleeve on his left calf. It remains to be seen when Waddle will be able to practice fully.
With the 2024 NFL regular season starting in just seven days, it’s slightly concerning that Waddle is still limited and wearing a non-contact jersey during practices, especially given his injury history. Last season, Waddle missed three games after suffering a concussion in Week 2 and a high-ankle sprain in Week 16.
Jaylen Waddle’s Fantasy Outlook
Waddle finished the 2023 season as WR34, despite missing three games. He still managed 72 receptions, 1,014 yards, and four touchdowns, demonstrating a solid fantasy floor in Miami’s high-powered offense.
Waddle improved his yards per route run (YPRR) from 2.46 in 2022 to 2.52 in 2023, showing that his on-field performance remains highly efficient. His lower drop percentage, higher contested catch rate, and more broken tackles further highlight his consistent play.
Waddle’s fantasy ceiling is capped by his limited red-zone usage compared to Tyreek Hill. In 2023, Hill saw 24 red-zone targets compared to Waddle’s 8, which limits Waddle’s touchdown potential.
While Hill’s presence opens up opportunities for Waddle to make explosive plays, it also significantly impacts Waddle’s target share and red-zone opportunities, making Hill the preferred option in key situations.
Waddle is currently being drafted as the WR19 at No. 40 overall, which is a noticeable discount from his ADP of No. 22 overall (WR10) in 2023. Despite the competition in Miami’s offense, Waddle remains a strong WR2 option with the potential to deliver WR1 production if Hill were to miss time.
Waddle offers reliable WR2 value with the upside for more in Miami’s elite passing attack. He is a safe pick in the back half of the fourth round, providing stability and the potential for explosive weeks, particularly if Hill’s role changes.