The Miami Dolphins will face the Cleveland Browns in Week 17. Here’s the latest fantasy football news and advice to help you with your lineups this week and moving forward, especially regarding WR Jaylen Waddle.
Is Jaylen Waddle Playing in Week 17?
Waddle missed last week’s game with a knee injury. This week started the same as last, with a DNP. However, Waddle returned to a limited session on Thursday and followed that up with a second limited practice on Friday.
Jaylen Waddle feels he’s healthy and is thankful his knee injury wasn’t more serious than what it was. However, he’s still being limited. pic.twitter.com/TIa8y9TKXs
— Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) December 27, 2024
Given the potential stakes of this week’s game, I tentatively expect Waddle to play. He seems to be in good spirits and says he feels good, but he will be a risky start, given his knee issue.
We’ll continue to monitor the Dolphins’ injury report. You can also visit and bookmark our NFL Injury Tracker and Fantasy News Tracker for the latest updates.
Should You Start or Sit Jaylen Waddle in Week 17?
Waddle seems to get dinged up consistently, and an ailing knee held him out of Week 16’s win. Malik Washington stepped into his role and gave Miami all of 28 yards, so I don’t think you’re at any risk of losing looks should he return to action.
This is a read-and-react situation for me. There’s a decent chance the Dolphins will be eliminated from playoff contention by kickoff, and that would obviously impact Waddle’s appeal should he get in some work in practice this week.
That said, IF he clears all medical hurdles and IF Miami remains alive in the playoff rate, I’ll be labeling Waddle as a top-35 receiver. He’s had plenty of bumps in his road this season, but in a matchup against a defense that allows the fourth-most YAC to the position and ranks dead last in both yards per attempt and per completion to the slot this season, there’s a path to viable PPR production.
Are you looking for start/sit advice for other players in your lineup? Read our Week 17 Fantasy Start-Sit Advice Cheat Sheet for every fantasy-relevant player in every game.
Jaylen Waddle’s Fantasy Points Projection in Week 17
As of Sunday morning, Waddle is projected to score 11.6 fantasy points in PPR formats. This includes 4.3 receptions for 55.5 yards and 0.3 touchdowns.
Check out the free PFN Fantasy Start-Sit Optimizer for the latest projections and advice for your lineups this week.
Jaylen Waddle’s Fantasy Ranking
Our Weekly Consensus PPR Rankings are below — both positional and overall. They were last updated at 9:15 AM ET on Saturday, January 18. If you're in a Superflex league, make sure you check out our Divisional Round Superflex Rankings.
Divisional Round WR PPR Rankings
1) Amon-Ra St. Brown | DET (vs. WAS)
2) Puka Nacua | LAR (at PHI)
3) A.J. Brown | PHI (vs. LAR)
4) Nico Collins | HOU (at KC)
5) Terry McLaurin | WAS (at DET)
6) Jameson Williams | DET (vs. WAS)
7) Khalil Shakir | BUF (vs. BAL)
8) Xavier Worthy | KC (vs. HOU)
9) DeVonta Smith | PHI (vs. LAR)
10) Cooper Kupp | LAR (at PHI)
11) Rashod Bateman | BAL (at BUF)
12) DeAndre Hopkins | KC (vs. HOU)
13) Hollywood Brown | KC (vs. HOU)
14) Keon Coleman | BUF (vs. BAL)
15) Amari Cooper | BUF (vs. BAL)
16) Olamide Zaccheaus | WAS (at DET)
17) John Metchie III | HOU (at KC)
18) Dyami Brown | WAS (at DET)
19) Curtis Samuel | BUF (vs. BAL)
20) Demarcus Robinson | LAR (at PHI)
21) Tim Patrick | DET (vs. WAS)
22) Nelson Agholor | BAL (at BUF)
23) Mack Hollins | BUF (vs. BAL)
24) JuJu Smith-Schuster | KC (vs. HOU)
25) Zay Flowers | BAL (at BUF)
26) Diontae Johnson | HOU (at KC)
27) Jahan Dotson | PHI (vs. LAR)
28) Tylan Wallace | BAL (at BUF)
29) Xavier Hutchinson | HOU (at KC)
30) Robert Woods | HOU (at KC)
31) Luke McCaffrey | WAS (at DET)
32) Tutu Atwell | LAR (at PHI)
33) Justin Watson | KC (vs. HOU)
34) Jamison Crowder | WAS (at DET)
35) Anthony Miller | BAL (at BUF)
36) Jordan Whittington | LAR (at PHI)
37) Kalif Raymond | DET (vs. WAS)
38) Devontez Walker | BAL (at BUF)
39) Johnny Wilson | PHI (vs. LAR)
40) Xavier Smith | LAR (at PHI)
41) Allen Robinson II | DET (vs. WAS)
