Jaylen Waddle

WR, DEN

Waddle arrived in Denver as a big draft-capital investment (first- and third-round picks) and was immediately schemed as Sean Payton's WR1/joker, moving all over the formation. But the payoff has been wildly uneven — one monster game surrounded by near-invisible ones — making him a high-target, low-certainty piece of the passing game rather than a steady WR2.

The two-week arc is a rollercoaster: a nearly catch-less Week 1 split the room between panic (FantasyPros' 7/10 panic meter, The Ringer's running under-the-over joke) and patience (Late-Round, Fantasy Focus, citing draft capital and Nix's history with No. 1s). Week 2's 10-target, 138-yard eruption unified every show — Fantasy Footballers, FFT, Establish The Run, Yahoo's two pods, The Audible — into calling him a locked-in starter. That consensus cracked again when Surtain's shadow coverage held him to 2 catches for 24 yards and a 10-target, 12-yard dud followed, prompting The Ringer to label him a sell-low while Yahoo's Josh & Hayden still start him weekly despite acknowledging a lower floor.

The line: Start him for the target volume and Payton's scheme trust, but don't pay a premium in trades until the Nix rhythm actually stabilizes. · updated Sep 30

Wednesday, September 30

Two of three shows are souring on him as a sell-low candidate, pointing to inconsistent target share and shaky chemistry with Bo Nix, while the third acknowledges the lower floor but still starts him weekly on talent and upcoming matchups; treat him as a boom-bust flex until the Nix connection stabilizes.

▲ Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry: Keeping it open at WR29 thanks to a 28%+ target share over two weeks and a high-scoring matchup with San Francisco. listen ↗

▼ The Ringer Fantasy Football Show: Labeled a sell-low; inconsistent target share and boom-bust production make hosts skeptical he becomes a true No. 1 in Denver's rotation-heavy offense. listen ↗

▶ Yahoo Fantasy Football with Josh & Hayden: Floor has been lower than expected due to quick-game issues with Bo Nix and tough coverage, but hosts still plan to start him weekly given talent and matchups ahead. listen ↗

▼ Yahoo Fantasy Forecast with Matt Harmon: Mentioned as up-and-down (mostly down) performer so far this season for a fantasy manager's roster. listen ↗

Tuesday, September 29

▶ Yahoo Fantasy Forecast with Matt Harmon: Some panic due to boom/bust production and tough matchups so far, but hosts still like him long-term as a low-end WR2/trade buy-low target. listen ↗

Monday, September 28

Volume is the issue in Denver: a 2-catch, 24-yard dud has one show souring on the fit, while the other still starts him weekly despite calling him more boom-bust than expected. Treat him as a start-him-and-hope flex rather than a locked-in WR2 until the target share stabilizes.

▼ Fantasy Football Today: Followed a huge game with a dud (3 catches/12 yards on 10 targets) due to lack of rhythm in Denver's passing game; volume without production. listen ↗

▼ The Ringer Fantasy Football Show: Only 2 catches for 24 total yards vs. Broncos' shadow coverage from Pat Surtain; hosts contrast Miami's unwillingness to force-feed him like the Rams do with Devonta Adams. listen ↗

▶ Yahoo Fantasy Forecast with Matt Harmon: Harmon is adjusting preseason expectations to more volatility/boom-bust than expected, but still views him as an every-week starter after a 7-target, 2-point-conversion game. listen ↗

Saturday, September 26

▶ FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast: Had a big Week 2 (8 catches, 138 yards) and still gets the buzz, but Pat Bryant actually out-snapped and out-routed him that week. listen ↗

▲ FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast: Ranked ahead of Adams by Debro (WR12) as the clear alpha in Miami's passing attack; hosts like the over on his 55.5 receiving yards prop. listen ↗

Friday, September 25

▲ Fantasy Feast: NFL Fantasy Football Podcast: Called key to Broncos' offense via heavy pre-snap motion to get him free releases and exploit favorable matchups, including a game-clinching stutter-go vs. Jourdan Lewis. listen ↗

▲ Yahoo Fantasy Football with Josh & Hayden: Trusted as the offense's focal point after a 10-target, 14.3 expected-point week two, expected to see heavy volume again vs a good but overmatched Rams defense. listen ↗

Wednesday, September 23

▼ FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast: Seen as the sell of the London/Waddle/Washington trio due to boom-bust profile under Sean Payton's offense. listen ↗

Tuesday, September 22

▲ Establish The Run Fantasy Football: Bounced back with 10 targets after a quiet Week 1; team invested a first and third-round pick in him and made a point to get him the ball. listen ↗

▲ Fantasy Focus Football: Named a biggest riser after an 8-of-10 target, 138-yard performance including a key contested catch, confirming he's being used as the Broncos envisioned. listen ↗

▼ FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast: Coming off a huge game (8-for-10 targets, 100+ yards) but flagged as a sell-high because Denver's/Miami's offense historically has volatile week-to-week usage among pass catchers, and the near-term schedule is tough; could be a buy-back target later after the bye when schedule improves. listen ↗

Monday, September 21

Every show is aligned: double-digit targets, 8-for-138 explosion, and a true focal-point role Sean Payton is scheming around from all over the formation. Lock him into lineups as an every-week starter — the start/sit debate is over.

▲ Fantasy Feast: NFL Fantasy Football Podcast: Had a huge second half for the Broncos, showing why they traded for him in a comeback win over Jacksonville. listen ↗

▲ Fantasy Footballers - Fantasy Football Podcast: 8 catches, 138 yards against a good defense, seen as validation he'll be very good the rest of the season after a poor Week 1. listen ↗

▲ Fantasy Football Today: Named biggest winner with 8 catches for 138 yards and double-digit targets after a dud Week 1; hosts say no more start/sit questions and expect his roster rate to jump to ~90%. listen ↗

▲ RotoWire Fantasy Football With Theo Gremminger: Bounced back from a disastrous Week 1 (1 catch, 2 yards) with 8 catches for 138 yards on 10 targets in a Denver win; should now be viewed as a top-15 WR. listen ↗

▲ The Audible: Used all over the formation (slot, boundary, backfield, deep and short) in a true WR1/joker role, showing Sean Payton finally has a player he trusts to scheme around. listen ↗

▲ The Ringer Fantasy Football Show: Got a team-high 10 targets and posted 8 catches for 143 yards as the clear focal point of the Dolphins offense in a win over Jacksonville. listen ↗

▲ Yahoo Fantasy Football with Josh & Hayden: 10 targets, 8 catches, 138 yards with a 20-yard average depth of target beyond screens; hosts say the explosive-play role is exactly what they drafted him for. listen ↗

▲ Yahoo Fantasy Forecast with Matt Harmon: 10 targets, 8 catches, 138 yards with a big post-route play; hosts say usage matched the expected all-or-nothing boom role. listen ↗

Saturday, September 19

▼ FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast: Hosts have shared concerns about his role and view him as boom-or-bust this week. listen ↗

Follow Jaylen Waddle

Get every take on him — and the rest of your roster — before waivers on Tuesday and before lineups lock on Sunday. Free through the season.