Jaylen Waddle

Jaylen Waddle

25-Year-Old Wide ReceiverWR
Miami Dolphins
2024 Fantasy Outlook
Taken sixth overall in the 2021 draft, Waddle mostly served as a high-volume possession receiver his rookie season, with a 7.1 aDOT, 74.3 percent catch rate and 9.8 yards per catch on 140 targets. Then the Dolphins brought in coach Mike McDaniel and WR Tyreek Hill during the 2022 offseason, which resulted in Waddle seeing 23 fewer targets but adding 341 yards and two TDs to his rookie-year totals, with his aDOT jumping to 11.8 and his yards per catch to a league-high 18.1. His third season looked more like this second than his first, only with three missed games and the efficiency dropping from dominant to merely excellent (69.2 percent catch rate, 14.1 yards per catch, 9.8 YPT). Waddle's best performance came Week 15 against the Jets when Hill was out of the lineup with an ankle injury. An 8-142-1 receiving line against Sauce Gardner and Co. reaffirmed Waddle's No. 1 WR talent, but Hill returned the next week and Waddle then suffered an ankle injury of his own. While not quite as fast as his superstar teammate, Waddle is similar in terms of size (5-10, 185) and likely would've run a sub-4.4 40-yard dash if he'd tested before his rookie year. The biggest drawback is that he's averaged just 7.1 targets per game under McDaniel, whose offense has been more fantasy-friendly for Hill and the running backs. And as much as Waddle clearly is capable of more, there's not much reason to expect him to go beyond 7-8 targets per game so long as Hill stays healthy. Read Past Outlooks
$Signed a four-year, $27.09 million contact with the Dolphins in May of 2021. Dolphins exercised $15.59 million team option for 2025 in April of 2024.
Miami picks up fifth-year option
WRMiami Dolphins
April 29, 2024
The Dolphins officially exercised Waddle's fifth-year option Monday.
ANALYSIS
Miami has made no secret of plans to pick up Waddle's fifth-year option this offseason, and the move is now official prior to Thursday's deadline. That keeps the third-year standout under contract for two more seasons, and provides the Dolphins more time to negotiate a long-term deal with Waddle. The team added depth to the wideout room in the form of late-round rookies Malik Washington and Tahj Washington during the 2024 NFL Draft, but Waddle and Tyreek Hill remain the clear top targets for Tua Tagovailoa, with incumbents Braxton Berrios and River Cracraft available to split No. 3 duties.
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NFL Stats
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Fantasy/Red Zone Stats
See red zone opportunities inside the 20, 10 and 5-yard lines along with the percentage of time they converted the opportunity into a touchdown.
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Advanced NFL Stats
How do Jaylen Waddle's 2023 advanced stats compare to other wide receivers?
This section compares his advanced stats with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average. The longer the bar, the better it is for the player.
  • Air Yards Per Game
    The number of air yards he is averaging per game. Air yards measure how far the ball was thrown downfield for both complete and incomplete passes. Air yards are recorded as a negative value when the pass is targeted behind the line of scrimmage. All air yards data is from Sports Info Solutions and does not include throwaways as targeted passes.
  • Air Yards Per Snap
    The number of air yards he is averaging per offensive snap.
  • % Team Air Yards
    The percentage of the team's total air yards he accounts for.
  • % Team Targets
    The percentage of the team's total targets he accounts for.
  • Avg Depth of Target
    Also known as aDOT, this stat measures the average distance down field he is being targeted at.
  • Catch Rate
    The number of catches made divided by the number of times he was targeted by the quarterback.
  • Drop Rate
    The number of passes he dropped divided by the number of times he was targeted by the quarterback.
  • Avg Yds After Catch
    The number of yards he gains after the catch on his receptions.
  • % Targeted On Route
    Targets divided by total routes run. Also known as TPRR.
  • Avg Yds Per Route Run
    Receiving yards divided by total routes run. Also known as YPRR.
Air Yards Per Game
73.6
 
Air Yards Per Snap
1.75
 
% Team Air Yards
24.5%
 
% Team Targets
18.9%
 
Avg Depth of Target
9.9 Yds
 
Catch Rate
69.2%
 
Drop Rate
5.8%
 
Avg Yds After Catch
6.1
 
% Targeted On Route
29.5%
 
Avg Yds Per Route Run
2.88
 
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2023
2022
2021
2023 NFL Game Log
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2022 NFL Game Log
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2021 NFL Game Log
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
Miami DolphinsDolphins 2023 WR Snap Distribution See more data like this | See last season's snap counts
#% of Team Snaps

70263%
63057%
55750%
45441%
18116%
12711%
515%
283%
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Receiving Alignment Breakdown
See where Jaylen Waddle lined up on the field and how he performed at each spot.
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2023 Jaylen Waddle Split Stats
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Measurables Review View College Player Page
How do Jaylen Waddle's measurables compare to other wide receivers?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
* All metrics are from his Pro Day (not the combine).
Height
5' 10"
 
Weight
182 lbs
 
Hand Length
9.13 in
 
Arm Length
30.38 in
 
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Extension price becomes clearer
WRMiami Dolphins
April 16, 2024
The Dolphins hope to sign Waddle to a long-term extension, Barry Jackson reports.
ANALYSIS
The team announced Tuesday that they will pick up the fifth year of Waddle's rookie contract, which will keep him in Miami through 2025. However, the team is hoping to also get a contract extension done, and the recent three-year, $75 million deal signed by DeVonta Smith is likely a starting point for a potential deal with Waddle. Through three seasons, he's managed 251 receptions, 3,385 yards and 18 touchdowns.
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2022
2021
Waddle drew 23 more targets as a rookie than he did in his second season, yet finished his sophomore NFL campaign with 141 more yards on the strength of 11.6 YPT and a league-high 18.1 yards per catch. The trade for Tyreek Hill had a massive impact on Waddle's role, pushing him to the perimeter more often and decreasing the attention he faced from defenses while also costing him volume. Given the unlikelihood of a repeat in those efficiency stats, even from a player of Waddle's caliber, the hope for 2023 is that he can somewhat close the volume gap between himself and Hill, who finished last year with 53 more targets. Both are among the handful of fastest wide receivers in the league, if not the two fastest, and they'll again account for a massive share of the passing volume in an offense with sketchy complementary options like Braxton Berrios, Cedrick Wilson and Durham Smythe. In fact, Wilson is the only other guy on the roster with even a 450-yard receiving season on his resume, and he had 62 percent of his career yardage in 2021 with the Cowboys before falling flat last season in Miami.
With his 140-target rookie season marked by an especially impressive finish last year, Waddle might have been a candidate to lead the league in targets this season. Then he became the No. 2 wide receiver on his own team after the Dolphins gave up five draft picks to acquire Tyreek Hill from the Chiefs. Last year, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was either injured or working with an injury-depleted receiving corps, and without much help from one of the worst offensive lines in the league. This year, he'll have Hill, Waddle and Cedrick Wilson at wide receiver, plus tight end Mike Gesicki and a second massive offseason addition — LT Terron Armstead, formerly of the Saints. Tagovailoa is positioned to succeed, and the Dolphins probably won’t need Waddle to take on double-digit targets every week the way he did throughout the second half of last season. Based on what we saw last year, though, it might only be a season or two before Waddle surpasses fellow speed demon Hill as the No. 1 guy in Miami. The Alabama product opened his career working the slot and saw steady volume from the jump, but it wasn't until later in the year — when he got more snaps outside — that Waddle really broke through for the Dolphins. He scored four of his six receiving TDs from an inside alignment, but he also had less than half his yards there despite seeing 60 percent of his routes and 57 percent of his targets in the slot. That's encouraging, to say the least, especially with new additions Hill and Wilson likely to take some of the slot work. Waddle has already proven he's comfortable on the perimeter, or inside, and the improved team around him could help with efficiency to partially offset his reduced volume projection after the Hill trade.
Waddle’s final season at Alabama was cut short due to a dislocated ankle, but prior to the injury he had 567 yards and four scores in his first four games. He returned for a brief appearance in the College Football Playoff title game, catching three passes for 34 yards, but then opted against working out at a pro day. At 5-10, 180, Waddle is small, and while he wasn’t timed in the 40, the GPS data apparently showed he was the fastest receiver in the country. His lack of size could be an issue as it has been for players like DeSean Jackson and Marquise Brown, but keep in mind Tyreek Hill and Antonio Brown are also of similar frames. Waddle will take his talents to Miami after the Dolphins drafted him sixth overall, reuniting him with former Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Waddle will see targets right away, but he’ll have to compete with veteran DeVante Parker and free-agent acquisition Will Fuller.
More Fantasy News
Fifth-year option to be exercised
WRMiami Dolphins
April 16, 2024
General manager Chris Grier said Tuesday that he expects the Dolphins to pick up Waddle's fifth-year option, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports.
ANALYSIS
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Wanted long term in Miami
WRMiami Dolphins
February 28, 2024
General manager Chris Grier said Wednesday that the Dolphins have "no thoughts of trading [Waddle]," Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports.
ANALYSIS
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Quiet finish to season
WRMiami Dolphins
January 13, 2024
Waddle (ankle) brought in two of five targets for 31 yards and rushed once for nine yards in the Dolphins' 26-7 wild-card loss to the Chiefs on Saturday night.
ANALYSIS
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Back in action Saturday
WRMiami Dolphins
January 13, 2024
Waddle (ankle) is listed as active for Saturday's wild-card game against the Chiefs.
ANALYSIS
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Questionable for playoff opener
WRMiami Dolphins
Ankle
January 11, 2024
Waddle (ankle) is listed as questionable for Saturday's wild-card game against the Chiefs.
ANALYSIS
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