Jaylen Waddle Injury Update: Will Fantasy Managers Have the Dolphins WR for Week 1?

Miami Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle was one of the first major fantasy football options that got held out during the training camp/preseason timeframe. To this point, the team has not disclosed the exact nature of Waddle’s injury, but it was enough to hold him out of practice for an extended period.

With Week 1 upon us, what is the latest injury update on Waddle, should we expect him to play in Week 1, and what is his fantasy football outlook for the 2024 season?

What Is the Latest on Jaylen Waddle’s Injury?

There has been mixed news on Waddle’s injury in the last two weeks because Waddle has been back at practice but in a red non-contact jersey. This has been one of the weirder injury situations, with the Dolphins not disclosing the injury and Waddle wearing that red jersey for close to two weeks.

The assumption was that Waddle would be a full go at some point this week ahead of playing in Week 1, and that appeared to be the case Monday as he was out of the red jersey.

Fortunately, Waddle wasn’t listed on Miami’s injury report on Wednesday, so fantasy managers can breathe a sigh of relief. Also, head coach Mike McDaniel said that Waddle hasn’t experienced any setbacks and will continue to practice.

It certainly sounds like Waddle will be fine for the Dolphins’ Week 1 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Derek Tate’s Fantasy Outlook for Waddle

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.