It’s sort of insane that we’ve reached this point with Waddle. Obviously, it has more to do with Miami’s current quarterback situation that anything’s Waddle’s personally done, but we’re talking about an asset that’s started his career with three consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns. We’re not supposed to have to worry about a player like this once they’re drafted to our team. Yet, here we are.
Like most Dolphins, Waddle is on the heels of a very disappointing Week 3 performance, finishing the loss against Seattle with just four receptions for 26 yards. Now, it is worth noting that the Seahawks’ secondary has been fantastic to begin the season, allowing a league-best 3.9 passing yards per opponent attempt. However, I think we can all agree that Waddle’s struggles have less to do with matchups and more to do with the likes of Skylar Thompson and Tim Boyle.
It’s not as if Tua Tagovailoa is coming back anytime soon, either. Due to his placement on the IR, Tagovailoa won’t be available to return under center until Week 8. What that means for Week 4 is that the Dolphins don’t currently have a starting QB. Thompson left Sunday’s contest in the third quarter with a chest injury and his status for Monday night is up in the air. If he can’t go, Miami doesn’t even have a set-in-stone backup plan, as both Boyle and Tyler Huntley could be the next man up. Frankly, it’s a hot mess.
Waddle’s track record with a non-Tua quarterback is underwhelming at best. If you include Week 2 versus Buffalo and 2022’s Week 4 contest against Cincinnati — games Tagovailoa was unable to finish due to injury — Waddle is averaging 3.9 receptions and 50.8 receiving yards with zero touchdowns the last seven times he’s played without his college teammate. That includes an outlier performance, too. Waddle hauled in six passes for 129 yards in a matchup with Minnesota two years ago. Thompson played in that game, yet all that damage was done with Teddy Bridgewater at quarterback for Miami. If you remove that stat line, things get even uglier.
The fact of the matter is this: The Dolphins are a far cry from the 2023 version of themselves. Through three weeks, Miami is averaging an NFL-low 11.0 points with only 2.7 red zone trips per contest. That’s barely enough offensive juice to support one elite fantasy wideout, let alone two. I could never recommend sitting Tyreek Hill. Waddle? I think it might be time.
Start or Sit Jaylen Waddle? Sit.
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All views expressed are my own. I am an employee of DraftKings and am ineligible to play in public DFS or DKSB contests.
