Jaylen Waddle Start or Sit Advice for Week 6

Jaylen Waddle Start or Sit Advice for Week 6

The Denver Broncos traded away significant draft capital to bring in Jaylen Waddle from the Dolphins this offseason, sending a 2026 first-round, third-round, and fourth-round draft pick to Miami in exchange for the star receiver. So far, Waddle hasn’t delivered on his promise, although he did flash his potential in one big game.

His big game came in Week 2, when the Broncos beat the Jaguars in Denver. In that matchup, Waddle had eight catches for 138 yards and posted 24.8 FPTS. He also had a decent game in Week 4, with 14.5 FPTS and his only touchdown of the year on his five catches for 35 yards.

In each of his other three games, Waddle has had only two receptions or fewer for 20 yards or fewer. He has also had four drops and just doesn’t seem to be clicking yet with Bo Nix. Waddle has also been dealing with some injury issues and was spotted in a walking boot after Week 3. He hasn’t had an official injury status, but whatever he is dealing with could be contributing to his slow start.

In Week 6, Waddle and the Broncos are on a short week coming into a tough matchup on Thursday Night Football. They will host the Seahawks, who have allowed the fourth-fewest FPTS in the NFL to opposing wide receivers. Seattle’s secondary has been very strong across the board, but they did allow two wide receiver touchdowns last week to the 49ers. Mike Evans became the first wide receiver to have 100 yards against them as well in that matchup.

The Seahawks will likely be fired up and ready to wreak havoc against the Broncos’ passing game, which already hasn’t been in top form. Seahawks CB Devon Witherspoon has been especially effective this season, and he could really focus in on Waddle and lock him down for this stand-alone matchup.

Waddle is not on the main slate on DraftKings, since he plays early on Thursday night, but he is one of the higher-priced options to consider in DraftKings single-game Showdown contests like the NFL Showdown $1.5M Thursday Night Showdown [$500K to 1st] (SEA @ DEN). In those contests, Waddle is $9,000 in a FLEX spot or $13,500 as a Captain’s Pick. He’s very high-risk, but he does bring high upside if he can go off as he did in Week 2. The matchup makes that unlikely, though, so he is only worth a look as a contrarian Captain’s Pick in tournament builds.

For season-long leagues, Waddle is tough to trust in the top 30 wide receivers for this week. If you’re in a bye-week squeeze or really short on other options, he can still be a desperation starter, but if possible, it makes sense to look in other directions this week based on the matchup and his shaky form.

Start or Sit: Sit Jaylen Waddle except in Deep Leagues or Desperation