Jaylen Waddle : Stats | Fantasy | Injury | Celebration

Starting wide receiver Jaylen Waddle returned to practice Monday, six days before the Week 1 matchup, according to the Miami Herald.

Jaylen Waddle : Stats | Fantasy | Injury | Celebration

Jaylen Waddle (born November 25, 1998) is an American football wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL).

He played college football at Alabama and was drafted sixth overall by the Dolphins in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Waddle attended Episcopal High School in Bellaire, Texas. As a senior, he played in the U.S. Army All-American Game.

He committed to the University of Alabama to play college football.

He made the selection on National Signing Day of 2018 and chose the Crimson Tide over Texas, Texas A&M, Florida State, TCU, and Oregon.

Stats

Waddle was drafted sixth overall in the 2021 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins, reuniting him with his college quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

On May 14, 2021, Waddle signed with the Dolphins on a $27.1 million deal.

In his first NFL game on September 12, 2021, Waddle faced off against former Alabama teammate QB Mac Jones and the New England Patriots.

Waddle caught 4 of his 6 targets for 61 receiving yards, and also caught his first NFL receiving touchdown on a 3-yard pass from Tua Tagovailoa in the 17–16 win against the New England Patriots.

His first big breakthrough came in Week 12 against the Carolina Panthers, finishing with 137 receiving yards as the Dolphins won 33–10.

Throughout the season, Waddle became known for his waddling celebrations after touchdowns, inspired by his last name.

In his 16th game of the season, Waddle set the NFL rookie record for receptions in a season with 104, beating Anquan Boldin’s old record of 101.

Waddle finished his rookie season with 104 receptions for 1,015 yards and 7 total touchdowns.

Jaylen Waddle Fantasy 

Waddle Fantasy was right behind Hill as the WR19 in Week 1. With Hill soaking up the looks from Tagovailoa, Waddle’s target share was a lukewarm 17.2%. Recovering from a quad injury, Waddle only played 66.7% of the snaps with a 78.8% route participation mark.

That didn’t stop Waddle from posting 2.65 yards per route run (26th).

Waddle wasn’t targeted deep or in the red zone last week, so until we see this type of high value usage in a game we have to assume his touchdowns will need to come from big plays.

After one game Baltimore is 19th in deep passing DVOA, so there’s opportunity for Waddle to hit a long play or turn a short area target into a big gain.

Waddle operated outside on nearly 79% of his routes last week, so he’ll also see plenty of Stephens and Humphrey.

Waddle finished Sunday’s comeback win with career-highs in yards and targets. After only five targets in Week 1, the Alabama product demanded 19 targets in a pass-friendly game script.

The second year wideout continually found ways to get open and his chemistry with his quarterback was noticeable.

It is the Waddle and Tyreek Hill show in Miami moving forward. Waddle is set to face-off versus the tough Bills defense in Week 3.

Injury 

Jaylen Waddle is on week three of an undisclosed lower body injury which has caused him to miss multiple training camp practices, including joint-practice against the Philadelphia Eagles, as well as preseason games against the Las Vegas Raiders and the Eagles.

Head Coach, Mike McDaniel, has expressed little concern regarding Waddle’s injury and has said he’s optimistic that the second-year wideout will be able to suit up for Miami’s week one contest.

Unfortunately, McDaniel expressed that same optimism with CB Byron Jones before the team placed Jones on the injured reserve list, sidelining the defender for Miami’s first four games this season.

However, today, Waddle returned to practice – at least in some capacity. Reports were mixed on how much he participated.

However, as spotted by Bobby Shouse in pictures released by the Miami Herald, Waddle has shed the compression sleeve he’s been seen wearing at practice for multiple weeks.

One would hope that is a good sign as the Dolphins are preparing for their regular season opener at home against the New England Patriots.

Jaylen Waddle looks to form one of the most exciting duos in the NFL at wide-receiver as he takes the field with All-Pro addition, Tyreek Hill, who was acquired via trade from the Kansas City Chiefs in March.

Jaylen Waddle celebration

The Miami Dolphins have had the wildest turnaround in NFL history. No, seriously. It’s the wildest turnaround we’ve ever seen.

With their win over the Saints, they’re officially on a 7-game winning streak. That makes them the only team in league history to go on both a 7-game winning streak and a 7-game losing streak in the same season.

Waddle caught the ball on a shuffle play from Tua Tagovailoa and managed to scoot his way into the endzone.

Then he broke out maybe the most incredible celebration of the season. A waddle…from Jaylen Waddle.

The ‘Waddle waddle’ officially now is a thing.

“Yeah, it’s a waddle,” said the man whose first move after the Dolphins’ 33-10 laugher over Carolina Sunday should have been to file for a trademark.

Waddle, the Dolphins’ rookie receiver, first spiked the ball after his fourth NFL touchdown. Then, he started, well, waddling with his arms down and hands out — think penguins — before being lifted off the ground by offensive lineman Robert Hunt.

But Waddle was not done waddling. Defensive lineman Christian Wilkins came from half a football field away, joining the waddle party off the bench.

“Christian was kind of making fun of me at first and then he just started doing it and it became me and his thing,” Waddle said, while looking as cool as a penguin at his post-game presser wearing shades and a gold chain with a plate that reads “WADDLE.”