Drake Maye vs Jaylen Waddle
2026 draft comparison · half-PPR
Updated Aug 22, 2026
Should you draft Drake Maye or Jaylen Waddle?
Last season — 2025, per game
Full game log & past seasons
| WK | OPP | FPTS | RANK | ATT | CMP | YD | TD | INT | RuYD | RuTD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | LV | 16.3 | QB17 | 46 | 30 | 287 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 0 |
2 | MIA | 26.3 | QB4 | 23 | 19 | 230 | 2 | 0 | 31 | 1 |
3 | PIT | 20.2 | QB7 | 37 | 28 | 268 | 2 | 1 | 45 | 0 |
4 | CAR | 23.2 | QB8 | 17 | 14 | 203 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 1 |
5 | BUF | 12.1 | QB25 | 30 | 22 | 273 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
6 | NO | 27.2 | QB2 | 26 | 18 | 261 | 3 | 0 | 28 | 0 |
7 | TEN | 23.1 | QB10 | 23 | 21 | 222 | 2 | 0 | 62 | 0 |
8 | CLE | 27.3 | QB2 | 24 | 18 | 282 | 3 | 1 | 50 | 0 |
9 | ATL | 17.4 | QB16 | 29 | 19 | 259 | 2 | 1 | 20 | 0 |
10 | TB | 19.1 | QB11 | 31 | 16 | 270 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 0 |
11 | NYJ | 15.4 | QB12 | 34 | 25 | 281 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
12 | CIN | 17.0 | QB12 | 35 | 22 | 294 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 0 |
13 | NYG | 20.5 | QB10 | 31 | 24 | 282 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
15 | BUF | 21.5 | QB13 | 23 | 14 | 155 | 0 | 1 | 43 | 2 |
16 | BAL | 24.7 | QB7 | 44 | 31 | 380 | 2 | 1 | 25 | 0 |
17 | NYJ | 32.4 | QB2 | 21 | 19 | 256 | 5 | 0 | 22 | 0 |
18 | MIA | 15.7 | QB16 | 18 | 14 | 191 | 1 | 0 | 41 | 0 |
Earlier seasons (2024)
| WK | OPP | FPTS | RANK | ATT | CMP | YD | TD | INT | RuYD | RuTD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
3 | NYJ | 2.1 | QB36 | 8 | 4 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
6 | HOU | 21.5 | QB10 | 33 | 20 | 243 | 3 | 2 | 38 | 0 |
7 | JAX | 20.8 | QB7 | 37 | 26 | 276 | 2 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
8 | NYJ | 11.5 | QB27 | 6 | 3 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 1 |
9 | TEN | 17.7 | QB18 | 41 | 29 | 206 | 1 | 2 | 95 | 0 |
10 | CHI | 12.8 | QB16 | 25 | 15 | 184 | 1 | 1 | 24 | 0 |
11 | LAR | 19.0 | QB13 | 39 | 29 | 282 | 2 | 1 | 27 | 0 |
12 | MIA | 14.5 | QB17 | 37 | 22 | 222 | 1 | 1 | 26 | 0 |
13 | IND | 20.4 | QB10 | 30 | 24 | 238 | 1 | 1 | 59 | 0 |
14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
15 | ARI | 18.5 | QB11 | 23 | 19 | 202 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 1 |
16 | BUF | 18.4 | QB16 | 36 | 22 | 261 | 2 | 1 | 30 | 0 |
17 | LAC | 9.9 | QB27 | 22 | 12 | 117 | 1 | 0 | 32 | 0 |
18 | BUF | 0.0 | QB44 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| WK | OPP | FPTS | RANK | TGT | REC | YD | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | IND | 5.0 | WR57 | 5 | 4 | 30 | 0 |
2 | NE | 15.3 | WR14 | 6 | 5 | 68 | 1 |
3 | BUF | 12.4 | WR23 | 6 | 5 | 39 | 1 |
4 | NYJ | 6.3 | WR47 | 6 | 3 | 48 | 0 |
5 | CAR | 20.0 | WR4 | 9 | 6 | 110 | 1 |
6 | LAC | 12.8 | WR17 | 8 | 6 | 95 | 0 |
7 | CLE | 2.0 | WR86 | 4 | 1 | 15 | 0 |
8 | ATL | 18.4 | WR4 | 6 | 5 | 99 | 1 |
9 | BAL | 11.2 | WR27 | 9 | 6 | 82 | 0 |
10 | BUF | 16.9 | WR11 | 7 | 5 | 84 | 1 |
11 | WAS | 6.7 | WR40 | 7 | 3 | 52 | 0 |
12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
13 | NO | 5.5 | WR48 | 6 | 3 | 40 | 0 |
14 | NYJ | 15.6 | WR10 | 7 | 5 | 50 | 1 |
15 | PIT | 3.6 | WR72 | 4 | 2 | 26 | 0 |
16 | CIN | 9.7 | WR29 | 9 | 5 | 72 | 0 |
17 | TB | 0.7 | WR118 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Earlier seasons (2024)
| WK | OPP | FPTS | RANK | TGT | REC | YD | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | JAX | 13.7 | WR17 | 5 | 5 | 109 | 0 |
2 | BUF | 6.5 | WR39 | 4 | 4 | 41 | 0 |
3 | SEA | 4.6 | WR68 | 5 | 4 | 26 | 0 |
4 | TEN | 5.6 | WR60 | 6 | 4 | 36 | 0 |
5 | NE | 6.6 | WR48 | 8 | 4 | 46 | 0 |
6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
7 | IND | 1.6 | WR93 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 0 |
8 | ARI | 6.5 | WR56 | 6 | 4 | 45 | 0 |
9 | BUF | 6.6 | WR46 | 2 | 2 | -4 | 1 |
10 | LAR | 7.1 | WR35 | 6 | 3 | 57 | 0 |
11 | LV | 4.7 | WR57 | 3 | 2 | 37 | 0 |
12 | NE | 24.4 | WR3 | 9 | 8 | 144 | 1 |
13 | GB | 9.3 | WR36 | 4 | 4 | 53 | 0 |
14 | NYJ | 16.4 | WR16 | 12 | 9 | 99 | 0 |
15 | HOU | 0.0 | WR138 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
17 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
18 | NYJ | 7.0 | WR52 | 9 | 4 | 44 | 0 |
Latest takes
“For Pollard to find his way into the top-12, we need a Drake Maye / Joe Burrow -esque second season from Ward.”
Ellis Johnson· Aug 19“In only his second NFL season, Drake Maye finished QB2 in fantasy scoring, averaging 21.1 fantasy points per game. Maye was sublime as a passer last year, leading the NFL in completion percentage (72.0%), yards per pass attempt (8.9) and passer rating (113.5).”
FantasyPros Staff· Aug 18“The Patriots should once again have a solid offense, with young star QB Drake Maye at quarterback and new arrival AJ Brown upgrading New England’s WR corps.”
FantasyPros Staff· Aug 15
See 12 more
“Drake Maye is a first-round pick in Superflex formats”
Wolf Trelles-Heard· Aug 13“For example, last season, New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye had an ADP of QB16, and he finished as QB2.”
Richard Janvrin· Aug 10“Brown should have no trouble seeing a consistently high target share as Drake Maye’s go-to receiver.”
Mike Fanelli· Aug 10“Alec Pierce, Nico Collins – 3.7 How to support a QB on a rookie deal ( Drake Maye ):”
The FF Newsletter· Aug 6“Only four quarterbacks last season bested their overall scoring ranking compared to ADP by more than five spots: Matthew Stafford (QB23 in ADP and QB3 in overall scoring output), Trevor Lawrence (QB20 in ADP), Drake Maye (QB16), and Caleb Williams (QB15).”
Rich Hribar· Aug 5“While many will worry about Drake Maye spreading the ball around in 2026, I’m not because last year that was related to New England not having an alpha-level receiver like Brown on the depth chart.”
FantasyPros Staff· Aug 5“In just his second year, Drake Maye absolutely tore it up, finishing as the overall QB2 in fantasy and dropping a massive 21.1 PPG.”
Brittney Foxworth· Jul 23“Drake Maye over Josh Allen. Maye immediately looked like one of the best pure passers in the league last season and carries a significant age advantage.”
FantasyPros Staff· Jul 17“There do not seem to be many questions about Drake Maye, with him flying off the board as the consensus QB3, exactly where he finished in 2025. When you find yourself with the fourth-highest pass success rate of any QB through their first two years in the NFL, just behind Patrick Mahomes, Brock Purdy, and Dan Marino, you are doing something right.”
Colt Williams· Jul 13“I recently had a league as such, and I took Drake Maye with the 1.02 pick. Sure, drafting Ja'Marr Chase and letting quarterback value come to me instead may have been a better idea, but knowing I have Maye on my team for, theoretically, the next 10 years is something to feel confident about.”
Richard Janvrin· Jul 11“Maye's second-year breakout led to a second-place MVP finish and a Super Bowl appearance. He was the QB2 behind Josh Allen in fantasy points for the season (producing 96.3% of Allen's season total), and the QB2 in points per game (20.7).”
Rich Hribar· Jul 9“Drake Maye's dual-threat ability will make him a highly sought-after quarterback in fantasy drafts, but I'll be curious to see how he performs against a tougher schedule.”
Richard Janvrin· Jul 5
“Adding Jaylen Waddle is not some small improvement.”
Ellis Johnson· Aug 19“” – Nick Penticoff ( Fantasy Football Astronauts ) Jaylen Waddle (WR – MIA) “ Jaylen Waddle (WR22) is a strong value at current ADP.”
FantasyPros Staff· Aug 11“The arrival of Jaylen Waddle will change that this year. Sutton still can be a highly productive player in a pass-happy offense, but he’ll take a backseat to Waddle.”
FantasyPros Staff· Aug 11
See 12 more
“The Broncos gave up a first-, third- and fourth-round pick in 2026 to acquire Jaylen Waddle this offseason.”
Jim Moorman· Aug 10“Jaylen Waddle (WR – DEN) has a genuinely high ceiling in his new offense.”
FantasyPros Staff· Aug 10“Jaylen Waddle was tied for fifth in first downs per route run last year, despite a horrendous offensive environment and putrid quarterback play.”
Josh Shepardson· Aug 7“#1 catch rate (83%) - with only 2 drops all season Sean Payton’s stated vision for Jaylen Waddle is slot-to-Z - the opposite of his charted usage, per Reception Perception:”
The FF Newsletter· Aug 6“Sutton has increased target competition in Denver this season after the Broncos traded for Jaylen Waddle , but he has been a consistent TD threat with QB Bo Nix .”
Kurt Mullen· Jul 29“Jaylen Waddle (DEN) : ADP 42.5 | WR22 While the Miami Dolphins’ offense was inconsistent last season, Waddle ended the year as the WR24, averaging 12.1 PPR fantasy points per game. More importantly, the veteran didn’t need a massive target share to produce top-12 fantasy numbers.”
Mike Fanelli· Jul 22“Jaylen Waddle (WR – DEN) It seemed in 2025, when Tyreek Hill got injured, that Jaylen Waddle was primed for another massive season.”
Tom Strachan· Jul 21“Jaylen Waddle , WR21 (Miami to Denver) It’s Jaylen Waddle SZN!”
FantasyPros Staff· Jul 21“With the passing attack expected to condense around just two clear focal points this year, Waddle projects as the offense’s unquestioned wide receiver one.”
FantasyPros Staff· Jul 20“Jaylen Waddle could vastly outproduce his fantasy football ADP. Currently going as the WR23, Waddle has true top-12 upside. After joining the Broncos this offseason, Waddle finds himself alongside an aging Courtland Sutton and a plethora of solid young talent.”
Ellis Johnson· Jul 10“With Courtland Sutton turning 31 this October and seeing a major drop in efficiency in 2025, it appears Waddle is set up perfectly to be the No. 1 wide receiver in Denver for the next several years. Waddle is valued as the WR20 in ECR, which feels like the floor outcome in PPR leagues.”
Jim Moorman· Jul 10“After posting back-to-back 15+ PPR point-per-game seasons to start his NFL career, Waddle seemed destined to usurp Tyreek Hill as the Dolphins' top target earner and establish himself as a top-five fantasy wide receiver overall. Unfortunately, that time never came, as Waddle continued to play second fiddle in Miami.”
Jim Moorman· Jul 10