Jaylen Waddle vs David Montgomery
2026 draft comparison · half-PPR
Updated Aug 19, 2026
Should you draft Jaylen Waddle or David Montgomery?
Last season — 2025, per game
Full game log & past seasons
| 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 |
| WK | OPP | FPTS | RANK | ATT | YD | TD | TGT | REC | RYD | RTD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | GB | 6.3 | RB35 | 11 | 25 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 18 | 0 |
2 | CHI | 12.6 | RB23 | 11 | 57 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
3 | BAL | 28.9 | RB2 | 12 | 151 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 0 |
4 | CLE | 1.2 | RB62 | 9 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
5 | CIN | 17.7 | RB9 | 18 | 65 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
6 | KC | 7.1 | RB25 | 4 | 24 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 37 | 0 |
7 | TB | 4.9 | RB36 | 13 | 21 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 18 | 0 |
8 | BYE | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
9 | MIN | 10.0 | RB21 | 11 | 40 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 0 |
10 | WAS | 9.6 | RB25 | 15 | 71 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
11 | PHI | 4.2 | RB43 | 6 | 27 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 0 |
12 | NYG | 5.2 | RB36 | 5 | 18 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 19 | 0 |
13 | GB | 11.8 | RB22 | 8 | 32 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 0 |
14 | DAL | 13.8 | RB15 | 6 | 60 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 0 |
15 | LAR | 9.2 | RB30 | 7 | 32 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
16 | PIT | 1.4 | RB63 | 4 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
17 | MIN | 5.0 | RB40 | 10 | 25 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 0 |
18 | CHI | 6.0 | RB35 | 8 | 42 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 0 |
Earlier seasons (2024)
| WK | OPP | FPTS | RANK | ATT | YD | TD | TGT | REC | RYD | RTD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | LAR | 15.8 | RB14 | 17 | 91 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
2 | TB | 15.0 | RB13 | 11 | 35 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 35 | 0 |
3 | ARI | 19.7 | RB8 | 23 | 105 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 17 | 0 |
4 | SEA | 14.5 | RB18 | 12 | 40 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 40 | 0 |
5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
6 | DAL | 20.5 | RB5 | 12 | 80 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
7 | MIN | 6.5 | RB35 | 9 | 31 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 39 | 0 |
8 | TEN | 14.4 | RB17 | 9 | 33 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
9 | GB | 11.1 | RB24 | 17 | 73 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 23 | 0 |
10 | HOU | 12.1 | RB16 | 12 | 32 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 24 | 0 |
11 | JAX | 23.0 | RB4 | 15 | 75 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 20 | 0 |
12 | IND | 14.8 | RB10 | 8 | 37 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 36 | 0 |
13 | CHI | 13.9 | RB15 | 21 | 88 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 36 | 0 |
14 | GB | 16.9 | RB10 | 14 | 51 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 33 | 0 |
15 | BUF | 5.5 | RB37 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 31 | 0 |
Latest takes
“” – 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“The Broncos gave up a first-, third- and fourth-round pick in 2026 to acquire Jaylen Waddle this offseason.”
Jim Moorman· Aug 10
See 12 more
“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“Jaylen Waddle is a favorite draft target in the fifth round based on ADP.”
Pat Fitzmaurice· Jul 8
“added much-needed help to the offensive line and a dependable lead-back in David Montgomery .”
Kyle Lesti· Aug 11“With the Lions losing David Montgomery , that should open up some extra touches in the offense, and Jameson can see a handful of those.” – Muntradamus ( Beast Dome ) “I like a lot of WRs in this range, so I’m going to go with one of the more affordable options in Jameson Williams , whose current ADP is at WR 25.”
FantasyPros Staff· Aug 11“David Montgomery (RB – HOU) With a stable workload and an undervalued draft price, David Montgomery is a clear choice to draft in the middle rounds.”
Lawrence Iacona· Aug 11
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“The biggest reason Gibbs should be the RB1 is that he no longer shares the backfield with David Montgomery .”
Kyle Zeigler· Aug 10“David Montgomery, Tyler Allgeier, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Kareem Hunt, Jalen Hurts – 8 Jordan Love is the only QB in the last decade to:”
The FF Newsletter· Aug 6“David Montgomery (RB – HOU) At this point in the draft, I didn’t have a running back yet, so I wanted to start taking swings on players I felt had starter upside, and David Montgomery is definitely one of them”
Richard Janvrin· Aug 6“Last season, Montgomery bested Marks in explosive run rate, missed tackle rate, rushing success rate, yards after contact per attempt, and yards per route run. Legit, every per-touch metric that I care about. Montgomery is the superior back, even at this stage of his career, and he’ll be a strong volume-driven RB2 that could flirt with RB1 production.”
FantasyPros Staff· Aug 4“David Montgomery now finds himself as the Texans’ do it all workhorse for 2026. Last year, he was phased out of the Lions’ offensive plans as the season moved along, which led to his RB32 finish in fantasy points per game. In Weeks 12-18, he was the RB43 in fantasy points per game with a 32.1% snap rate, 8.2 touches per game, and only 42.8 total yards per game.”
FantasyPros Staff· Aug 4“A Case Study at the Round 4 Turn Currently in best ball ADP, DJ Moore and David Montgomery are priced right next to each other, with average draft positions of 47 and 48, as of July 27th.”
Tony Martin· Jul 30“Gibbs, like Bijan, has seen his total volume increase each year of his NFL career and is projected to take on an even bigger load now that Knuckles, aka David Montgomery , is gone.”
Jordan Pullett· Jul 29“All this adds up to an offense that will be on the field a lot while nursing leads in the second half, and that’s all David Montgomery time, baby.”
Jeff Krisko· Jul 28“Flip this to David Montgomery last season, who didn’t get a lot of volume, but was 19 th in yards per touch, 32nd in true yards per carry, and 29 th in yards created per touch. What you see is a bell cow-style individual, very similar to Joe Mixon in the past, and this is the type of player that (despite being aggressively average) can put up a ton of fantasy points on volume alone.”
Jeff Krisko· Jul 28“Montgomery should absorb a workload close to what Joe Mixon saw in 2024.”
FantasyPros Staff· Jul 28“David Montgomery (RB – HOU) Montgomery’s price has crept up steadily all offseason to the point where one analyst is no longer comfortable with it, now sitting around the second pick of the sixth round. There was real confidence in him right after his team traded real draft capital to acquire him, but the cost has now outpaced that confidence.”
FantasyPros Staff· Jul 25“We were only a year removed from Joe Mixon scoring 11 times on the ground in Houston in 2024, so it is easy to get to David Montgomery having touchdown upside in a larger role with the Texans.”
Rich Hribar· Jul 24