Jaylen Waddle vs Emeka Egbuka
2026 draft comparison · half-PPR
Updated Aug 10, 2026
Last 7 days: Waddle 26.7%Egbuka 73.3%
Should you draft Jaylen Waddle or Emeka Egbuka?
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 | TGT | REC | YD | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ATL | 21.6 | WR3 | 6 | 4 | 67 | 2 |
2 | HOU | 10.9 | WR32 | 7 | 4 | 29 | 1 |
3 | NYJ | 11.5 | WR26 | 8 | 6 | 85 | 0 |
4 | PHI | 18.1 | WR8 | 10 | 4 | 101 | 1 |
5 | SEA | 27.8 | WR1 | 7 | 7 | 163 | 1 |
6 | SF | 3.4 | WR69 | 4 | 2 | 24 | 0 |
7 | DET | 7.8 | WR34 | 12 | 4 | 58 | 0 |
8 | NO | 5.0 | WR55 | 9 | 3 | 35 | 0 |
9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
10 | NE | 20.5 | WR4 | 13 | 6 | 115 | 1 |
11 | BUF | 6.5 | WR44 | 9 | 5 | 40 | 0 |
12 | LAR | 4.7 | WR51 | 8 | 3 | 32 | 0 |
13 | ARI | 6.2 | WR43 | 8 | 4 | 42 | 0 |
14 | NO | 2.5 | WR76 | 9 | 2 | 15 | 0 |
15 | ATL | 8.4 | WR38 | 7 | 4 | 64 | 0 |
16 | CAR | 4.5 | WR66 | 2 | 1 | 40 | 0 |
17 | MIA | 3.5 | WR72 | 5 | 3 | 20 | 0 |
18 | CAR | 1.3 | WR89 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 0 |
Latest takes
“Denver upgraded its receiving room in a big way with the trade for Jaylen Waddle , as not only did it add a dynamic No. 1 option to the room, it pushed everyone else down the pecking order into roles that should be better suited to their talents.”
Logan Ulrich· 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
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“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“The Broncos parted with their first-round pick in the Jaylen Waddle trade.”
Ryan McCrystal· Jul 6“Joining a pass-heavy offense is precisely what Waddle needs to blossom into a fantasy football WR1 in 2026.”
Josh Shepardson· Jul 2“Jaylen Waddle will receive a sizable environmental upgrade in 2026. The Broncos freed him from the rebuilding Dolphins via a trade, and Waddle will step in as Denver's No. 1 wide receiver alongside a nifty, big-bodied complement in the form of No. 2 wide receiver Courtland Sutton.”
Josh Shepardson· Jul 2
“While fantasy players should be excited about Emeka Egbuka , don’t forget about McMillan. Unfortunately, the former Washington star only played in the final four contests last season because of injury, averaging 7.5 PPR fantasy points per game.”
Mike Fanelli· Aug 9“Emeka Egbuka ‘s rookie season was a rollercoaster, but the underlying usage points toward a major Year 2 breakout in Tampa Bay. The former Ohio State standout earned elite target volume for a rookie and looked like a future star early in the season before injuries and shifting usage slowed his momentum late in the year (top-10 WR from Weeks 1-11). With Mike Evans gone, Egbuka is positioned for a much larger role in Zac Robinson’s offense.”
FantasyPros Staff· Aug 9“Emeka Egbuka (WR – TB) Going as the WR18, 41st overall, the projections actually rate Egbuka even higher than that price suggests, stepping into a departed veteran’s role. His first six games last year came without two more established teammates healthy, and after that, the entire offense played through injuries for the rest of the season, muddying a clear read on his true talent level.”
FantasyPros Staff· Aug 8
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“Lastly, if you’re here from Reddit/X/somewhere else, make sure you subscribe to get this newsletter via email every week! Subscribe now Without further ado, enjoy this week’s content👇 and enjoy the game 🏈 Analysis & Hype The only other 5-star-recruit WRs drafted in Round 1 since 2020, besides Emeka Egbuka :”
The FF Newsletter· Aug 6“Emeka Egbuka (WR – TB) Emeka Egbuka had a 23.5% target share last season, which led the Buccaneers”
Richard Janvrin· Aug 6“While fantasy players should be excited about Emeka Egbuka , don’t forget about McMillan”
Mike Fanelli· Aug 6“With Mike Evans gone, Egbuka is positioned for a much larger role in Zac Robinson’s offense. He is one of the more appealing second-year breakout WR candidates in fantasy football.”
FantasyPros Staff· Jul 28“For WR2, the lines are Terry McLaurin and Emeka Egbuka.”
FantasyPros Staff· Jul 25“Emeka Egbuka exploded onto the scene in the first half of the 2025 season. The rookie WR capitalized on the opportunity left by the injured Mike Evans and finished as the WR 20.”
Peter Kettering· Jul 24“More importantly, he has been dominant on a very successful Ohio State offense while playing alongside two first-round picks, Emeka Egbuka and Carnell Tate .”
Marvin Elequin· Jul 24“With Evans now in San Francisco, Egbuka becomes the No. 1 receiver in Tampa Bay.”
Kyle Zeigler· Jul 23“Emeka Egbuka could crush his mid WR2 draft cost this season. Egbuka faded after Week 5 last year after he sustained a hamstring injury, and Baker Mayfield ‘s injury severely impacted his ability to feed catchable targets to the receiving options in Tampa Bay. In Weeks 1-5, Egbuka was the WR3 in fantasy points per game, commanding a 22.1% target share with 89 receiving yards per game, 2.71 yards per route run, a 26.1% first-read share, and 0.104 first downs per route run (per Fantasy Points Data).”
FantasyPros Staff· Jul 22“He started off extremely hot last season before fading down the stretch, but with Mike Evans gone, Egbuka is in line for huge volume and opportunity.”
Kurt Blakeway· Jul 17“A Week 6 hamstring strain, coupled with Baker Mayfield's late-season struggles (including a reported rib injury), saw Egbuka's efficiency crater. However, Egbuka still led the Bucs' WR corps in total offensive snaps (886). Combine this with his 29.4% first-read target share, and it proves he is the offensive engine moving forward.”
Vernon Meighan· Jul 10“Through Week 5, Egbuka was a top-tier asset, averaging 2.49 Yards Per Route Run (YPRR) and leading all rookies in receiving EPA (11.2). He was the first player since 1970 to catch a game-winning TD in the final minute of his NFL debut.”
Vernon Meighan· Jul 10