Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

Jaylen Waddle vs Jonathan TaylorWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jonathan Taylor is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 20.0 PPG to Jaylen Waddle's 10.1 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jonathan Taylor is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Jonathan Taylor (20.0 PPG) is the higher-floor play. Jaylen Waddle (10.1 PPG) could win a specific week on touchdown variance. For FLEX spots, lean toward the player with the softer defensive matchup that week rather than defaulting to season averages.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

Track Jaylen Waddle and Jonathan Taylor in the DraftCall app and get their updates the moment they change.

Get the App

WRMiami Dolphins#29

Jaylen Waddle

PPG

10.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

910

Rec TDs

Targets

100

Bye

Week 6

RBIndianapolis Colts#2PPG LEADER

Jonathan Taylor

PPG

20.0

Games

Rush Yds

1,585

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

378

Bye

Week 13

The Edge Chart

Jaylen Waddle

Jonathan Taylor

Head to Head

10.1 PPG20.0 PPG

16 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

Jaylen Waddle: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) WR (ranked #29 at the position). Jonathan Taylor: Tier 1 (Elite) RB (ranked #2 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) WR is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 1 (Elite) RB in most league formats.

Jaylen Waddle vs Jonathan Taylor: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Jaylen Waddle (WR, Miami Dolphins) against Jonathan Taylor (RB, Indianapolis Colts) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Jaylen Waddle averaged 10.1 PPG in 2025 over 16 games, while Jonathan Taylor posted 20.0 PPG across 17 games.

Cross-position FLEX decisions cannot be made on PPG alone. Positional scarcity, matchup quality, floor versus ceiling, and league scoring format all shift the answer. A 14 PPG tight end in a thin TE week is often worth more than a 16 PPG receiver in a deep WR week, because the opportunity cost on the waiver wire is wildly different.

DraftCall's AI engine weighs all of these signals and returns a verdict with clear reasoning, so you are not cross-referencing four different rankings tabs on a Sunday morning.

Jaylen Waddle has his bye in Week 6, Jonathan Taylor in Week 13. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Jonathan Taylor at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Jaylen Waddle is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Jaylen Waddle (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Jonathan Taylor (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Jonathan Taylor outscored Jaylen Waddle by a projected 168 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jonathan Taylor played 17 games in 2025 compared to Jaylen Waddle's 16. That durability gap means Jonathan Taylor contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Jonathan Taylor scored 20 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.2 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Jaylen Waddle saw 100 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Jaylen Waddle vs Jonathan Taylor: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jaylen Waddle	Jonathan Taylor
PPG (Half-PPR)	10.1	20.0
Games Played	16	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	162	340
Rushing Yards	28	1,585
Rush Yds/Game	1.8	93.2
Rushing TDs	0	18
Receptions	64	46
Receiving Yards	910	378
Targets	100	55
Total TDs	6	20
Age	27	27
Experience	4 yrs	5 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 13

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Jonathan Taylor holds the PPG edge with strong output at 20.0 points per game. Jaylen Waddle averaged 10.1 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Jaylen Waddle vs Jonathan Taylor

DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality, recent trends, injury impact, and game script to give you a clear start/sit recommendation.

See everything in the app →

Launch List

Get the live verdict on Jaylen Waddle vs Jonathan Taylor

The DraftCall app delivers live game-day verdicts on every matchup. Join the launch list and we will email you the day it goes live for the 2026 NFL season, with your direct iOS and Android install links.

We will never share your email. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Jaylen Waddle or Jonathan Taylor in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jonathan Taylor has the edge at 20.0 PPG compared to Jaylen Waddle's 10.1 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Jaylen Waddle and Jonathan Taylor average in 2025?▾

Jaylen Waddle averaged 10.1 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Jonathan Taylor averaged 20.0 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 9.9 points per game.

When are Jaylen Waddle and Jonathan Taylor's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Jaylen Waddle (MIA) has a bye in Week 6, and Jonathan Taylor (IND) has a bye in Week 13. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.