Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Davante Adams vs Jaylen WaddleWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Davante Adams is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 13.8 PPG to Jaylen Waddle's 10.1 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Davante Adams is the better fantasy play this season.

Davante Adams is the better play on a neutral week. 13.8 PPG with 789 yards gives a reliable baseline. Jaylen Waddle at 10.1 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Davante Adams higher, but do not fade Jaylen Waddle entirely.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

Track Davante Adams and Jaylen Waddle in the DraftCall app and get their updates the moment they change.

Get the App

WRLos Angeles Rams#8PPG LEADER

Davante Adams

PPG

13.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

789

Rec TDs

Targets

114

Bye

Week 11

WRMiami Dolphins#29

Jaylen Waddle

PPG

10.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

910

Rec TDs

Targets

100

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Davante Adams

Jaylen Waddle

Head to Head

13.8 PPG10.1 PPG

14 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Davante Adams: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) WR (ranked #8 at the position). Jaylen Waddle: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) WR (ranked #29 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Davante Adams is producing at 63% of elite pace and Jaylen Waddle at 46%. That ranking gap means Davante Adams carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Davante Adams vs Jaylen Waddle: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Davante Adams and Jaylen Waddle for your lineup, you are not alone. Davante Adams finished the 2025 season at 13.8 PPG for the Los Angeles Rams (14 games), and Jaylen Waddle averaged 10.1 for the Miami Dolphins (16 games).

That 3.7-point weekly advantage for Davante Adams is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.

Both are workload receivers with similar target shares. Davante Adams turned 114 targets into 789 yards and 14 touchdowns, while Jaylen Waddle converted 100 looks into 910 yards and 6 scores. When target volume is this close, game script and defensive matchup typically decide the weekly winner.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Davante Adams sits Week 11 while Jaylen Waddle is off Week 6. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Davante Adams is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Jaylen Waddle is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Davante Adams (age 33) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining. Jaylen Waddle (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Davante Adams outscored Jaylen Waddle by a projected 63 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jaylen Waddle played 16 games in 2025 compared to Davante Adams's 14. That durability gap means Jaylen Waddle contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Davante Adams scored 14 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.0 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Davante Adams saw 114 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.
•Jaylen Waddle is 6 years younger than Davante Adams (27 vs 33), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Davante Adams vs Jaylen Waddle: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Davante Adams	Jaylen Waddle
PPG (Half-PPR)	13.8	10.1
Games Played	14	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	193	162
Receptions	60	64
Rec/Game	4.3	4.0
Receiving Yards	789	910
Rec Yds/Game	56.4	56.9
Receiving TDs	14	6
Targets	114	100
Target Share/Game	8.1	6.3
Age	33	27
Experience	11 yrs	4 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 6

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Davante Adams at 13.8 PPG, 3.7 points per game above Jaylen Waddle's 10.1. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Davante Adams vs Jaylen Waddle

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 Davante Adams vs Jaylen Waddle

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 Davante Adams or Jaylen Waddle in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Davante Adams has the edge at 13.8 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 Davante Adams and Jaylen Waddle average in 2025?▾

Davante Adams averaged 13.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Jaylen Waddle averaged 10.1 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 3.7 points per game.

When are Davante Adams and Jaylen Waddle's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Davante Adams (LAR) has a bye in Week 11, and Jaylen Waddle (MIA) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Davante Adams or Jaylen Waddle a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Davante Adams outscored Jaylen Waddle by 3.7 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.