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Head to Head

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Jake Tonges vs Jaylen WaddleWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jaylen Waddle is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 10.1 PPG to Jake Tonges's 8.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jaylen Waddle is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Jaylen Waddle (10.1 PPG) is the higher-floor play. Jake Tonges (8.5 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.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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TESan Francisco 49ers#15
Jake Tonges
PPG
8.5
Games
9
Rec
34
Rec Yds
293
Rec TDs
5
Targets
46
Bye
Week 8
WRMiami Dolphins#29PPG LEADER
Jaylen Waddle
PPG
10.1
Games
16
Rec
64
Rec Yds
910
Rec TDs
6
Targets
100
Bye
Week 6

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Jake Tonges
Jaylen Waddle

Head to Head

8.5 PPG10.1 PPG
9 GP16 GP
Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Jake Tonges: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #15 at the position). Jaylen Waddle: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) WR (ranked #29 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) WR in most league formats.

Jake Tonges vs Jaylen Waddle: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Jake Tonges (TE, San Francisco 49ers) against Jaylen Waddle (WR, Miami Dolphins) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Jake Tonges averaged 8.5 PPG in 2025 over 9 games, while Jaylen Waddle posted 10.1 PPG across 16 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.

Jake Tonges has his bye in Week 8, Jaylen Waddle in Week 6. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Jake Tonges (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Jaylen Waddle (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

  • Jaylen Waddle outscored Jake Tonges by a projected 27 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Jaylen Waddle played 16 games in 2025 compared to Jake Tonges's 9. That durability gap means Jaylen Waddle contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
  • Jaylen Waddle scored 6 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
  • Jaylen Waddle saw 100 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Jake Tonges vs Jaylen Waddle: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatJake TongesJaylen Waddle
PPG (Half-PPR)8.510.1
Games Played916
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)77162
Receptions3464
Rec/Game3.84.0
Receiving Yards293910
Rec Yds/Game32.656.9
Receiving TDs56
Targets46100
Target Share/Game5.16.3
Age2627
Experience3 yrs4 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 8Week 6

Summary

10.1 PPG for Jaylen Waddle versus 8.5 for Jake Tonges in 2025. The baseline favors Jaylen Waddle, though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Jake Tonges or Jaylen Waddle in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Jaylen Waddle has the edge at 10.1 PPG compared to Jake Tonges's 8.5 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 Jake Tonges and Jaylen Waddle average in 2025?

Jake Tonges averaged 8.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 9 games in 2025. Jaylen Waddle averaged 10.1 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 1.6 points per game.

When are Jake Tonges and Jaylen Waddle's bye weeks in 2026?

Jake Tonges (SF) has a bye in Week 8, and Jaylen Waddle (MIA) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

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