Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Jaylen Waddle vs Jonnu SmithWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jaylen Waddle is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 10.1 PPG to Jonnu Smith's 8.2 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. Jonnu Smith (8.2 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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WRMiami Dolphins#29PPG LEADER

Jaylen Waddle

PPG

10.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

910

Rec TDs

Targets

100

Bye

Week 6

TEMiami Dolphins#99

Jonnu Smith

PPG

8.2

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

562

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Jaylen Waddle

Jonnu Smith

Head to Head

10.1 PPG8.2 PPG

16 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Jaylen Waddle: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) WR (ranked #29 at the position). Jonnu Smith: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 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 5 (Deep League) TE in most league formats.

Jaylen Waddle vs Jonnu Smith: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Jaylen Waddle (WR, Miami Dolphins) against Jonnu Smith (TE, Miami Dolphins) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Jaylen Waddle averaged 10.1 PPG in 2025 over 16 games, while Jonnu Smith posted 8.2 PPG across 15 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.

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: Jaylen Waddle (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Jonnu Smith (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Jaylen Waddle outscored Jonnu Smith by a projected 32 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jaylen Waddle played 16 games in 2025 compared to Jonnu Smith's 15. 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 wide receiver position.
•Both players share a Week 6 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Jaylen Waddle vs Jonnu Smith: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jaylen Waddle	Jonnu Smith
PPG (Half-PPR)	10.1	8.2
Games Played	16	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	162	123
Receptions	64	52
Rec/Game	4.0	3.5
Receiving Yards	910	562
Rec Yds/Game	56.9	37.5
Receiving TDs	6	4
Targets	100	68
Target Share/Game	6.3	4.5
Age	27	-
Experience	4 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 6

Summary

10.1 PPG for Jaylen Waddle versus 8.2 for Jonnu Smith 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 Jaylen Waddle or Jonnu Smith in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jaylen Waddle has the edge at 10.1 PPG compared to Jonnu Smith's 8.2 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 Jonnu Smith average in 2025?▾

Jaylen Waddle averaged 10.1 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Jonnu Smith averaged 8.2 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 1.9 points per game.

Do Jaylen Waddle and Jonnu Smith share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Jaylen Waddle and Jonnu Smith share a Week 6 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at wide receiver for that week.