Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Jaylen Waddle vs Zay FlowersWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Zay Flowers is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.8 PPG to Jaylen Waddle's 10.1 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Zay Flowers is the better fantasy play this season.

Zay Flowers has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 1.7-PPG advantage is real (11.8 to 10.1), and Zay Flowers's 6 touchdowns show scoring upside. Jaylen Waddle is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

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

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WRMiami Dolphins#29

Jaylen Waddle

PPG

10.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

910

Rec TDs

Targets

100

Bye

Week 6

WRBaltimore Ravens#15PPG LEADER

Zay Flowers

PPG

11.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

1,211

Rec TDs

Targets

118

Bye

Week 13

The Edge Chart

Jaylen Waddle

Zay Flowers

Head to Head

10.1 PPG11.8 PPG

16 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

Jaylen Waddle: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) WR (ranked #29 at the position). Zay Flowers: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) WR (ranked #15 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Jaylen Waddle is producing at 46% of elite pace and Zay Flowers at 54%. That ranking gap means Zay Flowers carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Jaylen Waddle vs Zay Flowers: The Full Breakdown

Two wide receivers who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Jaylen Waddle (Miami Dolphins) finished the 2025 season averaging 10.1 fantasy points per game in 16 games. Zay Flowers (Baltimore Ravens) came in at 11.8 PPG over 17 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Zay Flowers carries a 1.7-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Both are workload receivers with similar target shares. Jaylen Waddle turned 100 targets into 910 yards and 6 touchdowns, while Zay Flowers converted 118 looks into 1211 yards and 5 scores. When target volume is this close, game script and defensive matchup typically decide the weekly winner.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Jaylen Waddle sits Week 6 while Zay Flowers is off Week 13. 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

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. Zay Flowers (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Zay Flowers outscored Jaylen Waddle by a projected 29 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Zay Flowers played 17 games in 2025 compared to Jaylen Waddle's 16. That durability gap means Zay Flowers 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.
•Zay Flowers saw 118 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 Zay Flowers: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jaylen Waddle	Zay Flowers
PPG (Half-PPR)	10.1	11.8
Games Played	16	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	162	201
Receptions	64	86
Rec/Game	4.0	5.1
Receiving Yards	910	1,211
Rec Yds/Game	56.9	71.2
Receiving TDs	6	5
Targets	100	118
Target Share/Game	6.3	6.9
Age	27	25
Experience	4 yrs	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 13

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Zay Flowers holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 11.8 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Jaylen Waddle or Zay Flowers in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Zay Flowers has the edge at 11.8 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 Jaylen Waddle and Zay Flowers average in 2025?▾

Jaylen Waddle averaged 10.1 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Zay Flowers averaged 11.8 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 1.7 points per game.

When are Jaylen Waddle and Zay Flowers's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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

Is Jaylen Waddle or Zay Flowers a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Zay Flowers outscored Jaylen Waddle by 1.7 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.