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Miami Dolphins second-year wide receiver Jaylen Waddle has been held out of practice recently with an undisclosed injury.
We don't really know a ton about this injury at this point, aside from the fact that Waddle didn't play in the team's final preseason game.
Will this Waddle injury end up lingering into the season? Should fantasy managers be worried?
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What Happened To Jaylen Waddle?
It's still a little bit unclear what exactly happened to Jaylen Waddle.
Waddle's injury hasn't been disclosed, but he was seen at practice with a wrap on his leg, so it sounds like Waddle is dealing with some kind of leg issue.
There are two ways to read into the secretive nature of this injury. One to assume the worst: that Waddle is dealing with some kind of issue – leg or otherwise –that could impact his Week 1 availability.
The other is to assume the Dolphins are just being overly cautious. While there's been too much mystery to definitely say which we're dealing with, signs seem to be pointing to the latter.
Will Jaylen Waddle Miss Week 1?
Probably not.
It sounds like the Dolphins are just being very, very cautious with the second-year wideout. It's not great that Waddle missed a couple weeks of practice since he's learning a new offense, but as long as the team has kept him involved off the field—and it sounds like they have—then Waddle should be fine.
Things could still change. But for now, fantasy managers should operate with the belief that Jaylen Waddle will be on the football field on September 11 when the Dolphins host the Patriots.
What is Jaylen Waddle's Fantasy Value?
If we assume that this injury is a minor thing, it shouldn't really have much of an impact on Waddle's fantasy value. Maybe he's a little slow to get going in Week 1 or 2, but overall, Waddle's projection remains about the same.
There's still plenty of concern about whether or not quarterback Tua Tagovailoa can sustain multiple top fantasy wide receivers, but considering Waddle saw 140 targets as rookie, we should expect him to have a sizable role this season.
Waddle is being drafted as a solid fantasy WR2 right now. This injury concern doesn't change that. The kind of role he'll have in this offense makes him a candidate to outperform his current ADP.
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