Harold Fannin Jr. or Jaylen Waddle: Who Should You Start?

2026 Week 3 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Too close to call — the edges cancel out.

Harold Fannin Jr. and Jaylen Waddle grade out even this week. Fannin's best edge is the consensus rank (TE5 to WR21), Waddle's best edge is the projection (13.1 to 9.8) — and they cancel out. Start whichever player's game you trust more this week.

Harold Fannin Jr.

Harold Fannin Jr.

TE5CLEvs CAR

Projected Points

Sit
Jaylen Waddle

Jaylen Waddle

WR21DENvs LAR

Projected Points

Toss-Up

Harold Fannin Jr.’s market

REC
O/U 3.5
-141 / +110
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 35.5
-113 / -113
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+285
Anytime Touchdown Props →

Jaylen Waddle’s market

REC
O/U 4.5
-157 / +123
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 58.5
-115 / -115
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+190
Anytime Touchdown Props →
CAR@
CLESun, Sep 27, 1:00 PM ETView the game →
LAR@
DENSun, Sep 27, 8:20 PM ETView the game →

Why Harold Fannin Jr.

Sit

TE1 and high-volume receiving target. Move tight end and mismatch chess piece with YAC ability.

Sit — TE5 consensus, projects TE15 this week: 19.0 implied team total caps the ceiling, 22% target share.

  • CAR ranks 18 of 32 against TEs (a middle-of-the-road matchup, 3-game sample).
  • Vegas implies 19.0 team points as 1.5-point underdogs.
  • Listed TE on the latest depth chart with a 85% snap share.

Latest on Fannin

Role

Fannin bounced back from a quiet Week 1 (2 targets for 21 yards) to post a productive Week 2 stat line, tying for second on the team in receptions and targets while ranking second in receiving yards as Watson's frequent security blanket.

ESPN · Sep 21, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Why Jaylen Waddle

Toss-Up

Starting WR2 with elite separation speed. Twitchy route runner and vertical threat working opposite the X.

Toss-up — WR21 consensus, projects WR19 this week: 23% target share, 13.1 PPR projected vs LAR.

  • LAR ranks 12 of 32 against WRs (a middle-of-the-road matchup, 3-game sample).
  • Vegas implies 21.3 team points as 3.0-point underdogs.
  • Listed WR on the latest depth chart with a 70% snap share.

Latest on Waddle

Role

Waddle drew 10 targets and caught eight passes last week, accounting for more than half of Denver's air yards.

How to bet Rams-Broncos on 'SNF': Analysis, tips and favorite playsESPN · Sep 27, 2026
Role

Jaylen Waddle was heavily featured in Denver's win, catching eight passes for 138 yards.

Newcomers Jaylen Waddle, Jonah Coleman lead Broncos to winESPN · Sep 22, 2026
'That's only the tip of the iceberg for him': WR Jaylen Waddle showcases explosive playmaking ability in home debut

“You can see the explosiveness, the run after the catch, all of those things,” Head Coach Sean Payton said. “I’m glad he’s ours.”

denverbroncos.com · Sep 20, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Head-to-head stats

MetricHarold Fannin Jr.Jaylen Waddle
Projected points
Consensus rankTE5WR21
Opponent vs positionCAR · 18 of 323-game sampleLAR · 12 of 323-game sample
Receptions8 of 321 of 32
Receiving Yards11 of 326 of 32
Receiving TDs27 of 3225 of 32
Targets16 of 325 of 32
Anytime TD26 of 3225 of 32
Target share22%23%
Reception share25%20%
Implied total · spread19.0+1.521.3+3.0
Depth chartTE1WR1
Snap share85%70%
Start/Sit record—1–0

Recent form

Harold Fannin Jr. — last 2 weeks

Week 2vs TB
Week 1vs JAX

Jaylen Waddle — last 2 weeks

Week 2vs JAX
Week 1vs KC

Signal breakdown

  • 9.8 vs 13.1 projected PPR pointsJaylen Waddle +
  • Rank 5 vs 21Harold Fannin Jr. +
  • Opponent DvP rank 18 vs 12 (32 = softest)Harold Fannin Jr. +
  • Implied 19.0 vs 21.3 team pointsJaylen Waddle +
  • No injury designationseven
  • 85% vs 70% snap shareHarold Fannin Jr. +

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