Jaylen Waddle or Mark Andrews: Who Should You Start?
2026 Week 2 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.
Waddle's ceiling meets Andrews' steadier role in a balanced call
Andrews owns the better scoring environment and a target funnel that makes his TE role more dependable, especially near the goal line. Waddle answers with elite separation speed and a vertical role that can erase a modest target share with one explosive play, while his softer matchup helps offset Miami's lower scoring outlook. Andrews carries the steadier floor, but Waddle's big-play ceiling keeps this decision level; the main risk is betting on Waddle without enough volume.
What flips it: A confirmed target-role change for either player.
AI editor
In standard and half-PPR scoring this flips to Andrews.
Jaylen Waddle
7.79.912.1 Projected Points
Mark Andrews
6.78.410.2 Projected Points
Jaylen Waddle’s market
Mark Andrews’s market
Why Jaylen Waddle
Start· mediumStarting WR2 with elite separation speed. Twitchy route runner and vertical threat working opposite the X.
WR21 consensus with a 12.8-point projection and a 78% snap share — every-week starter territory in 12-team PPR despite a mid-tier JAX matchup.
- Elite separation speed gives Waddle a path to a difference-making play even from a secondary target role.
- His vertical assignment raises the ceiling, but modest volume makes the floor fragile.
The call
- Consensus WR21 at 12.8 projected PPR points is comfortably above replacement level at the position in a 12-team league.
- Role is locked in: 78% snap share over 16 games in 2025 means he's on the field for essentially the full route tree, and he carries no injury designation.
- The Jacksonville matchup grades 10 of 32 (tougher half) but that composite comes off a single game with 0.00 confidence — not enough signal to bench a starting-caliber WR.
- Only real flag is the 11% target share, but that's a one-game 2026 sample; if it holds for another week or two, his weekly ceiling deserves a re-look.
Latest on Waddle
Jeff Legwold explains how Jaylen Waddle's presence could create more opportunities for the Broncos' other receivers.
Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.
Why Mark Andrews
Start· mediumTE1 and red-zone mismatch. Veteran seam-stretcher with strong hands and quarterback rapport.
25% target share and 72% snaps in a 27-point implied offense — Andrews is a top-12 TE role even with a TE15 projection.
- Andrews' red-zone mismatch role benefits from Baltimore's stronger scoring environment.
- His target funnel is safer, though a favorable game script could reduce late-game passing volume.
The call
- A 25% target share is elite for the position; Andrews is the clear passing-game focal point at TE with a 72% snap share and no injury designation.
- Baltimore's 27.0 implied total and -7.5 spread point to a high-scoring, red-zone-heavy script, which is exactly where Andrews cashes in on touchdowns.
- The DvP composite of 12 of 32 reads mildly unfavorable, but it's a 1-game sample with 0.00 confidence — not enough to override the usage.
- Risk is the 10.1 projection and TE15 label: if Baltimore builds a lead and leans run, the volume ceiling narrows to a 6-8 point day.
Head-to-head stats
| Metric | Jaylen Waddle | Mark Andrews |
|---|---|---|
| Projected points | 7.79.912.1 | 6.78.410.2 |
| Consensus rank | WR21 | TE15 |
| Opponent vs position | JAX · 10 of 321-game sample | NO · 12 of 321-game sample |
| Receptions | 4 of 32 | 18 of 32 |
| Receiving Yards | 16 of 32 | 17 of 32 |
| Receiving TDs | 13 of 32 | 1 of 32 |
| Targets | 4 of 32 | 24 of 32 |
| Anytime TD | 13 of 32 | 1 of 32 |
| Target share | 11% | 25% |
| Reception share | 6% | 24% |
| Implied total · spread | 23.0-2.5 | 27.0-7.5 |
| Depth chart | WR1 | TE1 |
| Snap share | 75% | 72% |
| Start/Sit record | — | 0–1 |
Recent form
Jaylen Waddle — last 1 week
| Week 1 | vs KC | 0.20.71.2 |
Mark Andrews — last 1 week
| Week 1 | vs IND | 4.96.98.9 |
Signal breakdown
- 12.1 vs 10.2 projected PPR pointsJaylen Waddle +
- Rank 21 vs 15Mark Andrews +
- Opponent DvP rank 10 vs 12 (32 = softest)even
- Implied 23.0 vs 27.0 team pointsMark Andrews +
- No injury designationseven
- 75% vs 72% snap shareJaylen Waddle +
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