Jaylen Waddle Rookie of the Year? Here is what he needs to do

Jaylen Waddle is going to be an exciting player to watch in the coming years and it is hard not to get thrilled about what he could bring to the Miami Dolphins.

For the first time in quite some time, the Dolphins have a player on their roster that could end the season embedded in the conversations of Rookie Player of the Year honors. It is a long shot and a lot needs to happen but it is possible. We can take the negative road and talk about the running backs not helping, the offensive line not doing their job, or Tua Tagovailoa not taking the next step but we won’t. Not this time around.

If Waddle is going to have a shot, he will need to post impressive offensive numbers on a deep offensive squad that has top receivers and capable running backs.

We need to look back over the last decade to view what Waddle may need to bring to the field in 2021 as a rookie to keep himself in the conversation.

Three of the last six ORoY award winners have been quarterbacks and the other three have been running backs. The last WR to win the award was Odell Beckham, Jr. in 2014. Previous to that, Percy Harvin won the award in 2009 and Anquan Boldin in 2003.

Beckham, Jr.’s rookie season saw him post an impressive stat line. In 12 games, he caught 91 passes for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns while averaging 108.8 yards per game.

Harvin, in his rookie season, played 8 games and caught 60 balls for 790 yards and six touchdowns. Harvin also posted 1,156 yards in kick-off returns including two touchdowns.

Boldin caught 101 passes for 1,377 yards and eight touchdowns in his rookie season and was targeted 165 times.

If we look at WRs alone, Waddle will need to get pretty close to the 1,000-yard mark and help in the return game. Touchdowns do not seem to be a major need but yardage and receptions do. If Waddle is going to win the 2021 ORoY he will need to post more than 1,000 yards and probably then some.