Miami Dolphins: 3 bold predictions for the wide receivers

Prediction 3: Jaylen Waddle under 700 receiving yards

Jaylen Waddle will be a big part of the future receiving core of the Miami Dolphins, but don’t be surprised if he gets out to a slow start during his rookie season.

Waddle joins an already-crowded receiver room, in which he will have to work to earn his targets. Not only are there established veterans ahead of him on the depth chart (Parker/Fuller), there are also guys on the roster that Tagovailoa has professional experience with. The quarterback spent a lot of time throwing to Lynn Bowden Jr and Malcolm Perry last season, and both will be looking to make noise of their own in training camp and the regular season. Add in the targets that Mike Gesicki will be commanding, and it is entirely possible for Jaylen Waddle to have one of the more underwhelming seasons of any of the rookie first round wide receivers.

Early proposition wagering lines have Waddle’s total yards at over/under 725.5 for the season. This comes out to roughly 40 yards per game (if he is to play all 18), which could be attainable given his familiarity and history with Tagovailoa. But things would have to break just right for Waddle to eclipse that mark, and the under could be a good play when you’re making your prop bets for the year.