If Sean Payton’s wife’s fantasy team won this week, it probably was because of Jaylen Waddle.
A week after memes and jokes proliferated over to draft Waddle in fantasy football fell flat in the season opener, the Broncos coach got to hand his prized acquisition a game ball after Waddle dazzled in Denver’s home opener.
The wide receiver posted eight receptions for 138 yards in a 20-13 win over the Jaguars on Sunday at Empower Field. After getting only two targets in the team’s season-opener at Kansas City, quarterback Bo Nix threw Waddle’s way 10 times Sunday. Seven of his catches resulted in a first down and three of them came on third down.
While Broncos players said they didn’t specifically talk about getting Waddle the ball throughout the week, Denver certainly seemed to be making a pointed effort to get the ball to No. 17. Payton said Friday that His promise paid off Sunday.
The premise makes sense. Not only is he Denver’s most explosive weapon, but the Dolphins were 9-4 when they targeted Waddle 10 or more times. Now, the Broncos are 1-0 when doing the same. His138 receiving yards are the most by a Broncos wideout since Jerry Jeudy’s 154-yard showing in 2022, according to .
“Glad he’s ours,” Payton said.
When Denver’s offense needed a first down late in the fourth quarter, it turned to Waddle. Offensive coordinator Davis Webb drew up a double move for the wideout on a third down with just 3:40 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Broncos got man coverage, leaving Waddle against Jaguars slot cornerback Jourdan Lewis. Lewis, who ran a 4.54-second 40-yard dash at the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine, played far off the Broncos wide receiver. Waddle went into motion before the snap, ran a stop-and-go and was so open that Lewis was 10 yards behind him — standing on the white paint of Jacksonville’s sideline — when Waddle caught the pass.
Jaylen Waddle was so open on this play that Jourdan Lewis was on the sideline, 10 yards behind him, when Waddle caught the ball.
— Sam Jane (@sam_jane230)
“We knew what they were going to be in, just the situation. We went out there and tried to close the game, and we did,” Waddle said.
That wasn’t the only big play the Broncos designed for Waddle. In the second quarter, the Jaguars played two deep safeties in zone coverage. Courtland Sutton and Pat Bryant ran deep curl routes, which pulled the safeties toward them. That left Waddle streaking over the top on a post route, matched up against cornerback Montaric Brown. He beat the defensive back for a 49-yard catch down to the goal line.
Waddle deferred to Nix, Sutton and Bryant on the play in the postgame, saying it was “just Bo being Bo.” That humility is rare for a top wideout in the NFL, a position where demanding the football is common.
Jaylen Waddle gets his first big play as a Bronco! 🐧
JAXvsDEN on CBS/Paramount+
Stream on— NFL (@NFL)
Thatap part of why the Broncos traded a first-round pick for Waddle. They believe he not only fits their offense, but also their locker room perfectly. Payton said Waddle “doesn’t have any bad days,” and while Waddle said he definitely does, it is rare to see the wideout around the Broncos’ practice facility without a smile. Teammates say his humor and positive attitude have blended into the locker room with ease.
“Jaylen has a really positive outlook on football; he has a really positive outlook on life,” Nix said. “He hasn’t necessarily had the success as of late that he wants by a wins-and-losses perspective, but now he’s got a new opportunity. He has a fresh wind about him.”
Waddle’s impact can be felt throughout the Broncos’ roster. He caught three passes between the numbers that traveled at least 10 yards in the air on Sunday, an area of the field where Nix has struggled. Waddle averaged 13.8 yards per in-breaking route, the most by any Broncos receiver since at least 2018, according to Next Gen Stats.
His speed forces defenses to play differently, tight end Adam Trautman said, which opens up opportunities for the Broncos’ short passing game. Finally, Sutton and Bryant should continue to get more one-on-one chances as Waddle settles into Denver’s offense.
“He’s been doing that his whole career. He’s impressive,” Trautman told The Denver Post.
After Waddle’s big catch late in the fourth, several fans at Empower Field started waddling like a penguin. Waddle has yet to break the celebration out, but if he continues to have games like Sunday, that moment will certainly come.
“He ate his Wheaties,” Nix said.
