Start Christian Watson or Jaylen Waddle? Week 5

Our Week 5 call

Start Christian Watson over Jaylen Waddle in Week 5.

Market-based projections have Christian Watson at 12.9 points and Jaylen Waddle at 12.1, a gap of 0.8. That is inside the noise of a single catch, so treat it as close to a coin flip.

What the market projects

Player markets imply 12.9 fantasy points for Christian Watson, with 100 percent of the markets a WR needs posted.

The market has Christian Watson at 60.5 receiving yards and 4.5 receptions, with a 34% chance to score a touchdown (12, 11 and 15 market sources).

Player markets imply 12.1 fantasy points for Jaylen Waddle, with 100 percent of the markets a WR needs posted.

The market has Jaylen Waddle at 52.5 receiving yards and 4.5 receptions, with a 32% chance to score a touchdown (16, 13 and 15 market sources).

That puts Christian Watson 0.8 points ahead of Jaylen Waddle on the market projections.

Week 5 matchups

Jaylen Waddle and DEN visit LAC on Sunday at 4:05 PM ET.

LAC allowed 33.4 fantasy points a game to WRs this season over 4 games, the 15th most in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 148 yards and a touchdown a game against LAC.

Injury status

Christian Watson is not on the injury report.

Jaylen Waddle is not on the injury report.

Usage before Week 5

Through Week 4, Christian Watson played 79 percent of GB snaps, drew 21 percent of the targets, earned 25 percent of the air yards and had 16 percent of the red zone chances.

Christian Watson, Week 1 against MIN: 52 of 68 snaps, 8 targets and 6 catches for 147 yards, 2 touchdowns.

Christian Watson, Week 2 against NYJ: 53 of 59 snaps, 11 targets and 4 catches for 41 yards, 1 touchdown.

Christian Watson, Week 3 against ATL: 53 of 66 snaps, 10 targets and 7 catches for 96 yards, 1 touchdown.

Christian Watson, Week 4 against TB: 41 of 60 snaps, 3 targets and 3 catches for 47 yards.

Through Week 4, Jaylen Waddle played 69 percent of DEN snaps, drew 21 percent of the targets, earned 38 percent of the air yards and had 7 percent of the red zone chances.

Jaylen Waddle, Week 1 against KC: 38 of 51 snaps, 3 targets and 1 catch for 2 yards.

Jaylen Waddle, Week 2 against JAX: 38 of 62 snaps, 10 targets and 8 catches for 138 yards.

Jaylen Waddle, Week 3 against LAR: 49 of 67 snaps, 1 carry for 14 yards, 7 targets and 2 catches for 10 yards.

Jaylen Waddle, Week 4 against SF: 45 of 65 snaps, 6 targets and 5 catches for 35 yards, 1 touchdown.

Their 2025 seasons

In 2025, Christian Watson played 10 games for GB and scored 132.4 PPR points, 13.2 a game, finishing WR46.

He caught 35 of 55 targets for 611 yards and 6 touchdowns, with 6 red zone targets and 493 air yards.

He was on the field for 68 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

In 2025, Jaylen Waddle played 16 games for MIA and scored 194.1 PPR points, 12.1 a game, finishing WR24.

He caught 64 of 100 targets for 910 yards and 6 touchdowns, with 11 red zone targets and 682 air yards.

He was on the field for 78 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

Their other Week 5 calls

• Start Christian Watson over Carnell Tate.
• Start Christian Watson over Denzel Boston.
• Start Christian Watson over DK Metcalf.
• Start Carnell Tate over Jaylen Waddle.
• Start Chris Olave over Jaylen Waddle.
• Start DeVonta Smith over Jaylen Waddle.