The New England Patriots will take on a Miami Dolphins team that possesses several playmakers on both sides of the football on Sunday. With New England needing wide receiver help, Jaylen Waddle seems like the appropriate pick for this week’s Gimme Him.
Waddle burst onto the scene as a member of the Dolphins in 2021, and he has been a dynamic playmaker for the team ever since. He has 268 catches for 3,597 yards and 18 touchdowns throughout four seasons. He is on pace for another solid season with 17 catches for 212 yards in the first four games.
Those numbers would likely be even higher if quarterback Tua Tagovailoa wasn’t out with a head injury.
The Alabama product has shown his ability to stretch the field, averaging 12.5 yards per reception. He has averaged 13.4 yards per reception for his entire career.
He has also managed to have stellar performances against New England. In the last meeting between the two teams, he caught seven passes for 121 yards and a touchdown.
Waddle would give the Patriots a receiver that could stretch the field and make plays after the catch. In addition, he could provide New England with the kind of big-play ability the team has been searching for.
The Patriots have needed a top wide receiver for several years now, and Waddle would fit the bill. He has caught 85 percent of passes thrown his way this year, per statistics from Pro Football Reference.
This is all obviously hypothetical, but even still, Waddle has shown the ability to elevate the play of quarterbacks, most notably Tagovailoa. He would undoubtedly help Drake Maye in his development process and give Jacoby Brissett a top option to throw to.
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