Jaylen Waddle + Sean Payton: The Role Payton Had in Mind Before Denver Even Traded for Him

Jaylen Waddle is one of my favorite coach-player fits in fantasy this year.

And the biggest reason isn't simply that Denver needed another receiver.

It's that Sean Payton has been telling us for months that he specifically wanted this skill set.

Payton Already Had a Plan

Denver traded for Waddle in March.

After the deal, Payton said he had already envisioned a specific role for Waddle before the trade was even finalized.

That's important to me.

This isn't:

"We acquired a talented receiver, now let's figure out how to use him."

It's:

"We identified a player who fits something we already wanted to do."

And we're starting to see it on the field.

During Denver's final open training camp practice, Waddle got behind the defense for roughly a 60-yard touchdown from Bo Nix with Patrick Surtain II in coverage.

Surtain talked afterward about what makes Waddle difficult: he doesn't need a deep ball to create an explosive play. He can turn a short reception into a huge gain.

That's exactly the kind of player Payton has historically known how to use.

The Brandin Cooks Years Matter

I'm not saying:

Jaylen Waddle = Brandin Cooks.

But Cooks is useful historical context.

With Payton in New Orleans:

2015 • 129 targets • 84 receptions • 1,138 yards • 9 touchdowns

2016 • 117 targets • 78 receptions • 1,173 yards • 8 touchdowns

Cooks wasn't used as somebody who simply ran go routes all afternoon.

Payton found ways to give an explosive receiver legitimate volume while still allowing that speed to generate chunk plays.

That's what makes Waddle interesting.

Waddle doesn't need 150 targets to pay off.

If Denver can combine a healthy target share with Payton manufacturing opportunities for him in space, the efficiency ceiling gets really interesting.

This Is More Than a Speed Bet

Waddle has already shown he can be a high-volume NFL receiver.

Across his first five seasons, he has three 1,000-yard years.

Now you put that player with a coach who specifically targeted his skill set and already had a role in mind before acquiring him.

That's the part I'm betting on.

I'm not projecting another Tyreek Hill season.

I'm not projecting Waddle to suddenly dominate every Denver target.

I'm betting that Sean Payton knows exactly why he wanted him.

My Fantasy Read

I want Waddle around the Round 4 range in 10-team full PPR drafts.

If he starts slipping beyond that, I'm becoming very interested.

The combination of:

• proven NFL production

• explosive ability

• a coach who specifically wanted him

• a defined role

• Bo Nix entering another year in Payton's system

gives me more confidence than I had in Waddle entering last season.

The coach history doesn't guarantee Waddle becomes Brandin Cooks.

It tells me Payton has already shown he knows how to turn this type of explosive receiver into much more than a deep threat.

And judging by what Denver has shown us this summer, that's exactly what they're trying to do again.