Jaylen Waddle is trending toward another heavy workload in Denver’s Sunday night matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, after the Broncos receiver posted his best game of the season in Week 2.
Bo Nix and the Broncos offense struggled through Week 1 against Kansas City, producing little in the passing game. That changed in Week 2, when Denver rallied for 17 unanswered points to beat Jacksonville 20-13. Nix targeted Waddle 10 times, connecting on eight for 138 yards. Waddle didn’t score, but he accounted for 34.5 percent of the team’s targets and 53.5 percent of its air yards, including a 49-yard catch that stretched the field vertically.
Nix also pushed the ball downfield more often. After sending only 20 percent of his passes at least 10 yards downfield in Week 1, that rate jumped to 42.9 percent in Week 2, according to Sharp Football Analysis. Offensive coordinator David Webb schemed successfully against Jacksonville’s man-to-man coverage looks.
Los Angeles played man coverage on 36.4 percent of its snaps against the Giants — the fourth-highest rate in the league last week and the Rams’ highest rate this season under defensive coordinator Chris Shula. That matters for Waddle, who has averaged 2.04 yards per route run against man coverage over his career. When Jacksonville tried man coverage against him last week, Waddle turned four targets into three catches for 57 yards on those looks alone.
The Rams enter as 2.5-point favorites despite playing on short rest and adjusting to Denver’s altitude. Los Angeles also generated a 50 percent pressure rate last week, the second-highest mark in the NFL, which could push Nix toward quicker, high-volume throws — often benefiting his top target.
The betting market has taken notice: Waddle’s over on 57.5 receiving yards is priced at -114 on FanDuel.
