Jaleel McLaughlin Barely Heard From In Loss To Chargers
Denver Broncos running back Jaleel McLaughlin had season-low-tying three carries for eight yards in the 23-16 Week 6 loss to the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, adding two catches on two targets for 17 yards through the air. Rookie Audric Estime, who was activated from Injured Reserve to make his NFL debut on Sunday, had two carries for 13 yards. McLaughlin has found the end zone twice in six games, but he's had double-digits in carries just once (back in Week 1) and hasn't topped 46 yards on the ground. It's been a theme this year so far of the Broncos' ground game being stuck in the mud, and that theme returned against a tough Bolts defense. Now that Estime is in the fold as the RB3 in Denver's backfield, it will be even harder for McLaughlin to return any fantasy value in deeper formats. RotoBaller won't be recommending the second-year back for starting lineups in Week 7 against the Saints.
Jaleel McLaughlin Not A Recommended Fantasy Option Versus Chargers
Denver Broncos running back Jaleel McLaughlin has very little fantasy upside heading into a Week 6 matchup against the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers, a defense that has been stingy against the run in 2024. McLaughlin enters Sunday's game in Denver as the RB45 in half-PPR scoring as the backup to Javonte Williams in one of the lower-scoring offenses in the NFL. The 24-year-old has managed to find the end zone twice (one rushing, one receiving) in five games while averaging a weak 3.3 yards per carry on 33 rushing attempts. The potential addition of rookie Audric Estime (ankle) to the backfield this weekend is also bad news for McLaughlin moving forward. He's just not getting enough weekly touches to matter much in fantasy and hasn't been efficient at all with the touches he's been afforded. McLaughlin is only rostered in 19% of Yahoo leagues is an RB4/flex, at best, in deeper leagues.
Jaleel McLaughlin Salvages His Day With A Touchdown
Denver Broncos running back Jaleel McLaughlin only had six carries for 22 yards rushing (3.67 yards per carry) in the 38-14 win over the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders in Week 5. It was more of the same for McLaughlin in the fifth game of the season, but he did manager to salvage his fantasy day somewhat for those that used him in a flex spot in deeper leagues with three catches on his four targets for three yards and his second touchdown of the year. The touchdown was nice for the 24-year-old, but it came on a day in which backfield mate Javonte Williams led the team in both rushing and receiving as their primary offense weapon. McLaughlin has scored twice and Williams is still searching for his first score, but he's the clear No. 2 in an offense that finally broke out for the first time in five weeks. He was out-touched 18 to nine by Williams. In a Week 6 matchup against a tougher defense in the Los Angeles Chargers, McLaughlin will be tough to trust in a flex spot.
Jaleel McLaughlin A Shaky RB3/Flex Play In Deep Fantasy Leagues
Denver Broncos running back Jaleel McLaughlin does have a plus matchup in Week 5 against the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders, a defense that is allowing the eighth-most half-PPR fantasy points to RBs through four weeks in 2024. That's about where the positives end for McLaughlin, though, coming into this game. He's the No. 2 back behind Javonte Williams, is averaging a lackluster 3.2 yards per carry and is in an offense that has averaged just over 100 yards rushing per game. McLaughlin did have 5.1 yards per carry and 46 yards on nine carries in the Week 4 win over the Jets and found the end zone in Week 3 versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He checks in as the RB50 in half-PPR scoring and also ranks 45th in carries (27) and 47th in passing targets (seven). McLaughlin has a better matchup this week, but Denver's low-scoring offense hasn't been able to support one fantasy RB, let alone two.
Denver Broncos running back Jaleel McLaughlin and the team's ground game was the most productive its been all year in the 10-9 upset win over the New York Jets on Sunday in Week 4. McLaughlin averaged 5.11 yards per carry on nine attempts, finishing with 46 rushing yards. He caught his only target for no gain. The 24-year-old could see more run moving forward if the back injury that caused Tyler Badie to be carted off is serious, but McLaughlin is still the clear No. 2 to Javonte Williams in an offense that has averaged 15.5 points through four games, which is fifth-worst in the NFL. McLaughlin was out-touched 18 to 10 and out-gained 80 to 46 in the win over the Jets. Even in a plus matchup in Week 5 against the division-rival Raiders, McLaughlin will belong on benches in most fantasy leagues. He's currently rostered in 22% of Yahoo leagues and has very little to no standalone value right now.
Denver Broncos running back Jaleel McLaughlin is only rostered in 22% of Yahoo leagues, and if he's on your squad, he should be left on your bench in a Week 4 tilt on the road against the New York Jets on Sunday. The Jets defense has allowed 129.3 rushing yards per game through three weeks, which isn't great, but they should be able to slow down rookie quarterback Bo Nix and what has been a below-average Broncos offense. Denver's ground game has been almost non-existent through three weeks, with McLaughlin averaging a weak 2.2 yards per carry on 18 attempts (70 yards). Not only has McLaughlin done very little with his 24 touches in 2024, but Tyler Badie had nine carries for 70 yards in last week's win over Tampa and could get more opportunities if both McLaughlin and Javonte Williams continue to stumble. Stay away from McLaughlin in starting lineups this weekend.
Jaleel McLaughlin Finds The End Zone, Does Nothing Else
Denver Broncos running back Jaleel McLaughlin found paydirt for the first time this season in the 26-7 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3 on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium, but that was really the only notable thing about his day. Outside of the touchdown scamper, McLaughlin had five carries that went for only seven yards (1.4 yards per carry) while catching his only target for a seven-yard gain. His five carries matched that of Javonte Williams, but it was Tyler Badie leading this backfield with nine carries for 70 yards. Through the first two weeks, the 24-year-old was in a timeshare with Williams, with neither back standing out. It's bad news for both McLaughlin and Williams that Badie was thrown in there on Sunday to try and inject some life into the rushing attack. Heading into Week 4, McLaughlin is a bench stash, at best, in fantasy.
Jaleel McLaughlin Should Remain On Benches In Week 3
Denver Broncos second-year running back Jaleel McLaughlin actually out-touched Javonte Williams in the Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. However, McLaughlin took a step back in the Week 2 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, carrying the ball only three times for six yards and not drawing a single target after catching all five targets in Week 1. Rookie quarterback Bo Nix has led the offense to one touchdown drive through two weeks, while McLaughlin has averaged a measly 2.5 yards per carry alongside an ineffective Williams. The Broncos will be facing a banged-up Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense that has allowed the fourth-most half-PPR fantasy points to RBs through two games, but until Denver's offense shows some punch, McLaughlin will be hard to trust as a flex option, even in deeper fantasy leagues. He's currently rostered in only 27% of Yahoo leagues.
Jaleel McLaughlin Takes A Step Back In Week 2 Loss
Denver Broncos running back Jaleel McLaughlin took a step back from his Week 1 involvement in the Week 2 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Denver on Sunday. After out-touching backfield mate Javonte Williams last week in the loss to the Seattle Seahawks, McLaughlin had only three carries for six yards in the 13-6 loss to the Steelers and wasn't targeted in the passing game. Meanwhile, Williams had 16 touches for 65 scrimmage yards. It was a step back for the 24-year-old second-year back, but he's still the clear RB2 in Denver, with Tyler Badie seeing only one carry for a 16-yard gain. McLaughlin is going to have much better games than this, obviously, but it's hard to justify using a roster spot on him in 12-team fantasy leagues as long as the Broncos' offense continues to struggle so much under rookie quarterback Bo Nix. McLaughlin will have very little standalone value in Week 3 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Denver Broncos running back Jaleel McLaughlin surprisingly out-touched Javonte Williams 15 to nine in the Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, but his 15 touches (10 carries, five receptions), only led to 28 total yards in a day where the Denver offense was stuck in the mud under rookie quarterback Bo Nix in his first career start. McLaughlin also played only 35% of the offensive snaps. The Broncos could look to stick with the running game longer in a Week 2 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, which would favor both McLaughlin and Williams, but it sets up as another difficult day for the Broncos' offense after the Steelers D shut down the Falcons in Week 1. While McLaughlin isn't a recommended fantasy starter this weekend, his touch total in the season opener bodes well for his continued involvement in what looked more like a committee to begin the year.
