JaleelMcLaughlin

News: 8 hours agoMcLaughlin took seven carries for 44 yards and failed to bring in his lone target in Sunday's 29-19 win over Las Vegas.

Spin: McLaughlin surprisingly finished as the Broncos' leading rusher after seemingly falling to third on the depth chart a week ago. Starter Javonte Williams couldn't gain positive yards after his eight carries while assumed backup Audric Estime finished second with 15 yards off of three rushing attempts. McLaughlin has reached double-digit carries only once this season (Week 1), which makes him an unlikely candidate to become a fantasy force despite being effective against the Raiders. We may simply have a classic RBBC situation in Denver, making every tailback on the roster a risky play against the Browns next Monday.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: McLaughlin, the NCAA's all-time rushing leader, impressed the Broncos' brass as an undrafted rookie with a sizzling, four-touchdown preseason. That ultimately earned him a spot in the team's backfield rotation alongside Javonte Williams and Samaje Perine. McLaughlin certainly provided a spark, as 12 of his 76 rushing attempts went for 10-plus yards (sixth-best 15.8% rate, minimum 40 attempts), and he delivered a combined 37.3 fantasy points while filling in for an injured Williams in Weeks 4 and 5. McLaughlin should begin 2024 in a similar spot, making him a worthwhile late-round, speculative pick who could be a home-run hitter with an expanded opportunity.