Jaleel

McLaughlin

“While he was Denver’s leading rusher with 513 yards, he had his share of struggles and is not the same player he was before suffering a serious knee injury in October 2022,” Tomasson writes. Yup, that about sums it up. Tomasson writes that Jaleel McLaughlin will be back as a reserve but that the Broncos “likely will look for a potential starter in free agency or the draft.” It sure seemed like the way the Broncos managed the running back room this year that they didn’t have a real No. 1 back on the roster, and this report pretty much confirms that finding.

So much for all that. The Broncos’ most involved — and productive — back down the stretch, McLaughlin was once again mothballed for an ineffective Javonte Williams. Coach Sean Payton clearly saw something “in the matchup” he liked for Williams, but it was only in his mind. Williams turned his nine handles into a predictably pointless 43 yards. Although Williams is finally at the end of his unproductive rookie deal, McLaughlin has not shown enough to take command of this maddening backfield heading into 2025. Also going on 25, there’s probably not much untapped potential left in McLaughlin’s 5-foot-7 frame. The Broncos are a lock to make talent additions to this group, keeping McLaughlin locked into the uninspiring RB3/4 range in dynasty formats.

McLaughlin did very little to retain the starting role averaging fewer yards per carry (2.4) than both Javonte Williams (5.6) and Audric Estime (2.8). Williams also thrived as a receiver while Estime scored a touchdown and nailed a key block on Marvin Mims Jr.'s first touchdown. McLaughlin may be reduced to a rotational role against the Bills next week.

McLaughlin returned from a one-game absence due to a quad injury to lead the backfield in snaps and opportunities. Javonte Williams, the starter in the backfield to begin the season, did not receive a carry while being targeted only twice, while Audric Estime gained 24 yards on nine carries and caught his lone target for 13 yards. The Broncos now turn their attention to the Chiefs in Week 18, with a win sending them to the postseason and a loss likely ending their Cinderella story, depending on the outcome of the Bengals’ game.

Tyler Badie (back, questionable) is the only player carrying an injury designation into Saturday’s game against the Bengals, and he is currently on injured reserve. The Broncos enter Week 17 with a fully healthy roster, with McLaughlin expected to resume his role as part of the three-man running back rotation. McLaughlin had back-to-back games with double-digit touches before missing last week’s game due to his injury. Playing like one of Denver’s better backs, there’s a chance he could be in line for similar work against a lousy Bengals defense.

McLaughlin exited Week 15 early with a quad injury and missed Week 16. He starts out this week practicing in a limited capacity and could be on track to return for Week 17 against the Bengals. The Broncos just promoted Blake Watson to the active roster and opened Tyler Badie’s practice window. McLaughlin should be off fantasy radars in this murky backfield.

McLaughlin was ruled out Wednesday for Week 16 by the Broncos on Wednesday, but it’s just a friendly reminder. Wilson will be the emergency third quarterback for the Thursday Night Football contest.

McLaughlin led Broncos running backs with seven carries in Week 15 and tied for a positional-high three targets before being forced from play. His Week 16 absence consolidates the backfield touch dispersal, moderately increasing Javonte Williams and Audric Estime’s flex-viability.

He left Week 15’s game against the Colts with a quad injury early in the second half, and with Thursday Night Football looming, this might be too quick of a turnaround for him. It would actually be beneficial for fantasy managers to have less questions about Denver’s backfield, and McLaughlin missing a game would be a positive for the FLEX appeal of Javonte Williams and Audric Estime.

McLaughlin sustained the injury early in the second half. He had seven rushing attempts for 21 yards before exiting, leading all Denver running backs. Audric Estime and Javonte Williams will get more run for as long as McLaughlin — who led the team with 84 rushing yards in Week 13 — is able to return.