We'll be watching the injury report for the rest of the week to see if Javonte Williams (hip) is out, and if that's the case then McLaughlin has the chance to be a No. 2 Fantasy running back in all leagues. He looked good in Week 4 at Chicago after Williams got hurt with seven carries for 72 yards and three catches for 32 yards and a touchdown on three targets, and Sean Payton indicated McLaughlin has earned more playing time moving forward. We'll see what that means if everyone is healthy, but this could be a breakout game for McLaughlin if he starts against the Jets in Week 5. In their past three games, the Jets have allowed Tony Pollard to go over 100 total yards with seven catches, the combination of Rhamondre Stevenson and Ezekiel Elliott to rush for 139 yards and Isiah Pacheco to gain 158 total yards and a touchdown. Samaje Perine has sleeper appeal as well if Williams is out, but I like the upside of McLaughlin more in this matchup.
The Broncos' rookie has the team's only rushing touchdown and he's averaged 6.9 yards per touch compared to 5.6 for Samaje Perine and 3.9 for Javonte Williams. Assuming Williams is out, I expect a near even split between McLaughlin and Perine, making them both useful as borderline No. 2 running backs.
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Broncos' Jaleel McLaughlin: Week 5 Waiver Priority List
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McLaughlin will be the prize free agent this week, regardless of position. With Javonte Williams (hip) hurt, McLaughlin could be the starter for the Broncos in Week 5 against the Jets. And he might have earned a bigger role moving forward as well. Sean Payton said Monday of McLaughlin's performance against Chicago in Week 4 that "he was explosive in the run and the pass. He gave us some juice, so we'll continue to look at his role." Against Chicago, McLaughlin had seven carries for 72 yards and three catches for 32 yards and a touchdown on three targets. He'll share touches with Samaje Perine, but McLaughlin has more upside and should be considered a No. 2 running back in all leagues against the Jets. We don't know how long Williams will be out, but McLaughlin is worth adding for up to 15 percent of your FAB.
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Broncos' Jaleel McLaughlin: Week 5 Early Waiver Targets (Add/Drop)
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As stated earlier, McLaughlin actually played fewer snaps than Perine, but I'd much rather target him. We know what Perine is, and he's a viable backup – he was very good filling in for Joe Mixon last season, for instance. But this offense doesn't funnel touches to their RB1 the same way the Bengals did last season, so while I think Perine will be the No. 1 back, McLaughlin is probably the guy I'd prefer for Fantasy if Williams has to miss time. McLaughlin has shown solid burst, including on his 18-yard touchdown on a screen from Russell Wilson Sunday. McLaughlin and Perine will probably both rank in the RB3 range for a matchup against the Jets next week, but I would prioritize McLaughlin's playmaking.
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Broncos' Jaleel McLaughlin: Productive after Williams' injury
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McLaughlin rushed seven times for 72 yards while catching all three of his targets for 32 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 31-28 win over Chicago.
McLaughlin was Denver's most effective running back after Javonte Williams' (hip) early exit, while Samaje Perine mustered only 35 scrimmage yards on six carries and two targets. McLaughlin caught an 18-yard touchdown on a screen in the first quarter, then showcased his shiftiness with a 31-yard run in the third. The 5-foot-7 undrafted rookie out of Youngstown State -- who had a touchdown run in Week 2 -- has likely earned a permanent role on offense moving forward, regardless of Williams' availability in Week 5 against the Jets.
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Broncos' Jaleel McLaughlin: Handles five carries in loss
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McLaughlin rushed five times for 15 yards in Sunday's 70-20 loss to the Dolphins
McLaughlin's 13 offensive snaps and five rushes Sunday were both high-water marks for the rookie in his young career. The 23-year-old running back was unable to get much going with his limited touches, as the entire offense tried to dig itself out of a blowout throughout the contest. Despite McLaughlin's talent, he remains off the fantasy radar with such few opportunities in Denver's offense. Barring an injury to Javonte Williams or Samaje Perine, the Youngstown State product can be ignored for fantasy purposes when the Broncos visit the Bears in Week 4.
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Broncos' Jaleel McLaughlin: Hits pay dirt in loss
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McLaughlin carried once for five yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 35-33 loss to the Commanders.
Despite playing just three offensive snaps in Week 2, McLaughlin made the most of his one carry by finding the end zone for the first time in a regular-season contest. The rookie running back has now seen the field for eight offensive snaps through two weeks, but he is continuing to prove that he can be a playmaker for Denver's offense. Unfortunately, McLaughlin remains difficult to trust for fantasy purposes, as his minimal usage likely won't afford him enough opportunities for consistent production. If either Javonte Williams or Samaje Perine were to miss time due to injury, the 23-year-old would likely carve out a solid role in the Broncos' backfield. McLaughlin and the Broncos will head to Miami for a matchup with the Dolphins in Week 3.
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Broncos' Jaleel McLaughlin: Plays five offensive snaps in debut
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McLaughlin caught his only target for minus-7 yards and failed to record a single carry in Sunday's 17-16 loss to the Raiders.
Following an impressive preseason, McLaughlin's regular season debut left much to be desired. The rookie operated as the Broncos' No. 3 running back behind Javonte Williams and Samaje Perine. McLaughlin's five offensive snaps came in far behind the veterans, with Williams and Perine each seeing 29 snaps. With Williams healthy and Perine factoring in frequently, there weren't many opportunities left for the 22-year-old. Despite his talent, McLaughlin will likely find it difficult to see consistent usage in Denver's offense barring an injury to one of the top two backs. The Youngstown State product remains off the fantasy radar for a Week 2 matchup with the Commanders.
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Broncos' Jaleel McLaughlin: Shows well in Saturday's start
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McLaughlin rushed 10 times for 48 yards and a touchdown and brought in four of five targets for 13 yards in the Broncos' 41-0 preseason win over the Rams on Saturday night.
McLaughlin was the first Broncos running back to log a touch and finished as the team leader in rushing yards. The undrafted rookie has been a pleasant surprise this summer, wrapping up the exhibition slate with 21 carries for 113 yards and three scores while adding seven catches for 33 yards and a touchdown. Consequently, McLaughlin could well have earned a No. 4 running back job, considering he arguably outperformed Tony Jones and Tyler Badie.
