Broncos' Jaleel McLaughlin: Coach suggests more work coming
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Head coach Sean Payton said Wednesday that he plans to get McLaughlin more touches moving forward, Jon Heath of USA Today Broncos Wire reports.
RJ Harvey is in line to play through a rib injury Sunday against the Jaguars, but the Broncos will be mindful of the rookie lead back's workload down the stretch to help ensure Harvey's healthy for the playoffs. If Harvey comes off the field more on early downs, that could lead to more opportunities for McLaughlin. While McLaughlin's a capable pass catcher, Tyler Badie seems to be the team's preferred backfield option in passing situations. McLaughlin has yet to exceed seven touches in a game this season, and an increased workload may not lead to much success Sunday against Jacksonville's stout run defense.
This is a bad matchup, and we aren't sure yet that Harvey will miss Week 16. So don't get too excited. McLaughlin has 10 games in his career with at least 10 touches. In those games, he has averaged 10.2 PPR Fantasy points, but he only actually scored double-digits in three of 10 games. He is a flex at best if Harvey is out.
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Broncos' Jaleel McLaughlin: Week 16 Waiver Priority List
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RJ Harvey (ribs) was injured late in Week 15 against Green Bay, and we'll see what his status is for Week 16 against Jacksonville. If Harvey can't play, then the Broncos would likely use a tandem of McLaughlin and Tyler Badie (1 percent rostered) against the Jaguars, and I would give the edge to McLaughlin as the Denver running back to use in most Fantasy leagues. He would only be a flex option at best, and McLaughlin has combined for 18 carries for 72 yards and a touchdown and three catches for 10 yards on three targets in four games since J.K. Dobbins (foot) was injured in Week 10. Badie, meanwhile, has four carries for 16 yards and six catches for 24 yards on eight targets over that span.
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Broncos' Jaleel McLaughlin: Minimal usage in win
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McLaughlin rushed two times for four yards in Sunday's 34-26 win over the Packers.
McLaughlin continued to operate as Denver's No. 2 running back while playing just nine of the Broncos' 68 offensive snaps against Green Bay. Meanwhile, teammate RJ Harvey dominated the running back snap share, playing 46 snaps in the contest. The 25-year-old McLaughlin does not hold much fantasy value based on his limited usage in Denver's offense, though he remains a solid insurance policy if Harvey were to be sidelined by an injury down the stretch. Up next for the Broncos is a Week 16 home matchup against the Jaguars.
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Broncos' Jaleel McLaughlin: Handles four carries in win
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McLaughlin rushed four times for 22 yards and caught his lone target for nine yards in Sunday's 24-17 win over the Raiders.
McLaughlin played just 10 of the Broncos' 74 offensive snaps Sunday, behind both RJ Harvey (50) and Tyler Badie (12). The 25-year-old running back was unable to get much going with his limited opportunities, as Harvey continued to establish himself as the No. 1 option out of the backfield while recording 100 total scrimmage yards on 23 touches and a touchdown. McLaughlin remains a solid insurance policy in the event that Harvey misses time down the stretch, but barring an injury, McLaughlin should not be trusted for fantasy purposes heading into a Week 15 matchup against the Packers.
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Broncos' Jaleel McLaughlin: Week 14 Waiver Priority List
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McLaughlin should be considered the No. 2 running back for the Broncos behind RJ Harvey, and McLaughlin is worth adding in all leagues for 1 percent of your remaining FAB. In Week 13 at Washington, McLaughlin had six carries for 24 yards and one catch for 6 yards on one target. If Harvey were to miss any time then McLaughlin would be at least a flex option in the majority of leagues.
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Broncos' Jaleel McLaughlin: Seven touches in OT win
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McLaughlin rushed six times for 24 yards and caught his lone target for six yards in Sunday's 27-26 overtime win over the Commanders.
McLaughlin played 13 of Denver's 70 offensive snaps Sunday, his highest snap count of the season but the lowest total of any Broncos running back in the contest. Meanwhile, starter RJ Harvey and Tyler Badie played ahead of the 25-year-old McLaughlin, seeing the field for 33 and 18 offensive snaps, respectively. McLaughlin rushed six times and recorded one reception for the second straight game, and with such limited usage, he is unlikely to present much fantasy value most weeks. The Youngstown State product serves as a solid insurance policy behind Harvey but should not be trusted in fantasy lineups in Week 14 when the Broncos visit the Raiders.
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Broncos' Jaleel McLaughlin: Sleeper RBs
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RJ Harvey is my Start of the Week, but McLaughlin has the chance to be a flex option in the majority of leagues in Week 13 at Washington. In the first game for Denver without J.K. Dobbins (foot) in Week 11 against Kansas City, McLaughlin was the No. 2 running back behind Harvey. And McLaughlin had six carries for 19 yards and a touchdown and one catch for minus-5 yards on one target. That was a tough matchup against the Chiefs, but the Commanders are No. 5 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. Washington has also allowed a pair of teammates to score at least 10.5 PPR points in the same game twice this season, with Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier in Week 4 and De'Von Achane and Ollie Gordon II in Week 11. Harvey should have a big game, but McLaughlin should help Fantasy managers as well in this matchup.
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Broncos' Jaleel McLaughlin: Week 13 Waiver Priority List
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McLaughlin should be considered the No. 2 running back for the Broncos moving forward behind RJ Harvey, and McLaughlin is worth adding for up to 5 percent of your remaining FAB. We had one game without J.K. Dobbins (foot) for Denver in Week 10 against Kansas City, and McLaughlin had six carries for 19 yards and a touchdown and one catch for minus-5 yards on one target. Harvey is the only Denver running back to consider starting for the foreseeable future, but McLaughlin is worth stashing on your bench. If Harvey were to miss any time, then McLaughlin would be considered at least a flex option in the majority of leagues.
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Broncos' Jaleel McLaughlin: Week 12 Waiver Priority List
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J.K. Dobbins (foot) is out for the remainder of the regular season, and McLaughlin is now No. 2 on the depth chart behind RJ Harvey. In the first game without Dobbins in Week 11 against Kansas City, McLaughlin had six carries for 19 yards and a touchdown and one catch for minus-5 yards on one target. Harvey is the only Denver running back to consider starting for the foreseeable future, but McLaughlin is worth stashing in the majority of leagues for 1 percent of your remaining FAB. If Harvey were to miss any time then McLaughlin would be considered at least a flex option in the majority of leagues.
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Broncos' Jaleel McLaughlin: Scores rushing TD in win
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McLaughlin carried the ball six times for 19 yards and one touchdown during Denver's win over Kansas City on Sunday. He also secured his only target for minus-5 yards.
McLaughlin had been a healthy scratch for nine of the Broncos' first 10 games, but he rejoined the team's backfield with J.K. Dobbins (foot) on IR and made the most of his opportunities. Rookie second-round pick RJ Harvey was more productive overall due to his involvement in the receiving game, but neither back found many holes versus Kansas City's standout defense. McLaughlin will reprise his No. 2 role versus the Commanders in Week 12, though he's unlikely to supply consistent fantasy value.
McLaughlin (coach's decision) is inactive for Thursday's game against the Raiders.
McLaughlin has appeared in only one game this season. With each of J.K. Dobbins, RJ Harvey and Tyler Badie healthy and playing, McLaughlin will remain a spectator for Thursday's matchup.
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Broncos' Jaleel McLaughlin: Won't play against Houston
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McLaughlin (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Texans.
McLaughlin will be a healthy scratch for the eighth time in nine games as the Broncos go with three active running backs in J.K. Dobbins, RJ Harvey and Tyler Badie. McLaughlin's next opportunity to see the field is Thursday against the Raiders.
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Broncos' Jaleel McLaughlin: Inactive for Week 8
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McLaughlin (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Cowboys.
McLaughlin has been a healthy scratch for seven of the Broncos' first eight games of the regular season, with his lone appearances taking place Week 6 against the Jets. J.K. Dobbins, RJ Harvey and Tyler Badie will be the three running backs on the Broncos' active roster for Week 8.
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Broncos' Jaleel McLaughlin: Active for first time in 2025
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McLaughlin is active for the first time this season in Sunday's game against the Jets in London, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.
A healthy inactive for Denver's first five games, McLaughlin will finally get the chance to make his 2025 debut as he suits up as the Broncos' No. 3 back behind J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey. In order to make room for McLaughlin on the gameday roster, the Broncos have elected to make fellow running back Tyler Badie inactive for the first time. Though McLaughlin totaled 572 yards from scrimmage over 16 games in 2024, the Broncos likely won't call on him to play more than a handful of snaps behind Dobbins and Harvey on Sunday.
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Broncos' Jaleel McLaughlin: Healthy scratch for Week 5
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McLaughlin (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Eagles.
For a fifth straight week, McLaughlin is a healthy scratch. J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey have handled most of the RB duties, with Tyler Badie serving as a depth option.
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Broncos' Jaleel McLaughlin: Inactive again
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McLaughlin (coach's decision) is inactive for Monday night's game against the Bengals.
McLaughlin has yet to be active this season, as he's behind J.K. Dobbins, RJ Harvey and Tyler Badie on the depth chart.
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Broncos' Jaleel McLaughlin: Healthy scratch again
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McLaughlin (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Colts, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.
McLaughlin will be a healthy inactive for a second consecutive week, and his next opportunity to make his 2025 debut will be Week 3 against the Chargers on Sunday, Sept. 21. McLaughlin is stuck as the Broncos' fourth-string running back behind J.K. Dobbins, RJ Harvey and Tyler Badie.
McLaughlin (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Titans, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.
The Broncos will go with a three-man backfield of J.K. Dobbins, RJ Harvey and Tyler Badie, which means McLaughlin will observe Sunday's regular-season opener in street clothes. McLaughlin's next opportunity to play is Week 2 against the Colts on Sunday, Sept. 14, though he's unlikely to see any playing time -- if any -- unless there's an injury in the Broncos' backfield.
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Broncos' Jaleel McLaughlin: Game-long run in preseason win
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McLaughlin rushed three times for 48 yards in the Broncos' 27-7 preseason win over the Cardinals on Saturday night.
McLaughlin led the Broncos in rushing thanks to his game-long 35-yard run, which he recorded on his second carry upon entering the game after RJ Harvey and Tyler Badie. McLaughlin has served as an effective complementary option for his first two seasons, and as he demonstrated Saturday, his home-run ability may give him the inside track to the No. 3 running back job again going into the 2025 campaign.
