Despite getting the win last week against the Minnesota Vikings, the Denver Broncos struggled on the ground. The team rushed for a season-low 46 yards. But if you need an option from the Broncos to start in your fantasy football lineup this week, should it be Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin, or Samaje Perine?
Should You Start Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin, or Samaje Perine This Week?
In the Pro Football Network Start/Sit Optimizer, our Consensus Rankings say that Williams is the player to start. His projected 13.9 points include 51 rushing yards, six catches, and 29 receiving yards. That projected stat line easily outperforms the consensus projections of McLaughlin’s 5.5 points and Perine’s 5.3 points.
I am going with the Optimizer on this one, as Williams should be the guy in your lineup.
Williams rushed for only 37 yards last week against the Vikings, ending a streak of three games with at least 70 yards. While he is averaging only 3.9 yards per carry, there are definitely some reasons that he should be the Broncos running back you pick.
Williams has been the RB who gets the most carries. He has rushed the ball at least 10 times in every game he has played except one, and that was against the Chicago Bears when he got hurt (two carries).
Yes, the Browns have an elite defense, but they couldn’t stop the Steelers from having a huge day rushing the ball last week. Cleveland allowed a season-high 172 rushing yards in the game, including a 74-yard rushing touchdown by Jaylen Warren.
The Browns’ pass defense is the best in the NFL, so the Broncos are going to have to be able to run the ball to have a chance of winning this game.
Fantasy Outlook for McLaughlin This Week
There isn’t a Broncos running back who has been more efficient on his carries this year than McLaughlin. Despite just 45 carries for the season, McLaughlin is averaging 6.2 yards per carry. While he has been solid on limited rushes, he is also a solid back catching the ball out of the backfield.
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He has 19 receptions on the season, with all but one of them coming over his last seven games. Five of them alone came in the win against the Vikings last week.
McLaughlin has only been on the field for 37 snaps in the last four games, which makes it very difficult to have in your lineup.
Perine is almost more of a wide receiver than he is a running back for the Broncos. Over his last three games, Perine has 12 receptions and just three carries. He has 32 catches on the season, which is more than his number of carries (29).
Still, he has been effective receiving out of the backfield. Perine had a season-high seven catches for 60 yards last week against Minnesota.
Perine (knee) did log a limited practice on Wednesday, so it is hard to imagine he will have a huge role in the game plan on Sunday.
Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer, Start/Sit Optimizer, and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!
