If Kyren Williams’ breakout 2023 season taught fantasy managers anything, it is to keep running backs in unsettled backfields on your radar heading into their second season.
Denver Broncos RB Jaleel McLaughlin’s highly efficient rookie year behind starter Javonte Williams — who has failed to live up to fantasy expectations during his career — makes for a pretty interesting fantasy football outlook heading into 2024.
Does McLaughlin have a real shot at finishing as the highest-scoring fantasy RB in Denver this upcoming season?
Should You Draft Jaleel McLaughlin in 2024?
It may be easy to assume Williams will be the Broncos’ leading ball carrier again in 2024. Yet, when you read between the lines a bit, the possibility of another back potentially stealing the leading role in this offense isn’t too far-fetched.
McLaughlin averaged 5.4 yards per carry, managed to catch 31 of 36 targets for 160 yards, and found the end zone three times on his 107 total touches working behind Williams. The yards-per-carry mark is far superior to Williams’ 3.6 — which marks the third straight season where Williams per-carry efficiency has dropped.
Perhaps confirming the overall disappointment in Williams’ 2023 campaign was the addition of Audric Estimé out of Notre Dame in the fifth round this past NFL Draft. The arrival of the one-time Fighting Irish runner clouds the overall outlook for this backfield heading into 2024, considering Samaje Perine — who frustratingly stole 50 receptions worth of fantasy production away from Williams and McLaughlin last year — is also still in the mix heading into training camp.
The limited amount of overall production and McLaughlin’s lack of size at 5’7” and 187 pounds has him flying under the radar for many fantasy managers entering his second year. Even if his role expands exponentially, the fact there are three better short-yardage options means McLaughlin isn’t likely to see those valuable touches inside the 5-yard line.
Yet, McLaughlin’s efficiency, explosiveness, and versatility were all present during his limited work over his rookie season. His back-to-back 17+ fantasy-point outings speak to his potential upside with an expanded role. I still believe Williams enters the year with the inside track to the most touches, but if McLaughlin continues to produce at a highly efficient clip while providing explosive plays on occasion… then we could be talking about RB2 type ceiling in 2024.
McLaughlin’s ADP at No. 168 overall in the 14th round as the RB50 off the board presents fantasy managers with some intriguing upside at a very reasonable draft day price. For some additional context, McLaughlin is currently being selected after Jaylen Wright, Antonio Gibson, and Ty Chandler, who I believe all have a tougher road ahead to a significant amount of touches in 2024.
I certainly don’t want to be dismissive of Williams’ flashes of potential, Perine’s involvement in the passing game, or the addition of the powerful workhorse Estime as potentially limiting factors to McLaughlin’s 2024 fantasy outlook. These pitfalls all present legitimate reasons to believe McLaughlin isn’t set for a league-winning-type role.
Yet, McLaughlin showed us enough his rookie year to present a compelling case to head coach Sean Payton for an expanded role in 2024. Payton hasn’t been shy about giving unknown players — Pierre Thomas comes to mind — a significant amount of run in this system.
If McLaughlin continues to be the most efficient ball carrier in this backfield by a wide margin, then his upside at this point in the draft makes him great addition as your RB4 in 2024.
