One of the most talked about running back rooms in the offseason was the Denver Broncos‘. They have Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin, who both have their fans pushing for them to be the lead back within this offense. We also have a faction that stated it wouldn’t matter due to the team’s state. After Week 1, all three sides of these debates still question which one has the correct take.
McLaughlin had more rushing attempts, 10 in total, than Williams, who only had eight. McLaughlin also led the way in the passing game, with five receptions compared to only one for Williams. Will this pattern stay the same for the rest of the season, or did a negative game script skew what we saw from the Broncos?
Let’s discuss both running backs as we correctly identify which Denver running back to play in fantasy football against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Should You Start Jaleel McLaughlin or Javonte Williams This Week?
In Pro Football Network’s Start/Sit Optimizer, PFN’s Consensus Rankings say that Williams is the player to start. His projected 9.6 fantasy points account for 44.9 rushing yards and over 15 receiving yards for the veteran running back, beating McLaughlin’s 7.9 total points. However, when you isolate my rankings, I see Williams struggling to outperform the pass-catching skills of McLaughlin.
Until further notice, McLaughlin is the only running back you need to focus on in the Denver backfield. His ability to create something out of nothing is the type of upside you want from an RB2 or a Flex play in your lineup. Unfortunately, the Week 2 matchup against the Steelers does not leave us feeling hopeful for a breakout game from any player in the Broncos’ backfield.
Last week, the Steelers allowed the eighth-fewest fantasy points per game to the running back position. The Steelers’ defense tied for the fifth-fewest targets allowed to the position, where McLaughlin’s fantasy value resides.
It will be a tough battle for either of these Broncos running backs. You need to put the more electrifying McLaughlin ahead of Williams in your rankings and pray that he gets better blocking and a few more receiving yards in Week 2.
McLaughlin’s Fantasy Outlook This Week
As stated, McLaughlin led the way in opportunities out of the backfield. However, he only gained 28 yards. McLaughlin averaged 2.7 rushing yards, which was 41st overall in the NFL for Week 1. His longest run of 15 yards ranked 30th overall in TruMedia. The most unique stat we saw from McLaughlin was his yards before contact and after.
McLaughlin was 46th overall with negative-0.20 yards before contact per rush. This stat shows us that defenders met him in the backfield as soon as he touched the ball. Once contacted, he displayed the 19th-best yards after contact per rush in the NFL with 2.9 yards. Although his line let him down, he could step up and perform to an exceptional level.
Williams’ Fantasy Outlook This Week
Williams was the belle of the ball a few years ago in fantasy communities. However, his stock has been sliding down the last 1.5 years. He only averaged 2.9 yards per rush with a longest rush of nine total yards.
The Broncos’ line blocked better for Williams, allowing one full yard before contact. However, at the point of contact, he was only able to create 1.88 yards, which was the 41st-highest ranking in TruMedia stats. Williams struggled to show any of the skill sets that allowed fantasy football fans to swoon just a few years ago.
Kyle Soppe’s Week 2 Fantasy Outlook for Williams
At the beginning of the preseason, Williams’ roster spot was being questioned. By the end of August, we were penciling him in for 18-20 touches.
Both were wrong.
Williams is still the best bet in Denver’s backfield, especially after the two primary threats to his work put the ball on the ground in Seattle. But a 52.2% snap share in an unappealing offense isn’t exactly a profile I’m going out of my way to play.
Jordan Mason and J.K. Dobbins were the primary breakouts at the position in Week 1, and while regression is a near certainty, I’d be happy to plug in both over Williams if given the opportunity.