Jaleel McLaughlin

Broncos rookie running back Audric Estime is not eligible to return until week six after suffering an ankle injury in his week one debut against the Seattle Seahawks but the actual length of time set to miss is unknown. He had a rough start to his NFL career after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery, forcing him to miss OTAs and mandatory minicamp and it has taken a turn for the worse after a disastrous week one. He took two carries for 14 yards including losing a fumble on his first career carry and also sustaining an ankle injury.

Estime always had a tough path to relevancy his rookie season and that path just became incredibly more difficult. If everything fell the right way for Estime, he could’ve shown flashes early on and hopefully taken over the starting job for the fantasy playoff push. However, time and opportunity is what he needed to prove himself and this injury takes both of those away. If you have an open IR spot go ahead and stash Estime to see what happens down the road but if not feel safe dropping him in redraft leagues. Estime’s injury opens the door for Javonte Williams to receive the bulk of the carries as the Broncos don’t have another running back currently on the roster who profiles as a between the tackles runner like Williams and Estime. It may provide a small uptick in the usage of Jaleel McLaughlin and Blake Watson but expect Javonte Williams to be the primary beneficiary of the Estime injury.

In the ever-changing Denver Broncos’ running back lineup, Jaleel McLaughlin is making waves as a top contender. According to Cecil Lammey of DenverSports.com the Broncos top RB appears to be Jaleel McLaughlin and not Javonte Williams headed into 2024. While Javonte Williams has shown promise, McLaughlin’s impact on the field is catching attention early on. Williams, dealing with an injury recovery, struggled to regain his form, averaging just 3.6 yards per carry. Meanwhile, McLaughlin shone in his rookie season, racking up 410 rushing yards and a touchdown, alongside 160 receiving yards and two scores, despite starting as the team’s No. 3 RB.

What’s more, McLaughlin’s efficiency with limited touches sets him apart, even though he’s slated as RB3 for the upcoming season. Plus, with the potential addition of a quarterback like Bo Nix, known for his passing skills, McLaughlin’s dual-threat abilities could add a fresh dynamic to the Broncos’ offense. Heading into the 2024 season, McLaughlin’s trajectory looks promising, fueled by his tireless work ethic and undeniable on-field talent. Whether he takes the lead or supports the team, McLaughlin’s role will undoubtedly shape the Broncos’ offensive strategy, making him a player to keep a close eye on as the season unfolds.

It was a long, rarely traveled road to the NFL for undrafted Denver Broncos rookie running back Jaleel McLaughlin. At 5’7″ and 183 pounds, McLaughlin doesn’t fit the running back prototype. He began his college career at Division II Notre Dame College and finished at FCS Youngstown State, neither school known for producing NFL players. Going undrafted and signing with the Broncos as a rookie free-agent isn’t a path to success either. Now McLaughlin finds himself as the 3rd string backup to Javonte Williams and Samaje Perine, and he will be on the sidelines, ready to go, when the Broncos host the Las Vegas Raiders in their 2023 season opener.

McLaughlin impressed coaches and teammates enough in training camp to make the 53-man roster. “I’ll tell you what, man, he’s been the star of this camp,” said Broncos OT Mike McGlinchey. Head Coach Sean Payton was free with the accolades, as well. “He passed every test. From the minute he showed up in rookie minicamp, it wasn’t too big. Then he’s working out with the big boys on varsity and it wasn’t too big. Then we get the pads on and he makes plays every day.”

Barring catastrophe, McLaughlin likely won’t contribute in fantasy, but he sure is a fun story.