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Jaleel McLaughlin fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em picks for Week 1 (2024). Should you put Jaleel McLaughlin in your starting lineups in Week 1? John breaks it down.
BALLER MOVE: Start in 14+ Team Leagues
POSITIONAL VALUE: RB3/Flex (PPR)
ANALYSIS: Jaleel McLaughlin didn't have much fantasy production in 2023, but that could change in a big way in 2024. McLaughlin showcased his explosiveness and efficiency, logging 5.4 yards per carry and scoring three total touchdowns in limited effort. McLaughlin's highlight tape is impressive.
One of the most important things an RB can do is force missed tackles, gaining more yards with their opportunities than other RBs. McLaughlin could gain this role; Sean Payton raved about McLaughlin's work ethic previously.
Sean Payton has been looking for a mismatch-causing “joker” in his offense. He might have found it in Jaleel McLaughlin. “Our vision (for him) continues to grow a little bit because he continues to earn additional touches,” Payton said when I asked him about McLaughlin. pic.twitter.com/Oks3ZCGWI2
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) January 3, 2024
McLaughlin forced 0.30 tackles per touch (carry or reception) in 2023, good for sixth in the league (min. 100 touches). There's more reason for excitement, and Payton has a history of creating "PPR scam" running backs, or an RB2 getting enough receptions to become fantasy-relevant despite not leading the team in carries.
In 2017, Sean Payton's Saints featured Mark Ingram II and Alvin Kamara. Ingram carried the ball 230 times to Kamara's 180, yet Kamara scored 314.4 PPR fantasy points to Ingram's 278. Payton loves committee backfields with one RB serving as the primary pass-catching RB and the carries split somewhat evenly.
Kamara's rookie season saw him receive 45% of the carries, and it's possible McLaughlin could receive some workload close to that. Even a smaller workload would make him startable, based on his explosiveness and elusiveness in space.
Undrafted rookie RB Jaleel McLaughlin scores his first career touchdown#Broncos 7#Commanders 0pic.twitter.com/2p1w90ZTxs
— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) September 17, 2023
McLaughlin has done everything he needs to do to earn a bigger workload in 2024. In addition, the competition he faces at RB on the Broncos isn't the stiffest. Fellow Broncos RB Javonte Williams suffered a devastating knee injury in 2022, tearing his ACL, LCL, and posterolateral corner.
Compound knee injuries like these are much more difficult to recover from, and players are more likely to never return to their previous form the more areas of the knee they damage with such injuries. Late-round pick Audric Estime didn't impress in the preseason and doesn't look to be a factor.
For Week 1, McLaughlin does have some question marks remaining. Getting more volume isn't a guarantee, even if he's earned it. However, in deeper PPR leagues, he's worth a start, and he's one of my breakout candidates for 2024. Start him in deeper leagues and stash him on your bench in 10-12 team leagues. It may not take long for McLaughlin to have a big impact.
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