Sometimes it takes an injury to see how things shake out in a crowded backfield, and that’s exactly what seemed to happen in Chicago on Sunday as the Broncos lost their starting running back Javonte Williams with a hip injury.
It was undrafted rookie Jaleel McLaughlin’s time to shine.
Most of us assumed Samaje Perine would carry the lead running back role in Williams’s absence, but instead, most of the work and production went to McLaughlin. The rookie was up to the challenge, rushing for 72 yards on seven carries and adding 3 for 32 more and a touchdown through the air. Now, as the Week 5 Waiver Wire looms, it’s time to think about taking a chance and cashing in on a back with loads of upside.
“Let’s talk about Jaleel,” Sean Payton told reporters after the game. “He played really well. He’s one of the guys that got a game ball this morning. He was explosive in the run and the pass. He gave us some juice, so we’ll continue to look at his role.”
Things certainly looked bleak for the 0-3 Denver Broncos in Week 4. Already coming off a humiliating loss to the Dolphins that saw them give up a staggering 70 points, the Broncos found themselves down three touchdowns to the pathetic Chicago Bears and losing their starting running back to a hip injury.
Many analysts had Perine pegged as the guy who would take over the Denver backfield in the event of a Williams injury, but that’s not how it went down.
WHO IS JALEEL MCLAUGHLIN?
Enter Jaleel McLaughlin. The 5’7” running back who played his college career at Division II Notre Dame College and FCS Youngstown State went undrafted by the NFL–not exactly the blueprint you’d expect to see for a guy who could become an NFL star.
I want to be careful not to be dismissive of someone because they played D2 ball–we have certainly seen some guys come out of that division (Steve McNair being the most recognizable name). And calling McLaughlin a D2 or FCS college player is a major disservice.
In fact, it might surprise you to know that McLaughlin is literally the all-time leading college football rusher in history. That’s right. Over his four years between the two schools, he carried the ball 1,250 times for 8,166 yards (that’s over 6.5 yards a carry for his career) and 79 touchdowns. Now that I’ve got your attention with his jaw-dropping college stats, let’s talk about the NFL.
MCLAUGHLIN’S RISE AND WEEK 5 FANTASY OUTLOOK
After blazing a 4.44 40-yard dash and weighing in at 192 lbs (after playing at 183 in college) at Youngstown State’s Pro Day, the Broncos signed McLaughlin to an undrafted free agent contract.
McLaughlin impressed in training camp and made the team as a result. He has seemingly been a favorite of coach Sean Payton from the jump, and he took advantage of the staff’s belief in him, scoring in every preseason game. His head coach even compared him to Reggie Bush, Alvin Kamara, and Darren Sproles.
“Jaleel’s got such great burst, such great confidence,’’ Russell Wilson said. “He’s there early, leaves late. He’s dedicated to the game.”
After not playing in Week 1 of the regular season, McLaughlin got his number called exactly once in Week 2, and scored a touchdown.
With his snap count numbers slowly growing anyway, the injury to Williams in Week 4 opened the door for someone to step up against a subpar defense. Perine got six carries for a measly 12 yards. McLaughlin ran the ball seven times for 72 yards and added three catches for 32 more yards and another touchdown.
That’s right, on the field for only 16 snaps, McLaughlin had 104 yards from scrimmage and a score. It seems like the pecking order may have been re-established in the Denver backfield, and McLaughlin, who is only owned in 2% of fantasy leagues at the end of Week 4, looks like the RB2.
SUMMARY
There is not any definitive information yet on Williams’ injury. Still, the reports that are out there suggest the injury is not overly serious and will not result in him missing much, if any, playing time.
“Javonte — we won’t mention or comment on until the week progresses. [That’s] typical for us, relative to injuries,” Payton said.
McLaughlin’s stamp on the team may be permanent, though; his number of carries and touches has crept up, and after his Week 4 performance, that trend could continue.
Even if Williams returns unscathed, McLaughlin’s value as a handcuff could still be significant. While the Broncos’ defense is admittedly one step below a joke, their offense is on the upswing, and having a guy who could play a role in it–even potentially end up their RB1–is the type of pickup that could win a league.
McLaughlin lines up at RB49 (+7 vs ECR) on The Wolf’s Rest of Season Rankings.
