Not a lot has gone right in Denver, but how about Jaleel McLaughlin? He’s averaging 7.3 yards per carry, and he’s scored 3 touchdowns. I will be interested in getting another look at him tonight.
McLaughlin is undersized (5-9, 183) but played his played onto the roster with a strong preseason, averaging 5.4 yards per carry and scoring in every game. And that’s carried over into the preseason.
McLaughlin carried 7 times for 72 yards at Chicago, and he went 9 for 68 yards against the Jets (when they really should have been using him more). He’s also caught touchdowns the last two weeks, to go along with a 5-yard touchdown run on his only carry in Week 2. He’s looking like he might just be better (at least for now) than Javonte Williams and Samaje Perine. It’s looking like the Broncos may have found themselves another Phillip Lindsay.
There are three other rookie running backs doing real nice work. DeVon Achane and Bijan Robinson, of course, have grabbed headlines. But Tyjae Spears has been sneaky productive for the Titans, averaging 5.8 yards per carry and looking like a guy who’ll be their opening day starter next year.
I pushed around some numbers on this, using a combination of my own stat files and the search tools at pro-football-reference. In the 32-team era, there have been 47 backs who run for at least 150 yards and averaged at least 5 yards per carry in their first five games. They’re listed below, and I’ve merged those numbers with the most productive season of their careers.
Of the 43 previous backs, only slightly more than half (22) ever had a top-20 season in their career (using PPR scoring). There were 17, in fact, who never even had a top-30 season. Think of Jalen Richard, Jerious Norwood, Ty’Son Williams, Royce Freeman and Kenton Keith (how many of us even remember Kenton Keith?).
But I’d rather have a rookie who’s producing than not. Will be interested to see how McLaughlin fares tonight against a run defense that’s a lot better than anything he’s seen so far.
| ROOKIE RUNNING BACKS AND HOT STARTS | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Player | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Best Yr | Rk |
| 2023 | DeVon Achane, Mia. | 38 | 460 | 12.1 | 5 | TBD | ? |
| 2008 | • Felix Jones, Dall. | 27 | 244 | 9.0 | 3 | 800-450-2 | 23 |
| 2006 | • Jerious Norwood, Atl. | 30 | 226 | 7.5 | 1 | 489-338-6 | 34 |
| 2023 | Jaleel McLaughlin, Den. | 22 | 160 | 7.3 | 1 | TBD | ? |
| 2016 | • Jalen Richard, Oak. | 25 | 175 | 7.0 | 1 | 259-607-1 | 29 |
| 2004 | Steven Jackson, St.L. | 27 | 185 | 6.9 | 1 | 1528-806-16 | 2 |
| 2009 | Shonn Greene, NYJ | 26 | 174 | 6.7 | 2 | 1054-211-6 | 20 |
| 2019 | Devin Singletary, Buff. | 40 | 267 | 6.7 | 2 | 870-228-8 | 20 |
| 2015 | • Karlos Williams, Buff. | 51 | 336 | 6.6 | 5 | 517-96-9 | 38 |
| 2011 | Stevan Ridley, N.E. | 25 | 161 | 6.4 | 1 | 1263-51-12 | 15 |
| 2007 | Adrian Peterson, Min. | 96 | 607 | 6.3 | 4 | 2097-217-13 | 1 |
| 2017 | Alvin Kamara, N.O. | 25 | 158 | 6.3 | 1 | 932-756-21 | 1 |
| 2017 | Kareem Hunt, K.C. | 97 | 609 | 6.3 | 4 | 1327-455-11 | 4 |
| 2005 | • Ryan Moats, Phil. | 39 | 242 | 6.2 | 3 | 390-106-5 | 50 |
| 2009 | • Kahlil Bell, Chi. | 25 | 155 | 6.2 | 0 | 337-133-1 | 61 |
| 2004 | • Mewelde Moore, Min. | 56 | 347 | 6.2 | 0 | 588-320-6 | 29 |
| 2015 | Todd Gurley, St.L. | 94 | 575 | 6.1 | 3 | 1305-788-19 | 1 |
| 2020 | D'Andre Swift, Det. | 26 | 158 | 6.1 | 3 | 617-452-7 | 15 |
| 2011 | • Evan Royster, Was. | 36 | 215 | 6.0 | 0 | 328-68-0 | 77 |
| 2019 | • Derrius Guice, Was. | 42 | 245 | 5.8 | 2 | 245-79-3 | 69 |
| 2023 | Tyjae Spears, Ten. | 27 | 156 | 5.8 | 1 | TBD | ? |
| 2007 | Fred Jackson, Buff. | 40 | 231 | 5.8 | 0 | 890-387-10 | 11 |
| 2018 | Phillip Lindsay, Den. | 57 | 328 | 5.8 | 1 | 1037-241-10 | 13 |
| 2018 | • Kerryon Johnson, Det. | 50 | 286 | 5.7 | 1 | 641-213-4 | 33 |
| 2015 | • Thomas Rawls, Sea. | 58 | 326 | 5.6 | 1 | 830-76-5 | 37 |
| 2018 | • Gus Edwards, Balt. | 32 | 179 | 5.6 | 1 | 723-129-6 | 37 |
| 2012 | • Brandon Bolden, N.E. | 37 | 206 | 5.6 | 2 | 226-405-3 | 41 |
| 2002 | Clinton Portis, Den. | 55 | 306 | 5.6 | 1 | 1508-364-17 | 7 |
| 2019 | • Alexander Mattison, Min. | 34 | 189 | 5.6 | 1 | 491-228-4 | 37 |
| 2014 | Jerick McKinnon, Min. | 30 | 166 | 5.5 | 0 | 291-512-10 | 20 |
| 2022 | Kenneth Walker, Sea. | 44 | 243 | 5.5 | 2 | 1050-165-9 | 18 |
| 2010 | Chris Ivory, N.O. | 59 | 325 | 5.5 | 0 | 1070-217-8 | 11 |
| 2021 | • Ty'Son Williams, Balt. | 33 | 180 | 5.5 | 1 | 185-84-1 | 87 |
| 2023 | Bijan Robinson, Atl. | 67 | 364 | 5.4 | 0 | TBD | ? |
| 2017 | Tarik Cohen, Chi. | 36 | 194 | 5.4 | 0 | 444-725-8 | 11 |
| 2014 | Isaiah Crowell, Cle. | 44 | 237 | 5.4 | 4 | 952-319-7 | 14 |
| 2006 | Maurice Jones-Drew, Jac. | 33 | 177 | 5.4 | 2 | 1391-374-16 | 4 |
| 2020 | Damien Harris, N.E. | 33 | 177 | 5.4 | 0 | 929-132-15 | 14 |
| 2021 | • Elijah Mitchell, S.F. | 81 | 433 | 5.3 | 3 | 963-137-6 | 26 |
| 2016 | • DeAndre Washington, Oak. | 32 | 170 | 5.3 | 0 | 387-292-3 | 41 |
| 2017 | • Elijah McGuire, NYJ | 34 | 176 | 5.2 | 1 | 276-193-4 | 55 |
| 2010 | Ryan Mathews, S.D. | 55 | 282 | 5.1 | 1 | 1091-455-6 | 7 |
| 2008 | Darren McFadden, Oak. | 59 | 302 | 5.1 | 1 | 1157-507-10 | 8 |
| 2018 | • Royce Freeman, Den. | 49 | 250 | 5.1 | 3 | 496-256-4 | 38 |
| 2016 | Ezekiel Elliott, Dall. | 109 | 546 | 5.0 | 5 | 1434-567-9 | 5 |
| 2016 | Jordan Howard, Chi. | 66 | 330 | 5.0 | 1 | 1313-298-7 | 10 |
| 2007 | • Kenton Keith, Ind. | 51 | 255 | 5.0 | 2 | 533-77-4 | 50 |
Statistics compiled using search tools at Pro-Football-Reference.com
Note: in the "Best Year" column, it shows rushing yards, receiving yards and touchdowns for the most productive season of the player's career.
—Ian Allan