Fantasy Index

header banner img
OUR FANTASY BASEBALL MAGAZINE IS BACK! PRE-ORDER NOW
Win here.

Factoid

Jaleel McLaughlin

Rookie running back rare bright spot in Denver

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
YearPlayerAttYdsAvgTDBest YrRk
2023DeVon Achane, Mia.3846012.15TBD?
2008• Felix Jones, Dall.272449.03800-450-223
2006• Jerious Norwood, Atl.302267.51489-338-634
2023Jaleel McLaughlin, Den.221607.31TBD?
2016• Jalen Richard, Oak.251757.01259-607-129
2004Steven Jackson, St.L.271856.911528-806-162
2009Shonn Greene, NYJ261746.721054-211-620
2019Devin Singletary, Buff.402676.72870-228-820
2015• Karlos Williams, Buff.513366.65517-96-938
2011Stevan Ridley, N.E.251616.411263-51-1215
2007Adrian Peterson, Min.966076.342097-217-131
2017Alvin Kamara, N.O.251586.31932-756-211
2017Kareem Hunt, K.C.976096.341327-455-114
2005• Ryan Moats, Phil.392426.23390-106-550
2009• Kahlil Bell, Chi.251556.20337-133-161
2004• Mewelde Moore, Min.563476.20588-320-629
2015Todd Gurley, St.L.945756.131305-788-191
2020D'Andre Swift, Det.261586.13617-452-715
2011• Evan Royster, Was.362156.00328-68-077
2019• Derrius Guice, Was.422455.82245-79-369
2023Tyjae Spears, Ten.271565.81TBD?
2007Fred Jackson, Buff.402315.80890-387-1011
2018Phillip Lindsay, Den.573285.811037-241-1013
2018• Kerryon Johnson, Det.502865.71641-213-433
2015• Thomas Rawls, Sea.583265.61830-76-537
2018• Gus Edwards, Balt.321795.61723-129-637
2012• Brandon Bolden, N.E.372065.62226-405-341
2002Clinton Portis, Den.553065.611508-364-177
2019• Alexander Mattison, Min.341895.61491-228-437
2014Jerick McKinnon, Min.301665.50291-512-1020
2022Kenneth Walker, Sea.442435.521050-165-918
2010Chris Ivory, N.O.593255.501070-217-811
2021• Ty'Son Williams, Balt.331805.51185-84-187
2023Bijan Robinson, Atl.673645.40TBD?
2017Tarik Cohen, Chi.361945.40444-725-811
2014Isaiah Crowell, Cle.442375.44952-319-714
2006Maurice Jones-Drew, Jac.331775.421391-374-164
2020Damien Harris, N.E.331775.40929-132-1514
2021• Elijah Mitchell, S.F.814335.33963-137-626
2016• DeAndre Washington, Oak.321705.30387-292-341
2017• Elijah McGuire, NYJ341765.21276-193-455
2010Ryan Mathews, S.D.552825.111091-455-67
2008Darren McFadden, Oak.593025.111157-507-108
2018• Royce Freeman, Den.492505.13496-256-438
2016Ezekiel Elliott, Dall.1095465.051434-567-95
2016Jordan Howard, Chi.663305.011313-298-710
2007• Kenton Keith, Ind.512555.02533-77-450

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

Fantasy Index