What do we make of Denver’s backfield? After Thursday night’s game, I would be more inclined to invest in Audric Estime, rather than their two veterans.
Javonte Williams had the big knee injury in 2022, and I’m getting tired of waiting for him to blossom. I’m not sure that’s ever going to happen. He’ll be a free agent in the spring, and I imagine he’ll be signing a modest contract somewhere. I don’t’ think he’s getting beyond being just a contributor somewhere.
Jaleel McLaughlin has some speed and shiftiness; he’s averaged at least 5.9 per carry in five of his last seven games. But he also to me looks more like a contributor than a guy who’ll ever be stacking good numbers week in and week out.
McLaughlin seems like he might be a good pass catcher, given his body type. If they could get him into more of a Darren Sproles type role, then maybe he could be something. But they’ve been unable to get McLaughlin going in the passing game. At all. He’s averaging 3.0 yards per catch. He’s on pace to finish with the lowest YPC average for a running back with 20-plus catches in NFL history.
WORST YARDS-PER-CATCH (RBs, 20-catch min) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Player | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD |
2024 | Jaleel McLaughlin, Den. | 20 | 60 | 3.0 | 2 |
2008 | Chris Perry, Cin. | 20 | 71 | 3.6 | 0 |
1956 | Fran Rogel, Pitt. | 23 | 88 | 3.8 | 0 |
2022 | Miles Sanders, Phi. | 20 | 78 | 3.9 | 0 |
2005 | Rudi Johnson, Cin. | 23 | 90 | 3.9 | 0 |
1997 | Adrian Murrell, NYJ | 27 | 106 | 3.9 | 0 |
1970 | Jess Phillips, Cin. | 31 | 124 | 4.0 | 1 |
2006 | Mike Alstott, T.B. | 21 | 85 | 4.0 | 0 |
2005 | Cadillac Williams, T.B. | 20 | 81 | 4.1 | 0 |
2024 | Chuba Hubbard, Car. | 39 | 158 | 4.1 | 1 |
1997 | Raymont Harris, Chi. | 28 | 115 | 4.1 | 0 |
2013 | Ben Tate, Hou. | 34 | 140 | 4.1 | 0 |
2023 | Michael Carter, NYJ-Ari. | 24 | 101 | 4.2 | 1 |
1998 | Charles Way, NYG | 31 | 131 | 4.2 | 1 |
2016 | Justin Forsett, 3 tms | 20 | 85 | 4.3 | 0 |
2006 | Thomas Jones, Chi. | 36 | 154 | 4.3 | 0 |
1997 | Erric Pegram, S.D.-NYG | 21 | 90 | 4.3 | 0 |
2007 | Vonta Leach, Hou. | 25 | 108 | 4.3 | 2 |
1981 | Earl Campbell, Hou. | 36 | 156 | 4.3 | 0 |
2002 | Fred McCrary, S.D. | 22 | 96 | 4.4 | 3 |
Statistics compiled using search tools at Pro-Football-Reference.com
So I will take the unknowns of what’s behind Curtain No. 3. I liked the way Estime was banging out yards between the tackles on Thursday night. I would rather take a flyer on him for the 2025-27 seasons, rather than another stab at Javonte or McLaughlin.
None of the guys, ultimately, are players I’m counting on to be reliable stat producers. I don’t have any of them in my top 30 at the position for dynasty purposes.
My updated list for running backs follows. (I promised in last week’s issue that I would be doing tight ends, but a reader pointed out that I had missed running backs, and that that was the position that’s gone the longest without attention).
In the following rankings, I’m assuming PPR scoring, and I’ve got rookies tagged with black dots. To see previous editions, use the “past issues” navigation tools.
Last week: Wide receivers
Next week: Tight ends
DYNASTY RUNNING BACKS | |||
---|---|---|---|
Rk | Tm | Player | Age |
1. | ATL | Bijan Robinson | 22.9 |
2. | DET | Jahmyr Gibbs | 22.8 |
3. | NYJ | Breece Hall | 23.6 |
4. | IND | Jonathan Taylor | 25.9 |
5. | LAR | Kyren Williams | 24.3 |
6. | PHI | Saquon Barkley | 27.9 |
7. | GB | Josh Jacobs | 26.9 |
8. | TB | • Bucky Irving | 22.3 |
9. | MIA | DeVon Achane | 23.2 |
10. | SEA | Kenneth Walker | 24.2 |
11. | BUF | James Cook | 25.2 |
12. | CIN | Chase Brown | 24.8 |
13. | HOU | Joe Mixon | 28.4 |
14. | NYG | • Tyrone Tracy | 25.1 |
15. | WAS | Brian Robinson | 25.8 |
16. | DET | David Montgomery | 27.5 |
17. | KC | Isiah Pacheco | 25.8 |
18. | CAR | Chuba Hubbard | 25.5 |
19. | NE | Rhamondre Stevenson | 26.8 |
20. | SF | Christian McCaffrey | 28.5 |
21. | TEN | Tony Pollard | 27.6 |
22. | PIT | Najee Harris | 26.8 |
23. | ARI | James Conner | 29.6 |
24. | BAL | Derrick Henry | 31.0 |
25. | BUF | • Ray Davis | 25.1 |
26. | SF | • Isaac Guerendo | 24.5 |
27. | LAC | J.K. Dobbins | 26.0 |
28. | CHI | D'Andre Swift | 25.9 |
29. | MIN | Aaron Jones | 30.1 |
30. | LAR | • Blake Corum | 24.1 |
31. | DAL | Rico Dowdle | 26.5 |
32. | ATL | Tyler Allgeier | 24.7 |
33. | SEA | Zach Charbonnet | 24.0 |
34. | NO | Alvin Kamara | 29.4 |
35. | JAC | Tank Bigsby | 23.3 |
36. | MIA | • Jaylen Wright | 21.7 |
37. | CLE | Nick Chubb | 29.0 |
38. | ARI | • Trey Benson | 22.4 |
39. | DEN | • Audric Estime | 21.3 |
40. | NYJ | • Braelon Allen | 20.9 |
41. | JAC | Travis Etienne | 25.9 |
42. | PIT | Jaylen Warren | 26.1 |
43. | TB | Rachaad White | 25.9 |
44. | DEN | Javonte Williams | 24.7 |
45. | CHI | Roschon Johnson | 23.9 |
46. | CAR | • Jonathon Brooks | 21.4 |
47. | LV | Sincere McCormick | 24.3 |
48. | NO | Kendre Miller | 22.5 |
49. | PHI | Kenneth Gainwell | 25.8 |
50. | CLE | Jerome Ford | 25.3 |
51. | TEN | Tyjae Spears | 23.5 |
52. | DEN | Jaleel McLaughlin | 24.3 |
53. | WAS | Austin Ekeler | 29.6 |
54. | MIN | Cam Akers | 25.5 |
55. | GB | • MarShawn Lloyd | 24.0 |
56. | NE | Antonio Gibson | 26.5 |
57. | BAL | Justice Hill | 27.1 |
58. | SF | Jordan Mason | 25.6 |
59. | CIN | Khalil Herbert | 26.7 |
60. | CAR | Miles Sanders | 27.6 |
61. | NYG | Devin Singletary | 27.3 |
62. | GB | Emanuel Wilson | 25.6 |
63. | NYJ | • Isaiah Davis | 22.8 |
64. | PHI | • Will Shipley | 22.3 |
65. | KC | Kareem Hunt | 29.4 |
66. | BUF | Ty Johnson | 27.3 |
67. | TB | Sean Tucker | 23.2 |
68. | LAC | • Kimani Vidal | 23.3 |
69. | IND | Trey Sermon | 25.9 |
70. | CIN | Zack Moss | 27.0 |
71. | LV | Alexander Mattison | 26.5 |
72. | SEA | Kenny McIntosh | 24.8 |
73. | CLE | Pierre Strong | 26.0 |
74. | MIA | Raheem Mostert | 32.7 |
75. | WAS | Chris Rodriguez | 24.2 |
76. | DET | • Sione Vaki | 23.4 |
77. | HOU | Dameon Pierce | 24.8 |
78. | SF | Israel Abanikanda | 22.2 |
79. | IND | Tyler Goodson | 24.1 |
80. | GB | Chris Brooks | 24.9 |
—Ian Allan