Kansas City will be putting a lot of JV players on the field, and I find myself having some interest in Jaleel McLaughlin. He’s been playing well, and I think the Broncos are going to win that game pretty easily. (Given how Andy Reid treats these kind of games, Denver is a 10-point favorite.)
The Broncos rotate their backs. Audric Estime and Javonte Williams will also play. But McLaughlin is the guy who keeps squirting free for nice gains. He’s averaged at least 5.9 per carry in six of his last nine games.
Since Week 7, in fact, only three running backs have averaged more yards per carry: Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry and Jahmyr Gibbs.
| YARDS PER CARRY SINCE WEEK 7 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Att | Yards | Avg | TD |
| Saquon Barkley, Phi. | 254 | 1,523 | 6.0 | 9 |
| Derrick Henry, Bal. | 186 | 1,079 | 5.8 | 6 |
| Jahmyr Gibbs, Det. | 161 | 925 | 5.7 | 10 |
| Jaleel McLaughlin, Den. | 61 | 341 | 5.6 | 0 |
| Jerome Ford, Cle. | 54 | 301 | 5.6 | 2 |
| Bucky Irving, T.B. | 130 | 705 | 5.4 | 5 |
| James Cook, Buff. | 127 | 672 | 5.3 | 11 |
| Rico Dowdle, Dall. | 154 | 761 | 4.9 | 1 |
| James Conner, Ari. | 146 | 691 | 4.7 | 5 |
| Bijan Robinson, Atl. | 194 | 906 | 4.7 | 9 |
| Jonathan Taylor, Ind. | 197 | 905 | 4.6 | 6 |
| Isaac Guerendo, S.F. | 60 | 275 | 4.6 | 4 |
| Rachaad White, T.B. | 93 | 426 | 4.6 | 3 |
| Jaylen Warren, Pitt. | 94 | 429 | 4.6 | 1 |
| Antonio Gibson, N.E. | 60 | 271 | 4.5 | 1 |
| Zach Charbonnet, Sea. | 72 | 323 | 4.5 | 5 |
| Breece Hall, NYJ | 114 | 509 | 4.5 | 3 |
| Ameer Abdullah, L.V. | 55 | 244 | 4.4 | 1 |
| De'Von Achane, Mia. | 136 | 603 | 4.4 | 4 |
| Josh Jacobs, G.B. | 187 | 821 | 4.4 | 13 |
| Tyrone Tracy, NYG | 131 | 572 | 4.4 | 4 |
Statistics compiled using search tools at Pro-Football-Reference.com
I just wish McLaughlin was a better pass catcher. He’s averaged only 3 yards on his 22 receptions, making him about the least effective pass catcher in the history of tackle football.
In the Super Bowl era, every other player (over almost 60 years) with at least 20 catches has averaged at least a half yard more per catch.
But in a weird week, McLaughlin looks like a possibility to me.
| LOWEST YARDS PER CATCH (20-plus rec) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Season | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD |
| 2024 | Jaleel McLaughlin, Den. | 22 | 67 | 3.0 | 2 |
| 2008 | Chris Perry, Cin. | 20 | 71 | 3.6 | 0 |
| 2020 | Ray-Ray McCloud, Pitt. | 20 | 77 | 3.9 | 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 |
| 2024 | Chuba Hubbard, Car. | 43 | 171 | 4.0 | 1 |
| 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 |
| 1997 | Raymont Harris, Chi. | 28 | 115 | 4.1 | 0 |
| 2013 | Ben Tate, Hou. | 34 | 140 | 4.1 | 0 |
| 2023 | Michael Carter, Ari.-NYJ | 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, NYG-S.D. | 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
—Ian Allan