Okay, so I’ve been diving deep into fantasy football lately, trying to get a leg up on my league. One name that kept popping up was Jaleel McLaughlin, the undrafted rookie running back for the Broncos. I figured I’d share my process of figuring out his fantasy outlook.
Initial Research – Who IS This Guy?
First things first, I needed to know who this Jaleel McLaughlin even was. I started with the basics. I watched some youtube, and saw that he’s an undrafted free agent out of Youngstown State. Small school, okay. But the dude put up HUGE numbers there – like, record-breaking numbers. So, that got my attention.
Checking the Depth Chart
Next, I looked at the Broncos’ running back situation. I know Javonte Williams is coming back from that nasty knee injury, and they brought in Samaje Perine. Seemed crowded. My initial thought was, “This guy’s probably buried on the depth chart.”
Preseason Buzz – The Hype is Real?
Then, the preseason games started. And wow. This McLaughlin guy was everywhere. Big runs, catching passes, looking explosive. The fantasy football “experts” (you know, the guys on Twitter) started talking him up. I got sucked into a few highlight reels – I admit it. It was hard to ignore the buzz.
Digging Deeper – Opportunity Knocks
- Javonte’s Recovery: I started reading more about Javonte Williams’ recovery. It’s a serious injury, and it’s not a sure thing he’ll be 100% right away, or even at all this season.
- Perine’s Role: Samaje Perine is a solid player, but he’s more of a between-the-tackles grinder, not a super explosive playmaker.
- Coach Speak: I listened to some press conferences from the Broncos’ coaches. They were praising McLaughlin’s playmaking ability. That’s always a good sign.
My conclusion on fantasy value
Putting it all together, I changed my initial assessment. I started thinking there’s a real path to playing time for McLaughlin. If Javonte has any setbacks, or if they want to use a change-of-pace back, McLaughlin could get significant touches.
Making My Move (or Not)
So, what did I do with this information?
In one of my deeper leagues, I grabbed him with my last pick. He is on my bench.
In a shallower league, where you have less roster, I just adding him to my watch list for now.
The key here is, don’t overreact to preseason hype, but don’t ignore it either. Do your own digging, consider the situation, and make the best decision for your team. I’m not saying McLaughlin is a guaranteed stud, but he’s definitely someone to keep an eye on. I’m feeling pretty good about having him stashed on my bench, just in case he explodes.
