Who Should I Start? Jaleel McLaughlin or DJ Giddens

Monday, January 13, 10:50 AM

Denver Broncos running back Jaleel McLaughlin was a complete non-factor in the team's 31-7 blowout loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday on wild-card weekend. Like most of the season, Denver's backfield was stuck in the mud and couldn't get anything going to control the game, with rookie quarterback Bo Nix leading the team with 43 rushing yards on four carries. McLaughlin, who had been the leader of a committee backfield late in the season, had only two rushing attempts for minus-two yards while catching his only target for no gain. It was a dismal end to the 24-year-old's second season in the NFL. He finished with 113 carries for 496 yards (4.4 yards per carry) and only one rushing touchdown in 16 regular-season games while adding 24 catches for 76 yards and two more TDs through the air. Denver will surely look to upgrade their backfield in the offseason to give more help to Nix in 2025.

Thursday, June 5, 2:27 PM

Indianapolis Colts rookie running back DJ Giddens will likely have the opportunity to win the RB2 job, and he could earn a weekly role on offense if he proves capable in the pass-blocking and pass-catching game, according to team reporter Jake Arthur. "Giddens may carve out some sort of role regardless of what's going on ahead of him with Jonathan Taylor and/or Khalil Herbert," Arthur wrote. "The Colts really like Giddens." The Kansas State product was the No. 151 overall pick (fifth-round) in the 2025 NFL Draft after posting 2,469 rushing yards, 581 receiving yards, and 21 total touchdowns over his final two collegiate seasons. He'll be competing with Herbert and Tyler Goodson to earn a spot behind Jonathan Taylor. For now, he's a late-round handcuff stash in deeper fantasy football leagues, but he's worth monitoring early in his first professional campaign.