Who Should I Start? Jaleel McLaughlin or Isaac Guerendo

Tuesday, December 9, 10:03 PM

Denver Broncos running back Jaleel McLaughlin was inactive for nine out of his team's first 10 games of the 2025 season. However, the 25-year-old has been pressed into a more prominent role in recent weeks after Denver lost veteran running back J.K. Dobbins to a season-ending foot injury in Week 10. Across the team's last three games, McLaughlin has recorded 75 scrimmage yards and a touchdown on 19 touches. Broncos rookie back RJ Harvey has taken over the RB1 in Denver, which limits McLaughlin's upside. However, McLaughlin could now be one injury away from stepping into a lead role in the Broncos' backfield. In leagues with 12 or more teams, fantasy managers should consider stashing McLaughlin in a bench spot for his handcuff upside. Over the next three weeks, Denver will take on the Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Kansas City Chiefs.

Tuesday, October 21, 9:16 PM

San Francisco 49ers running back Isaac Guerendo was thrust into action in his rookie season in the NFL in 2024 because Christian McCaffrey missed most of the year due to injuries. Guerendo finished with 84 rushing attempts for 420 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games (three starts) and also chipped in 15 catches on 16 targets as a pass-catcher for 152 yards. Fantasy managers probably viewed him as a pretty valuable handcuff for the injury-prone CMC going into 2025 drafts, but the Niners' acquisition of Brian Robinson Jr. before the season pretty much killed whatever fantasy appeal he had. Through the first seven weeks of his sophomore campaign, the 25-year-old former fourth-rounder has yet to play an offensive snap with CMC and B-Rob both staying healthy. Instead, Guerendo has been limited to a special teams role, returning five kickoffs for a combined 100 yards.