Who Should I Start? Jaleel McLaughlin or Isaiah Davis

Saturday, January 24, 7:55 PM

Denver Broncos running back Jaleel McLaughlin should continue to be the primary change-of-pace back behind rookie RJ Harvey, with J.K. Dobbins remaining on Injured Reserve after a week of limited practices. In Denver's Divisional Round win over a Bills team that came into the playoffs with one of the worst run defenses in the league, McLaughlin was able to turn four carries into 21 yards. In the Conference Championship, he'll face a Patriots defense that has been dominant against the run since Milton Williams' return from an ankle injury that cost him five games. Through two playoff games, New England has allowed a total of 74 yards on designed runs, so if McLaughlin is to find any success on Sunday, it may need to come through screens and checkdowns, though that is a role that's been owned by Harvey for most of the year. McLaughlin is RotoBaller's RB7 for the week, but there is a world where he is entirely phased out of the game script.

Friday, January 2, 1:31 PM

New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn announced on Friday that running back Isaiah Davis (concussion) will not play in the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday versus the division-rival Buffalo Bills. Breece Hall (knee) is trending towards being a game-time decision this weekend, so the Jets could be down to Kene Nwangwu and Khalil Herbert in their backfield against the Bills. The 23-year-old Davis took on a bigger role behind Hall this year with Braelon Allen (knee) landing on Injured Reserve. He'll finish his second year in the NFL with 43 rushing attempts for 236 yards and a touchdown while adding 21 receptions on 28 targets for 186 yards through the air in 16 games played. Davis could have an even bigger role for the Jets in 2026, depending on where Hall ends up in free agency.