Who Should I Start? Jaleel McLaughlin or Jaylen Wright

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.

Saturday, July 19, 1:49 PM

Miami Dolphins second-year running back Jaylen Wright has plenty of confidence in himself and thinks he can have a big year in 2025 alongside lead back De'Von Achane. "I just really feel like and I know I can be a top back in this league," Wright said on Up & Adams. "I feel like just my skill set, my ability and the system I'm in, it sets me up to be great." The 22-year-old speedy back played more than a quarter of the offensive snaps in only three games in 2024 and finished with only 249 rushing yards on 68 carries. Achane is on the smaller side at 5-foot-8 and 188 pounds, so it would make sense for them to try and spell him more often with Wright in 2025. Wright, a former fourth-rounder, is enticing as a handcuff option to Achane due to his speed and big-play ability. His main competition for a bigger role in his sophomore season will come from Alexander Mattison.