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.

Monday, June 9, 6:05 PM

Miami Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright worked hard on his body in the offseason after fading down the stretch in his rookie season in 2024 with just nine carries for six yards in the final five games. "Just working hard in the offseason, working on my body," Wright said. "I probably added about, probably six pounds. I lost a lot of body fat. I gained a lot of muscle. That's why it might look like I'm a little bigger, but yeah, just off-season, working hard, focusing on my body, getting prepared for the season, so." The 22-year-old was taken in the fourth round (120th overall) last year out of Tennessee but had a limited role down the stretch behind De'Von Achane and Raheem Mostert, finishing with 249 rushing yards and no touchdowns on 68 total carries in 15 games (one start). With Mostert out of town, Wright has a clear path to RB2 duties, and his big-play abilities make him a nice handcuff option to Achane.