Who Should I Start? Jaleel McLaughlin or LeQuint Allen Jr.

Sunday, August 17, 11:31 AM

Denver Broncos running back Jaleel McLaughlin put his best foot forward in Saturday's preseason win over the Arizona Cardinals in his attempt to win a 53-man roster spot. In the 27-7 win over Arizona in the second preseason game, McLaughlin had only three carries, but it was enough to lead the team in rushing with 48 yards. The 24-year-old's second rushing attempt of the contest went for a game-high 35 yards. McLaughlin entered the game after both rookie RJ Harvey and Tyler Badie, suggesting he's the RB4 on the current depth chart going into the final week of the preseason. He's been an effective complementary option in his two years in the NFL, averaging 4.8 yards per carry, but the additions of Harvey and J.K. Dobbins in the offseason made things even more difficult for McLaughlin to have a sizeable role in 2025.

Saturday, August 30, 7:30 PM

Jacksonville Jaguars rookie LeQuint Allen Jr. is the team's top pass-blocking running back and is "likely to play a critical role on third downs," John Oesher of Jaguars.com writes. The seventh-round pick from Syracuse totaled just two carries in the preseason, but he did finish the exhibition schedule tied for the team lead in catches (eight). That's not surprising, as the dual threat wrapped up his three-year run in college last season with a personal-best 64 receptions. If Allen's going to make an impact with the Jags this season, it seems likely he'll have to do it in the passing game as part of a crowded RB group. He's behind Travis Etienne Jr., Tank Bigsby, and rookie fourth-rounder Bhayshul Tuten on the depth chart, which means touches will be hard to come by in 2025.