Who Should I Start? Jaleel McLaughlin or Will Shipley

Thursday, November 27, 9:44 AM

Denver Broncos running back Jaleel McLaughlin totaled just six offensive snaps and one carry all season before Week 11 against the Kansas City Chiefs. McLaughlin played just eight offensive snaps in the game, but handled six carries for 19 yards and a touchdown while adding one catch (one target) for negative five yards. Rookie R.J. Harvey operated as the clear lead back, playing 60.7% of the snaps and recording 14 touches, but McLaughlin outcarried him two to one inside the 10-yard line and found the end zone. Head coach Sean Payton praised the 25-year-old after the game and said that he will be "important down the stretch." With J.K. Dobbins (foot) likely out for the year and Tyler Badie mostly operating on passing downs, McLaughlin should play a key role in Denver's backfield for the remainder of the season and could be the preferred goal-line option, giving him value in deeper leagues.

Friday, November 21, 11:34 PM

Philadelphia Eagles Will Shipley has been relegated mostly to special teams touches and the occasional carry behind Saquon Barkley and Tank Bigsby as the team's RB3. The Eagles acquired Bigsby ahead of Week 7, and he's mostly served as the primary backup to Barkley. Since then, Bigsby and Shipley have each played 14.5% of the offensive snaps, but Bigsby has 17 carries to Shipley's seven during that span. The 2024 fourth-round pick entered the season as the No. 2 back for the Eagles, then missed Weeks 2 and 3 due to a rib injury, and has now fallen out of favor with the team, going out and trading for another back to have another capable option behind Barkley. Shipley still has some appeal as a handcuff if Barkley were to go down, but it would likely be a timeshare with Bigsby.