Jaleel 

McLaughlin

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McLaughlin didn’t receive any work with the starters in the Broncos’ first preseason game, but he played 11-of-20 snaps with the starters in the second game, including taking a third and long over Perine and taking snaps by the goal line. McLaughlin’s work ethic appears to be manifesting into a larger role with Denver.

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McLaughlin is on the shorter side for running backs at 5-foot-8, but Sean Payton is no stranger to shorter running backs. Payton’s former team the New Orleans Saints have the second-most offensive snaps for running backs 5-foot-9 or shorter over the last 15 seasons, including Mark Ingram II, Pierre Thomas and Darren Sproles. All three have multiple seasons where they’ve been fantasy starters.

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It’s fine to take chances on Williams, McLaughlin and Estime because someone is bound to have fantasy value this season. Payton has a long history of success at running back even without a full-time role. It’s certainly possible McLaughlin carves out a big enough role in the offense to consider starting him in fantasy football.