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Jaleel McLaughlin vs Quinshon JudkinsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Quinshon Judkins is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.2 PPG to Jaleel McLaughlin's 6.9 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Quinshon Judkins is the better fantasy play this season.

Quinshon Judkins has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 4.3-PPG advantage is real (11.2 to 6.9), and Quinshon Judkins's 7 touchdowns show scoring upside. Jaleel McLaughlin is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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RBDenver Broncos#99
Jaleel McLaughlin
PPG
6.9
Games
15
Rush Yds
382
Rush TDs
2
Rec
22
Rec Yds
168
Bye
Week 14
RBCleveland Browns#23PPG LEADER
Quinshon Judkins
PPG
11.2
Games
14
Rush Yds
827
Rush TDs
7
Rec
26
Rec Yds
171
Bye
Week 11

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Jaleel McLaughlin
Quinshon Judkins

Head to Head

6.9 PPG11.2 PPG
15 GP14 GP
Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Jaleel McLaughlin: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Quinshon Judkins: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #23 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Jaleel McLaughlin is producing at 31% of elite pace and Quinshon Judkins at 51%. That ranking gap means Quinshon Judkins carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Jaleel McLaughlin vs Quinshon Judkins: The Full Breakdown

Jaleel McLaughlin and Quinshon Judkins are both viable fantasy running backs heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Jaleel McLaughlin averaged 6.9 PPG across 15 games with the Denver Broncos, while Quinshon Judkins posted 11.2 PPG in 14 appearances for the Cleveland Browns.

A 4.3-PPG gap gives Quinshon Judkins the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Both profile as early-down workhorses. Jaleel McLaughlin ran for 382 yards and 2 touchdowns; Quinshon Judkins posted 827 and 7. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.

Jaleel McLaughlin has his bye in Week 14, and Quinshon Judkins rests in Week 11. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at running back for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Quinshon Judkins at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Jaleel McLaughlin is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Jaleel McLaughlin (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open. Quinshon Judkins (age 22) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds.

Did You Know?

  • Quinshon Judkins outscored Jaleel McLaughlin by a projected 73 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Jaleel McLaughlin played 15 games in 2025 compared to Quinshon Judkins's 14. That durability gap means Jaleel McLaughlin contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
  • Quinshon Judkins scored 7 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.5 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Jaleel McLaughlin vs Quinshon Judkins: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatJaleel McLaughlinQuinshon Judkins
PPG (Half-PPR)6.911.2
Games Played1514
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)104157
Rushing Yards382827
Rush Yds/Game25.559.1
Rushing TDs27
Receptions2226
Receiving Yards168171
Targets036
Total TDs37
Age-22
Bye WeekWeek 14Week 11

Summary

Quinshon Judkins outscored Jaleel McLaughlin by 4.3 PPG in 2025 (11.2 to 6.9). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Jaleel McLaughlin or Quinshon Judkins in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Quinshon Judkins has the edge at 11.2 PPG compared to Jaleel McLaughlin's 6.9 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Jaleel McLaughlin and Quinshon Judkins average in 2025?

Jaleel McLaughlin averaged 6.9 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Quinshon Judkins averaged 11.2 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 4.3 points per game.

When are Jaleel McLaughlin and Quinshon Judkins's bye weeks in 2026?

Jaleel McLaughlin (DEN) has a bye in Week 14, and Quinshon Judkins (CLE) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Jaleel McLaughlin or Quinshon Judkins a better fantasy running back in 2026?

Quinshon Judkins outscored Jaleel McLaughlin by 4.3 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.