McLaughlin
RB · CLE @ PIT
Kickoff Sun 1:00 PM ET
Projected points4.7ptsUsage estimate
Mitchell
RB · LAC @ LA
Kickoff Sun 4:05 PM ET
Projected points4.8pts
Toss-up
Bench
Jaleel McLaughlin or Keaton Mitchell: Who Should I Start in Week 8?
Toss-up. Need a safe week? Jaleel McLaughlin. Swinging for a big week? Keaton Mitchell.
- Confidence
- Lower
- The two projections come from different sources; one is a Nuvela estimate
McLaughlin's number is our own estimate because his prop lines aren't posted yet, so this call is less sure than the gap looks.
Case for Mitchell
McLaughlin has the safer floor (2.8 to 2.6); Mitchell has more upside (a ceiling of 8.3 to 7.3).
Flips if
Start Keaton Mitchell instead if you want more of the snaps (32% to 18%).
Risk
McLaughlin has the safer floor (2.8 to 2.6); Mitchell has more upside (a ceiling of 8.3 to 7.3).
Highlights
McLaughlinToss-upRB · CLE @ PITUsually 3.1+1.6pts this week
Helps him
- +0.7ptstrack recordHis projection also weighs his past seasons, which ran above this year’s pace.
- +0.7ptspaceMost players at his position produce more than he has, so we expect him to bounce back some.
Hurts him
- 5%touchesHe handles only 5% of his team’s touches, so the work is shared.
MitchellFirst outRB · LAC @ LAUsually 6.2−1.3pts this week
Helps him
- 8.3ceilingHis best weeks reach about 8.3 points.
Hurts him
- −1.3pts2 linesRushing yards 15.5 (usual 23.2) and catches 1.5 (usual 2.0) both sit below his usual.
- 17%touchesHe handles only 17% of his team’s touches, so the work is shared.
- 19.3team totalEdgeHis team is expected to score only 19.3 points.
Points are what each line adds to or takes off his usual week. EdgeFrom the game around him.
Stat comparison
Every player you picked, stat by stat, most important first.
Stat
Scoring
ProjectionMcLaughlin: 4.7Mitchell: 4.8 (best)
TD pointsof the projectionMcLaughlin: Our estimateMitchell: 1.1
Expected TDsthis weekMcLaughlin: Our estimateMitchell: 0.19
Projected team pointsMcLaughlin: 18.0Mitchell: 19.3 (best)
Goal line carriesper gameMcLaughlin: 0.0Mitchell: 0.0
Red zone carriesper gameMcLaughlin: 0.0Mitchell: 0.5 (best)
Red zone targetsper gameMcLaughlin: 0.2Mitchell: 0.2
Role
Snap shareMcLaughlin: 18%Mitchell: 32% (best)
Usage worthptsMcLaughlin: 2.5Mitchell: 6.6 (best)
Touch shareMcLaughlin: 5%Mitchell: 17% (best)
Target shareMcLaughlin: 4%Mitchell: 9% (best)
Touches / gameMcLaughlin: 2.5Mitchell: 7.8 (best)
Targets / gameMcLaughlin: 1.0Mitchell: 2.5 (best)
Air yards shareMcLaughlin: 0.4%Mitchell: Behind the line
Vacated touches this weekMcLaughlin: 4.2 (best)Mitchell: 0.0
High value touches / gameMcLaughlin: 0.7Mitchell: 2.2 (best)
Goal line carry shareMcLaughlin: 0%Mitchell: 0%
Red zone touches / gameMcLaughlin: 0.2Mitchell: 0.7 (best)
Rush success rateMcLaughlin: 55% (best)Mitchell: 37%
Breakaway rate (20+ yd runs)McLaughlin: 9.1% (best)Mitchell: 2.9%
Usage worth vs scoredMcLaughlin: Earned by usage 2.5Scored 3.1Mitchell: Earned by usage 6.6Scored 6.2
Rush yards / gameMcLaughlin: 12.0Mitchell: 23.2 (best)
Points from rushingMcLaughlin: 71%Mitchell: 37%
WOPRMcLaughlin: 0.06Mitchell: 0.12 (best)
RZ target shareMcLaughlin: 6% (best)Mitchell: 5%
Inside 10 target shareMcLaughlin: 0%Mitchell: 8% (best)
Catch rateMcLaughlin: 67%Mitchell: 80% (best)
Rushing points / gameMcLaughlin: 2.2 pts / gameMitchell: 2.3 pts / game (best)
Rushing floorMcLaughlin: 1.3 pts / gameMitchell: 1.8 pts / game (best)
Range
FloorMcLaughlin: 2.8 (best)Mitchell: 2.6
CeilingMcLaughlin: 7.3Mitchell: 8.3 (best)
Points from TDssteadier when lowerMcLaughlin: 32%Mitchell: 16%
Big weeks (20+ pts)McLaughlin: 1 gameMitchell: 0%
Dud weeks (under 8 pts)lower is betterMcLaughlin: 1 gameMitchell: 67%
SteadinessMcLaughlin: 1 gameMitchell: Volatile±5.4 pts · 6 games
Matchup
Matchup gradevs his position · 2026, 7 gmMcLaughlin: DMitchell: D+ (best)
Game scriptMcLaughlin: Expected to trail (best)Mitchell: Expected to trail
Opp takeaways / gamelower is betterMcLaughlin: 1.6Mitchell: 0.9 (best)
Defense funnelMcLaughlin: NeutralMitchell: Neutral
Opp rush yds allowedMcLaughlin: 7th (tough)Mitchell: 18th (average) (best)
Backfield roleMcLaughlin: BackupMitchell: Backup
Opp defender outMcLaughlin: Joseph-Day (DT)Mitchell: None listed
Roof / surfaceMcLaughlin: OpengrassMitchell: Dometurf
Rest / scheduleMcLaughlin: NormalMitchell: Off a bye
Opp paceMcLaughlin: 13th (average)Mitchell: 3rd (fast) (best)
Opp stuff rateMcLaughlin: 23%3rd (tough)Mitchell: 19% (best)14th (average)
Opp yards per carry allowedMcLaughlin: 3.64th (tough)Mitchell: 3.8 (best)8th (tough)
Opp pass yds allowedMcLaughlin: 13th (average) (best)Mitchell: 4th (tough)
Opp deep targets allowed / gameMcLaughlin: 0.01st (tough)Mitchell: 0.1 (best)24th (soft)
Opp catch rate allowedMcLaughlin: 78%15th (average)Mitchell: 78%16th (average)
Starting QBMcLaughlin: Watson (Active)Mitchell: Herbert (Active)
Form
Last 3 avgMcLaughlin: 3.2Mitchell: 5.9 (best)
Last 5 avgMcLaughlin: 3.7Mitchell: 7.2 (best)
vs seasonMcLaughlin: +0.1 (Steady) (best)Mitchell: −0.3 (Steady)
Yards per carryMcLaughlin: 6.5 (best)Mitchell: 4.0
Carries / gameMcLaughlin: 1.8Mitchell: 5.8 (best)
Yards per route runMcLaughlin: 0.48Mitchell: 0.83 (best)
Receiving aDOTMcLaughlin: 0.8Mitchell: −1.8
Touch share trendMcLaughlin: SteadyMitchell: Cooling
Crowd
Nuvela position ranklower is betterMcLaughlin: RB51Mitchell: RB49 (best)
Yards linerushingMcLaughlin: Our estimateMitchell: 15.5
Deciding on someone else?
Choose 2 to 5 players for any week.