Audric Estime DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

On Thursday, Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton noted that running back Audric Estime will garner increased opportunities in his second season with the team. "He's a back that requires enough touches," said Payton. "He's going to get those opportunities." The former fifth-round rookie was undoubtedly lacking in opportunities in 2024 -- placing fourth on the team in carries and rushing yards behind backfield mates Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin and quarterback Bo Nix. Estime was a productive player in his final season at Notre Dame, finishing with 1,341 yards and 18 rushing scores in 12 games. However, Denver's recent selection of RJ Harvey in the second round adds formidable competition in the backfield. Harvey is slotted in first on the team's unofficial depth chart, ahead of Estime for now. The latter projects to be more of a traditional short-yardage back due to his larger stature, but Harvey is also a force between the tackles and profiles as a better pass-catcher despite poor pass-protection skills.

Denver Broncos rookie running back Audric Estime is hard to recommend for fantasy lineups against the Buffalo Bills on wild-card weekend this Sunday as part of a three-man RB committee in Denver that also includes Jaleel McLaughlin and Javonte Williams. Estime did have 12 carries in the Week 18 win over the Kansas City Chiefs -- his second-highest total of the year -- but most of his work came in garbage time in a 38-0 blowout. In his first 13 NFL games in 2024, Estime averaged 4.1 yards per carry and only 5.8 rushing attempts per game. Opportunities are surely to be limited again this weekend in a game the Broncos are nearly 10-point underdogs on the road. The 21-year-old will probably only pay off as a flex play for fantasy managers if he finds the end zone, which he was only able to do twice this year. Estime has little upside as long as he's sharing touches with McLaughlin and Williams.

Denver Broncos rookie running back Audric Estime wasn't very effective on the ground with double-digit carries but managed to find the end zone in the 38-0 win on Sunday in Denver against the visiting division-rival Kansas City Chiefs in the Week 18 regular-season finale. Estime was afforded 12 carries -- his second time all year with double-digit carries -- with the Broncos offense moving the ball mostly at will against backups on defense for the Chiefs. The 21-year-old only gained 34 yards on his 12 carries (2.8 yards per tote) but found the end zone late for his second TD of the year (and second in the last three weeks). Still, most of Estime's work came late in the second half with the game already decided, working behind Jaleel McLaughlin and Javonte Williams early on. There will be minimal fantasy upside for the rookie in the first round of the playoffs against the Bills in Denver's committee backfield.