Audric Estime DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

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.

Denver Broncos rookie running back Audric Estime gets a Week 18 matchup against a Kansas City Chiefs team that will be resting key starters on defense for the playoffs as the Broncos look to punch their ticket to the postseason on Sunday at home. The rookie does have nine carries in consecutive weeks, but he hasn't played more than 30% of the offensive snaps since Week 10 in a Broncos backfield that has become a frustrating committee for fantasy purposes that also involves Jaleel McLaughlin and Javonte Williams. The 21-year-old has averaged 4.3 yards per carry and 23.30 rushing yards per game in his first 12 NFL games for Denver. The Broncos' ground game could get things going against a Chiefs defense that will be vulnerable in the season finale, but fantasy managers shouldn't consider Estime as much more than a low-upside, touchdown-dependent RB3/flex in Week 18.