Audric

Estime

“He’s a back that requires enough touches. He’s going to get those opportunities,” Payton continued. RJ Harvey is obviously going to be the main back for the Broncos for fantasy purposes this season, but it’s possible that Estime could carve out a bigger role in Year 2 ahead of other incumbent backs like Jaleel McLaughlin and Tyler Badie. Payton does love a good running back platoon. Estime should be drafted as the No. 2 back in Denver’s backfield for now, and if the Broncos offense ascends in 2025, he could potentially find himself as a fantasy RB3 as Harvey’s 1B.

Javonte Williams is now with the Cowboys, and the duo of Jaleel McLaughlin and Audric Estime won’t intimidate many defenses. Paton pointed out the strength of this year’s incoming running backs class when speaking with the media at the NFL owner’s meetings and seems more than ready to find a difference-making back to help Sean Payton’s offense this upcoming season. The Broncos hold the No. 20 pick in the draft and could take a shot on a back in that spot, but with several talented backs expected to be available on Day 2, they’ll have plenty of other options available to them if they prefer to spend their top draft capital elsewhere.

Broncos head coach Sean Payton has long deployed running backs as a key part of his passing offense. That didn’t change in 2024, with a quarter of early-down pass attempts going to Denver backs. That Jaleel McLaughlin and Javonte Williams proved to be among the least efficient pass-catching backs in the NFL last season has left the Broncos with a need to fill this offseason. They parted with Williams, who signed with Dallas. Payton seemed not to trust McLaughlin with the pass-catching role in 2024, and for good reason: McLaughlin ranked 54th out of 57 qualifying running backs in yards per route run. “It all creates major questions about how the Broncos will address a critical part of their offense,” Kosmider said. "[The Broncos] have closely evaluated what experts call one of the deeper running back classes in recent memory. They allotted many of their allowed meetings with prospects at the combine to the position and will continue to monitor the group at pro days around the country this month. They’ll meet with more running backs at their facility during top-30 visits.” Denver holds the 20th pick in the first round of the 2025 draft.

“While he was Denver’s leading rusher with 513 yards, he had his share of struggles and is not the same player he was before suffering a serious knee injury in October 2022,” Tomasson writes. Yup, that about sums it up. Tomasson writes that Jaleel McLaughlin will be back as a reserve but that the Broncos “likely will look for a potential starter in free agency or the draft.” It sure seemed like the way the Broncos managed the running back room this year that they didn’t have a real No. 1 back on the roster, and this report pretty much confirms that finding.

With running back Tyler Badie healthy for the first time since Week 4, Estime became expendable in a Broncos offense that will also have Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin active. Estime rushed 76 times for 310 yards and two touchdowns this season and has been largely used as part of the Broncos’ three-man committee in a backfield devoid of a true RB1. Fantasy managers who have Estime in their DFS and/or playoff tournament lineups will want to make sure to get him out before kick off.

Estime played well as a clock-killer in the second half but his most important play was on the Broncos’ first drive. On first-and-10 from the Chiefs’ 32-yard line, Estime helped set up Marvin Mims Jr.'s first touchdown, pulling off the play-action fake before contributing a road-grading block for Mims en route to the end zone. Estime is earning Sean Payton’s trust by doing the dirty work. He is a shaky RB4/5 against the Bills next week but Estime appears to be ending his rookie season on a high note.

McLaughlin returned from a one-game absence due to a quad injury to lead the backfield in snaps and opportunities. Javonte Williams, the starter in the backfield to begin the season, did not receive a carry while being targeted only twice, while Audric Estime gained 24 yards on nine carries and caught his lone target for 13 yards. The Broncos now turn their attention to the Chiefs in Week 18, with a win sending them to the postseason and a loss likely ending their Cinderella story, depending on the outcome of the Bengals’ game.

Estime received the most carries of any Denver running back, with Davonte Williams getting four and Blake Watson also picking up four with Jaleel McLaughlin (quad) unavailable. Estime was also the most effective rusher of the three; showing quality patience while picking up his first ever rushing score. Estime shows long-term upside, but the committee-approach on top of the fact he’s a non-factor makes him hard to recommend in 2024 as a fantasy option. He’s a TD-dependent FLEX in Week 17 against the Bengals.

McLaughlin led Broncos running backs with seven carries in Week 15 and tied for a positional-high three targets before being forced from play. His Week 16 absence consolidates the backfield touch dispersal, moderately increasing Javonte Williams and Audric Estime’s flex-viability.

The bad news is that Estime continues to underwhelm in the struggled Denver backfield. The good news for the rookie is that he could see extended run in Week 16 if Jaleel McLaughlin (quad) is sidelined in Week 16 against the Chargers. Estime, who has only one game this season with more than six carries, would split the backfield workload with Javonte Williams.