Audric

Estime

“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.

McLaughlin sustained the injury early in the second half. He had seven rushing attempts for 21 yards before exiting, leading all Denver running backs. Audric Estime and Javonte Williams will get more run for as long as McLaughlin — who led the team with 84 rushing yards in Week 13 — is able to return.

It was Jaleel McLaughlin that developed the hot hand against the Browns, taking his 14 carries for 84 yards compared to the 12 for Estime. It certainly appears the team has settled on McLaughlin as the lead back as they head to their Week 14 bye, now firmly in control of the final playoff spot out of the AFC.

Estime ran well behind Javonte Williams, who had -2 yards on eight rushing attempts. Jaleel McLaughlin managed 44 yards on seven rushes in another frustrating week for anyone trying to figure out the ever-changing Denver backfield. Estime, who had six rushes in Week 11, won’t be playable in Week 13 against the Browns.