- Audric Estime
- #23
- Team DEN
- Pos RB
- Status AActive
-
Mixed results in rookie season
Estime finished the 2024 regular season with 76 carries for 310 yards and two touchdowns while catching all five of his targets for 27 yards. He also committed two fumbles (one lost) across 13 games.
Analysis: Estime was inactive for the Broncos' wild-card loss to the Broncos, as Denver opted to go with a three-man running back rotation of Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin and Tyler Badie. The 21-year-old Estime was stuck in a committee in his rookie campaign, unable to separate himself as the go-to option in the Denver backfield. With that said, the Notre Dame product showed flashes in his limited opportunities throughout the season, so his continued development may help him attain a more secure…read more
Published: Tue, Jan 14 at 5:56am by Rotowire.com
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Inactive for wild-card round
Estime (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's AFC wild-card game against the Bills.
Analysis: Estime's inactive status comes as a bit of a surprise considering he recorded at least nine touches in each of the final three games of the regular season and has contributed on special teams. However, Estime will be the odd man out of the Broncos' backfield due to Tyler Badie (back) returning from injured reserve. Denver will go with a three-man backfield of Jaleel McLaughlin, Javonte Williams and Badie for Sunday's playoff game.
Published: Sun, Jan 12 at 8:43am by Rotowire.com
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Lots of work in garbage time
Estime rushed the ball 12 times for 34 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 38-0 win over the Chiefs.
Analysis: Estime logged double-digit carries for the second time in his rookie season, though he mostly worked behind both Jaleel McLaughlin and Javonte Williams. Of Estime's 12 carries, 10 came in the fourth quarter with the Broncos up by at least four scores. Barring a similar game script -- which would come as a shock -- in Denver's wild-card round matchup against the Bills, Estime isn't likely to play a significant role in the offense.
Published: Sun, Jan 5 at 8:34pm by Rotowire.com
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Totals 37 yards
Estime rushed the ball nine times for 24 yards in Saturday's 30-24 overtime loss to the Bengals. He added one reception on one target for 13 yards.
Analysis: Estime earned nine carries for the second consecutive week, finishing second narrowly behind Jaleel McLaughlin for touches out of the backfield. He had difficulty finding running room, as his longest rush went for just six yards, and he was held for two yards or fewer on four of his nine carries. While Estime seems to have established a role in the Denver offense, his fantasy appeal remains limited in the split backfield.
Published: Sat, Dec 28 at 6:46pm by Rotowire.com
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Efficient as backfield leader
Estime rushed nine times for 48 yards and a touchdown in the Broncos' 34-27 loss to the Chargers on Thursday night.
Analysis: In a game in which fellow RB Jaleel McLaughlin (quadriceps) was sidelined, Estime outpaced Javonte Williams and Blake Watson by five carries apiece -- although Williams did log a team-high 11 targets -- making the rookie back the leader of Denver's ground attack on the night. Estime also recorded his first NFL touchdown on a three-yard run just before the midway point of the first quarter to cap off a 10-play, 72-yard drive and open the scoring on the night. Estime had recorded 16 rushing yards…read more
Published: Thu, Dec 19 at 9:15pm by Rotowire.com
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Six touches in win
Estime rushed five times for 13 yards while catching his lone target for five yards in Sunday's 31-13 win over the Colts.
Analysis: Estime had another unimpressive performance Sunday, though his six total touches were his most since Week 11. As the Denver backfield continues to be a full-blown committee, the rookie running back has seen limited opportunities to make much noise on offense. Estime played just 13 of the Broncos' 63 offensive snaps against the Colts, behind both Javonte Williams (34) and Jaleel McLaughlin (15). For fantasy purposes, Estime, a Notre Dame product, is nothing more than a middling insurance policy…read more
Published: Tue, Dec 17 at 6:17am by Rotowire.com
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Three carries in Week 13
Estime rushed three times for 12 yards in Monday's 41-32 win over the Browns.
Analysis: Estime played just eight of the Broncos' 66 offensive snaps, behind teammates Javonte Williams (30) and Jaleel McLaughlin (24). With head coach Sean Payton allowing for a more fluid rotation in the Denver backfield from week to week, Estime appears to be the odd man out recently, handling just 12 total carries over the past three games. With such limited usage, Estime should remain off the fantasy radar going forward barring injuries to either Williams or McLaughlin. The Broncos will host the…read more
Published: Tue, Dec 3 at 9:20am by Rotowire.com
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Three carries in Week 12
Estime rushed three times for 15 yards in Sunday's 29-19 win over the Raiders.
Analysis: Just two weeks after seemingly taking over as the Broncos' No. 1 running back, Estime has seen his usage diminish drastically since Week 10, now operating as Denver's third option out of the backfield. The rookie played just five of the Broncos' 68 offensive snaps, behind both Javonte Williams (38) and Jaleel McLaughlin (20). His eight-percent snap share Sunday was a precipitous drop from the last two contests in which Estime handled snap shares of 45 percent and 22 percent in Weeks 10 and 11,…read more
Published: Mon, Nov 25 at 9:43am by Rotowire.com
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Platoons with Williams in Week 11
Estime rushed six times for 16 yards while catching all three of his targets for nine yards in Sunday's 38-6 win over the Falcons.
Analysis: Estime got three fewer carries than Javonte Williams after notching 14 carries to Williams' one in Week 10 against the Chiefs. The rookie fifth-round pick out of Notre Dame hadn't been targeted in any of his previous six NFL appearances, so it was encouraging to see Estime get involved in the passing game. A timeshare between Williams and Estime is likely to unfold moving forward, though Williams may still be in line for a slight edge in playing time against the Raiders in Week 12.
Published: Sun, Nov 17 at 5:09pm by Rotowire.com
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Increased role on tap
Broncos head coach Sean Payton said Monday that he was "encouraged" with Estime's performance in Sunday's 16-14 loss to the Chiefs, adding that the rookie will "continue to get more reps," Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.
Analysis: After handling his largest workload of his rookie campaign (14 carries for 53 yards), Estime seems to have earned a vote of confidence from Payton. Veteran Javonte Williams could continue to take a back seat to the 21-year-old rookie after Williams logged just one carry in Week 10, though he and Jaleel McLaughlin should dominate most of the reps on passing downs. Estime has yet to be targeted across his 47 snaps on offense through six games this season, but an expected uptick in usage on the…read more
Published: Mon, Nov 11 at 3:20pm by Rotowire.com
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Paces ground attack in loss
Estime rushed 14 times for 53 yards in the Broncos' 16-14 loss to the Chiefs on Sunday.
Analysis: Estime was given the largest workload of his brief career, with backfield mate Javonte Williams surprisingly limited to just one rush attempt overall. The rookie handled the additional responsibility well, posting a new career high in rushing yards. The lack of involvement in the passing game was far from ideal, but Estime could have plenty of opportunity again in a Week 11 home matchup against the Falcons.
Published: Sun, Nov 10 at 2:56pm by Rotowire.com
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Role could grow in second half
Broncos head coach Sean Payton said Monday that he anticipates Estime playing more frequently down the stretch, Chris Tomasson of The Denver Gazette reports.
Analysis: Since returning to action Week 6 following a four-week stint on injured reserve due to an ankle injury, Estime has been lightly sprinkled into Denver's game plan. He's played between two and seven snaps in each of the last four contests, carrying 13 times for 81 yards while going without a target. Though Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin currently remain ahead of Estime in the pecking order, the efficiency that that rookie has shown in his limited sample thus far could motivate the…read more
Published: Mon, Nov 4 at 9:56am by Rotowire.com
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Flashes in garbage time
Estime carried the ball five times for 35 yards in Sunday's 41-10 loss to the Ravens.
Analysis: It was the rookie RB's best performance yet, but most of Estime's production came on a 21-yard gain on Denver's final possession of the fourth quarter while facing a 31-point deficit. The 2024 fifth-round pick is still third on the backfield depth chart behind Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin, but the latter's struggles this season -- after rushing for only 10 yards on five totes Sunday, McLaughlin has averaged 3.9 yards per carry, a huge drop from his 5.4 YPC in 2023 -- could open the…read more
Published: Sun, Nov 3 at 3:50pm by Rotowire.com
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One carry in Week 8
Estime rushed once for four yards in Sunday's 28-14 win over the Panthers.
Analysis: Estime continued to be an afterthought in Denver's offense, playing just five offensive snaps for the second straight week and handling just one carry in the contest. Meanwhile, teammates Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin played 42 and 23 snaps, respectively. Barring an injury to either Williams or McLaughlin, the 21-year-old Estime remains far off the fantasy radar heading into a Week 9 matchup against the Ravens in which the rookie should continue to see minimal usage as Denver's No. 3…read more
Published: Mon, Oct 28 at 9:27am by Rotowire.com
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Handles five carries against Saints
Estime rushed five times for 29 yards and lost a fumble in Thursday's 33-10 win over the Saints.
Analysis: In just his second game back from injured reserve due to the ankle injury suffered in Week 1, Estime recorded season highs in rushing attempts and yards, while also playing a season-high six offensive snaps in the contest. With that said, these modest totals should keep the rookie off the fantasy radar for the time being as the No. 3 option behind starter Javonte Williams and second-year running back Jaleel McLaughlin, and the lost fumble in limited playing time may not help his cause in the…read more
Published: Fri, Oct 18 at 10:28am by Rotowire.com
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Limited action in return
Estime rushed twice for 13 yards in Sunday's 23-16 loss to the Chargers.
Analysis: Estime made his return to the field Sunday after being activated from injured reserve for the ankle injury he suffered in Week 1, however, the rookie running back played just two of the Broncos' 55 offensive snaps in the contest. It's likely Denver's coaching staff wants to ease Estime back into a more substantial workload, but he'll still face an uphill battle for playing time behind both Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin moving forward. The 21-year-old Notre Dame product could challenge…read more
Published: Tue, Oct 15 at 10:58am by Rotowire.com
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Officially active Sunday
Estime (ankle) is active for Sunday's Week 6 matchup against the Chargers.
Analysis: The rookie will therefore be available to aid Denver's ground attack for the first time since hurting his ankle in his Week 1 NFL debut. Estime was just activated from injured reserve Saturday, and in Sunday's divisional clash, he figures to slot in as the No. 3 running back behind Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin.
Published: Sun, Oct 13 at 11:38am by Rotowire.com
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Could play after coming off IR
Estime (ankle) was activated off injured reserve Saturday. The rookie running back is still listed as questionable for Sunday's contest against the Chargers, Chris Tomasson of The Denver Gazette reports.
Analysis: The Denver backfield appears to have a bit more of a cadence than it did early on, with Javonte Williams averaging about 33 snaps per game and Jaleel McLaughlin mixing in somewhere in the range of 17 to 23 snaps most weeks. Estime probably won't play much to start, but he does profile as more of a thumper than anyone currently on the depth chart and could earn more opportunities as the season progresses.
Published: Sat, Oct 12 at 1:56pm by Rotowire.com
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Week 6 status TBD
Estime (ankle) practiced fully this week and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Chargers, Susanna Weir of the Broncos' official site reports.
Analysis: Estime was designated for return from injured reserve Wednesday, so he'll need to be activated to the 53-man roster by Saturday afternoon in order to be available for Sunday's contest. If the 2024 fifth-rounder does suit up this weekend, he'd be in line to provide Denver with backfield depth behind Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin.
Published: Fri, Oct 11 at 3:24pm by Rotowire.com
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Returns to practice
Estime (ankle) returned to practice Wednesday, opening a 21-day window for him to be activated from injured reserve, Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post reports.
Analysis: The Broncos can place Estime back on the 53-man roster any time before Oct. 30, at which point he would revert to injured reserve for the rest of the season. He injured his ankle Week 1 and has now missed the minimum of four games, potentially opening the door for a third man to get involved in a backfield that's featured Javonte Williams as the lead runner and Jaleel McLaughlin in a supporting role. Both struggled earlier this season but have been more efficient with their touches in the past…read more
Published: Wed, Oct 9 at 1:45pm by Rotowire.com
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Lands on IR
Denver placed Estime on injured reserve Wednesday with an ankle injury, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.
Analysis: As a result, Estime will miss at least four games, but the 2024 fifth-round pick isn't expected to require surgery to address his injury, per Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post. Estime's upcoming absence leaves Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin and Blake Watson as Denver's healthy running backs.
Published: Wed, Sep 11 at 2:10pm by Rotowire.com
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Handles two carries in loss
Estime rushed twice for 14 yards in Sunday's 26-20 loss to the Seahawks.
Analysis: Estime played just three of the Broncos' 69 offensive snaps Sunday while Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin dominated in running back snap counts with 36 and 24 snaps, respectively. The rookie tried to make a highlight play by hurdling a Seattle defender on one of his carries, but he ended up fumbling the ball before it was recovered by a teammate. It appears Estime is well behind Williams and McLaughlin in the pecking order, though his role could increase as the season progresses,…read more
Published: Mon, Sep 9 at 9:13am by Rotowire.com
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Gets into end zone Sunday
Estime carried the ball five times for 18 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 38-12 preseason win over the Cardinals. He also caught his only target for 14 yards.
Analysis: The rookie running back got the start and saw a healthy workload on his only drive, capping it with a three-yard TD run. Estime appears to be heading into the season as Denver's No. 4 back behind Javonte Williams, Samaje Perine and Jaleel McLaughlin, none of whom played Sunday in the team's preseason finale. Despite that seemingly inhospitable role, Estime could have some fantasy value in 2024 if he becomes the Broncos' short-yardage and goal-line specialist.
Published: Sun, Aug 25 at 5:58pm by Rotowire.com
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Five touches against Packers
Estime rushed four times for 14 yards and caught one of his two targets for seven yards in Sunday's 27-2 preseason win over the Packers.
Analysis: Estime's 15 offensive snaps were the most played by any Broncos running back in the contest. The rookie running back has impressed Denver's coaching staff during training camp due to his physicality as a rusher, so he could be an intriguing option for early-down and goal-line work behind Javonte Williams. Nonetheless, Estime is also competing with Jaleel McLaughlin and Samaje Perine within Denver's backfield rotation. The Notre Dame product will likely see a good deal of work in the Broncos'…read more
Published: Mon, Aug 19 at 8:15pm by Rotowire.com
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Has TD, fumble in NFL debut
Estime rushed 10 times for 31 yards and a touchdown, caught all three of his targets for 13 yards and lost a fumble in Sunday's 34-30 preseason win over the Colts.
Analysis: Estime was the fourth running back into the game for the Broncos after Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin and Samaje Perine all saw action in the first quarter. The rookie fifth-round pick is considered more of a threat to Williams' early-down touches than McLaughlin or Perine's reps in pass-catching situations, though Estime showed himself to be a capable pass catcher by securing all three of his targets Sunday. Estime scored a two-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter but put the ball…read more
Published: Sun, Aug 11 at 1:34pm by Rotowire.com
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Practicing in full
Estime (knee) was a full participant in Wednesday's training camp session, Nick Kosmider of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Estime looks back to full health after missing most of the spring program due to a knee scope. The rookie fifth-round pick has a real opportunity to compete for a meaningful role in the Broncos backfield, which also includes Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin and Samaje Perine. He boasts the size and physical profile to potentially carve out a goal-line role, but it may take until well into the preseason for the delineation of Denver's backfield roles to truly become clear.
Published: Wed, Jul 24 at 3:59pm by Rotowire.com
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Avoids PUP list before camp
Estime (knee) avoided being placed on the active/PUP list by the Broncos prior to the start of training camp Tuesday, Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post reports.
Analysis: Estime missed the majority of the team's offseason program while recovering from a knee scope, but as head coach Sean Payton said earlier in July, the running back appears to be on track to participate immediately at training camp. Estime was selected in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft and will compete with the likes of Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin and Samaje Perine for touches out of the backfield this preseason.
Published: Sun, Jul 21 at 4:50pm by Rotowire.com
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Should be ready for camp
Coach Sean Payton expects Estime (knee) to be "full go" for the start of training camp, Nick Kosmider of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: The rookie fifth-round pick missed most of Denver's offseason program after undergoing a minor knee scope this spring. Kosmider suggests Estime could challenge Javonte Williams for lead-runner duties in an offense that also has Jaleel McLaughlin and Samaje Perine as strong candidates for backfield roles. It'll likely shape up as some form of committee again, with the 227-pound Estime a candidate to provide a power element if Williams fails to regain the explosiveness he showed early in his…read more
Published: Fri, Jul 12 at 8:21am by Rotowire.com
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Undergoes knee scope
Estime underwent a small scope on his knee last week, but he is expected to be ready for training camp, Troy Renck of Denver 7 News reports.
Analysis: Estime is expected to rehab his knee, so he will not be present at OTAs or mandatory minicamp in June. At 5-foot-11, 221 pounds, the Broncos' fifth round pick of this year's draft is projected to bring a physical style to the running back room. Assuming his health is back up to par by training camp, he will presumably be competing with the likes of Samaje Perine, Jaleel McLaughlin, Tyler Badie and Blake Watson for a depth role behind Javonte Williams in this year's backfield.
Published: Thu, May 30 at 2:34pm by Rotowire.com
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