Denver Broncos rookie running back Audric Estime set to miss a minimum of four weeks with ankle injury.
Broncos rookie running back Audric Estime is not eligible to return until week six after suffering an ankle injury in his week one debut against the Seattle Seahawks but the actual length of time set to miss is unknown. He had a rough start to his NFL career after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery, forcing him to miss OTAs and mandatory minicamp and it has taken a turn for the worse after a disastrous week one. He took two carries for 14 yards including losing a fumble on his first career carry and also sustaining an ankle injury.
Estime always had a tough path to relevancy his rookie season and that path just became incredibly more difficult. If everything fell the right way for Estime, he could’ve shown flashes early on and hopefully taken over the starting job for the fantasy playoff push. However, time and opportunity is what he needed to prove himself and this injury takes both of those away. If you have an open IR spot go ahead and stash Estime to see what happens down the road but if not feel safe dropping him in redraft leagues. Estime’s injury opens the door for Javonte Williams to receive the bulk of the carries as the Broncos don’t have another running back currently on the roster who profiles as a between the tackles runner like Williams and Estime. It may provide a small uptick in the usage of Jaleel McLaughlin and Blake Watson but expect Javonte Williams to be the primary beneficiary of the Estime injury.
Denver Broncos rookie running back Audric Estime will ...
Denver Broncos running back Audric Estime made his return ...
Barring a setback, signs are pointing toward Denver Broncos ...
Audric Estime is catching attention as a promising option in the Denver Broncos’ backfield.
Audric Estime is catching attention as a promising option in the Denver Broncos’ backfield. Despite initial worries about his speed, Estime’s standout college career at Notre Dame speaks volumes: he racked up 18 touchdowns and over 1,300 rushing yards. His strong metrics in areas like yards after contact and explosiveness highlight his potential as a future star. Picked in the fifth round, Estime’s size and skills make him a sleeper in the Broncos’ running back competition. Although Javonte Williams is currently the top choice, Coach Sean Payton’s support of Estime competing for early-down snaps shows his fantasy value. With his ability as a receiver and blocker, Estime is an intriguing late-round pick or waiver wire target in dynasty leagues, offering long-term potential if he secures a key role in Denver.
Broncos Head Coach Sean Payton confirmed Estime is fully recovered for training camp after a minor knee procedure, setting up a heated battle with Javonte Williams. Despite Williams coming back from a serious knee injury, Estime’s impressive 6.2 yards per carry average at Notre Dame suggests he’s ready to vie for the starting spot. While Williams remains a solid option, especially in a rotational role, Estime’s performance in preseason will determine his role come Week 1. Fantasy gamers should keep a close eye on this situation, as Estime’s rising stock could make him a valuable late-round steal with significant upside in the upcoming season
Estime will be more a polarizing prospect after the NFL combine based on his results.
Audric Estime ran a 4.71 for his 40-yard dash, which was slower than expected and the last among running backs who participated at the combine.
For his other testing, he posted a vertical jump of 38 inches and a broad jump of 10 feet 5 inches. Both of these fall in the 90th percentile for his position and indicate high end explosiveness.
Estime has solid size and brings good production from his time at Notre Dame. Fantasy Managers will want to keep an eye on his draft capital and landing spot before spending Fantasy draft capital on him after a mixed combine performance.
