The Denver Broncos appear to have made a change in their backfield.
According to coach Sean Payton hinted at last week The rookie said that Audric Estime would be more involved in the second half of the season led the team's running backs in snaps (26), carries (14) and rushing yards (53) against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
“We want to keep him involved,” Payton said after the game. “He’s a handful.”
Estime's performance was modest as he averaged just 3.8 yards per carry, but if he remains the team's primary running back going forward, the rookie will quickly become relevant to fantasy football managers.
“I thought he ran well yesterday,” Payton said Monday. “I thought [Marvin] Mims also gave us some juice. [We’re] I just try to find different roles and different ways to use these players. I was encouraged. He’ll continue to get more reps.”
“It's definitely hard, but I think it will turn me into a monster”
-Broncos RB Audric Estime
— Scotty Gange (@Scotty_G6)
Estime, selected by Denver in the fifth round of this year's NFL draft out of Notre Dame, appears to have overtaken Javonte Williams in the RB rotation. Williams will likely still be involved in passing situations (he's the team's best blocking RB) and Jaleel McLaughlin will still get involved, but Estime appears to be the new RB1.
This week, Estime faces an Atlanta Falcons defense that ranks in the bottom half of the NFL against the run, allowing 4.5 yards per carry and 129.4 rushing yards per game. Attention, fantasy football managers.
