Denver Broncos starting running back Javonte Williams dropped 11 pounds this offseason and coach Sean Payton has said he “looks like a completely different player.” Williams is now fully healthy two years removed from his 2022 knee injury and there’s no debate that he will be Denver’s lead running back this fall.
How the backfield shakes out behind Williams is less certain.
Many fantasy football analysts have been moving second-year running back Jaleel McLaughlin up draft boards this offseason, understandably so. Audric Estime has been overlooked in the hoopla, however, and fantasy managers might regret not considering the rookie’s impact on Denver’s backfield.
Estime, of course, is a better long-term play than an instant-impact fantasy option. The Broncos had a third-round grade on the Notre Dame running back this spring and they were thrilled to land him in the fifth round. With Williams scheduled to become a free agent in 2025, it’s not hard to imagine a future in which Estime is Denver’s starting running back.
That’s more relevant for dynasty fantasy football managers, though. How about redraft leagues?
Estime isn’t more than a late-round flyer at this very moment, but he might eat into McLaughlin’s projected workload more than some pundits expect.
“This [Estime] was a guy when we did all the studies on him, we took 15-yard runs or more — first in his class,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said in June. “Minus runs — sometimes running backs have plays where they don’t [get past the line] — first in his class. Really good vision in the hole. Rarely did you see [him] lose yards.
“He had good feet for someone who is 220 pounds. So I saw runner first and value on where we took him. He was one of those guys that I really — when the draft starts, every once in a while there’s a player you could say, ‘When this thing is all over with, I’d love to have this player.’ Fortunately, we were able to get this player.”
McLaughlin is a speedy change-of-pace back in Payton’s offense, but he still needs to improve as a pass blocker and he only had 31 receptions last fall. He might not be a lock for third-down duties like some expect, especially after Estime showed signs of promise in pass protection during preseason.
Extremely encouraging to see Audric Estime holding up in pass protection. I think it's notable that the Broncos had a third-round grade on Estime and Javonte Williams is scheduled to become a free agent next year. https://t.co/Jdg3bBiSXo
— Jon Heath (@ByJonHeath) August 19, 2024
Estime wasn’t asked to make plays as a receiver out of the backfield often at Notre Dame, but he did average 10.7 yards per reception on a small sample size of 26 catches from 2022-2023.
“We saw potential in it, but we couldn’t say that was the reason why we’re drafting him,” Payton said of Estime’s receiving ability. “A little bit with [Alvin] Kamara, we had a receiver vision until he ran the ball for 52 yards against Arizona, and then very quickly we had a runner vision too. So I think with Audric, we’ll see how that expands. He’s smart, he’s tough and I like his size.”
While his third-down role is still to be determined, Estime’s size (5-11, 227 pounds) immediately makes him a candidate for Denver’s goal-line carries this season. Williams rushed for three touchdowns last fall. McLaughlin rushed for two touchdowns in 2023. NFL and NCAA comparisons obviously aren’t apples to apples, but Estime scored 18 times last fall, and he could easily “steal” short-yardage touchdowns from Williams and McLaughlin this fall.
“Man, that dude Audric has great intensity,” McLaughlin said last month. “He’s playing with that fire and he’s playing with a great mentality. I would say that’s tough to come from college to do. Come with that swagger and that intensity. He’s bringing that fire.
“Especially getting drafted, he’s not taking anything for granted out here on the football field. He’s doing an awesome job, so I’m excited for him. I’m excited to play alongside him as well. The competition here is unbelievable, but that shows the sign of a great team. We’re going to keep working hard.”
In real life, having three capable running backs is great news for Denver’s offense. In fantasy football, it could hurt McLaughlin’s value in 2024. Estime’s standalone value is relatively low going into Week 1, but he shouldn’t be overlooked by fantasy football managers this fall.
