Take note, fantasy football managers.
During his conference call with reporters on Monday, Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton was asked if rookie running back Audric Estime could get a bigger workload in the second half of the season.
“I think that’s a good and fair question, and one that I think I would answer, ‘Yes,'” Payton said.
Estime (5-11, 227 pounds) was picked by the Broncos in the fifth round of this year’s NFL draft out of Notre Dame. He spent four weeks on injured reserve earlier this season with an ankle injury and he had some hiccups with two fumbles, but Estime’s stock is now trending up.
The rookie got five carries on Sunday, tying his career high. That’s certainly not a big number, but it could increase in the coming weeks.
On a small sample size of 15 carries, Estime has a better yards per carry average (6.3) than starter Javonte Williams (3.8) and change-of-pace back Jaleel McLaughlin (3.9). Estime’s average will likely go down with a larger sample size, but the rookie has earned more opportunities.
Estime is probably worth stashing on your fantasy football bench in case his workload does increase down the stretch.
