Who Should I Start? Audric Estimé or Demond Claiborne


Week 4 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Audric Estimé News

Audric Estime Placed on Injured Reserve

Saturday, September 12, 10:36 AM

New Orleans Saints running back Audric Estime (thigh) has been placed on injured reserve, according to Ross Jackson. The Saints later announced the move Saturday. Estime did not practice Wednesday, Thursday or Friday and had already been ruled out for Sunday's opener against Detroit. Now he will miss at least four games. His path to touches was already pretty narrow. New Orleans lists Travis Etienne Jr. and Alvin Kamara together atop the backfield, with Kendre Miller ahead of Estime as well. Estime did get a chance late last season, finishing 2025 with 301 scrimmage yards and one touchdown on 58 touches across seven games. The Saints elevated rookie CJ Donaldson from the practice squad for Sunday, giving them another option while Estime is out. There wasn't much redraft value here before the move, and the IR stint makes Estime a player who can be left on waivers outside deeper dynasty leagues.


Week 4 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
2.0 9.9 0.1 0.3 1.9 0.0

Demond Claiborne News

Demond Claiborne a Short-Term Handcuff Option in Deep Leagues

Tuesday, September 29, 2:55 PM

Minnesota Vikings rookie running back Demond Claiborne was thrust into a bigger role when the team put Jordan Mason (thumb) on Injured Reserve last week. However, the Vikings have been hesitant to put too much on the sixth-rounder out of Wake Forest's plate early in his first season in the NFL, and that showed in the Vikings' Week 3 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 22-year-old only played three offensive snaps and had three rushing attempts for just one yard, while both Max Bredson and DeeJay Dallas out-snapped him behind starter Aaron Jones Sr. Claiborne's role could grow over the next couple of weeks, though, and Mason will miss at least three more games while on IR. In Claiborne's NFL debut in the Week 2 victory over the division-rival Chicago Bears, he had just one reception for a gain of two yards. At best, Claiborne is a short-term handcuff option for fantasy managers who have Jones rostered, but once Mason returns from his thumb injury, Claiborne will be buried on Minnesota's RB depth chart again. He is currently rostered in only 2% of Yahoo leagues.


Audric Estimé vs. Demond Claiborne

Still trying to decide between Estimé and Claiborne? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Audric Estimé is projected to score 0.0 points this week while Demond Claiborne is projected to score 2.0 points.