Who Should I Start? Audric Estime or Phil Mafah

Wednesday, November 5, 3:13 PM

The New Orleans Saints signed running back Audric Estime to their active 53-man roster on Wednesday from the practice squad, according to Katherine Terrell of ESPN. Estime didn't make the Denver Broncos' final roster out of training camp and then latched on with the Saints' practice squad late last month. The 22-year-old will be active for the first time in 2025 when the Saints take on the division-rival Carolina Panthers in Week 10, now that Kendre Miller (knee) is out for the year with a torn ACL. Estime will operate as the No. 3 running back for New Orleans, so he won't have any fantasy value for the time being behind starter Alvin Kamara and rookie Devin Neal. In his rookie season with Denver last year, Estime had 76 rushing attempts for 310 yards (4.1 yards per carry) and two touchdowns while adding five catches for 27 yards in 13 regular-season games.

Sunday, August 31, 4:05 PM

Dallas Cowboys rookie running back Phil Mafah (shoulder) has been placed on injured reserve, sidelining him for at least the first four games of the regular season with a shoulder injury suffered in the preseason finale. The seventh-round pick out of Clemson showed flashes in the preseason with 15 carries for 59 yards and a touchdown, good for a solid 3.9 yards per carry. Standing six-foot and weighing 234 pounds, Mafah's big-bodied, between-the-tackles style was impressive in his final college season, rushing for 1,115 yards and eight touchdowns. His placement on IR is a setback, but with the Cowboys' current running back situation, a potential revolving door of Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, and Jaydon Blue, Mafah remains a potential contributor later in the season. He is worth a roster spot in deeper dynasty leagues. Still, his fantasy value will stay uncertain until he returns to full health and the backfield situation becomes clearer throughout the season.