Who Should I Start? Audric Estimé or Isaac Guerendo

Monday, November 4, 12:50 PM

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton said he expects to use rookie running back Audric Estime more down the stretch in 2024. Estime played only 10 percent of the offensive snaps in the Week 9 blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday but had as many carries (five) as Jaleel McLaughlin and was more efficient with 35 rushing yards. The 35 yards on the ground was a season-high for the 21-year-old fifth-round selection out of Notre Dame, and he's been quite efficient with 6.3 yards per carry on his 15 rushing attempts through the first five games of his career. Estime probably still won't be worth adding in 12-team fantasy leagues, but this statement from Payton is surely bad news for McLaughlin, who has averaged 3.9 yards per tote in 2024 after averaging 5.4 yards per carry in his rookie campaign in 2023.

Monday, October 28, 1:19 AM

San Francisco 49ers rookie running back Isaac Guerendo took over for Jordan Mason (shoulder) and performed well in a 30-24 Week 8 home victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night. After Mason left in the first half, Guerendo took almost all of the backfield carries, finishing with 14 carries for 85 yards and a touchdown. The performance solidified Guerendo as a viable fantasy starter when given the chance. In two games this year with Christian McCaffrey (Achilles) and Mason out, Guerendo has taken 24 carries for 184 yards and a touchdown with minimal backfield competition from the fourth-string Patrick Taylor Jr. However, Guerendo's fantasy value as a handcuff is likely to crash on the other side of a Week 9 bye as both Mason and McCaffrey could return for a Week 10 trip to Tampa Bay. For as good as Guerendo has looked, San Francisco's rushing game has strictly supported one running back in fantasy dating back to 2023.