Who Should I Start? Jonathon Brooks or Audric Estimé

Tuesday, February 11, 10:19 PM

Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) will miss most, if not all, of the 2025 season after his second ACL tear in 2024 as a rookie. In addition to Brooks, the Panthers are expected to cut running back Miles Sanders. It's why The Athletic's Joseph Person has the Panthers taking SMU RB Brashard Smith with a fifth-round selection in his 2025 mock draft. Smith could be a nice change-of-pace option behind starter Chuba Hubbard next year in the Panthers' backfield. The 21-year-old Brooks can be avoided in all single-year fantasy drafts this fall after suffering a gruesome injury in his first year in the NFL. Brooks could have a lengthier recovery after already tearing the same ACL in his final collegiate season at the University of Texas. In three games in 2024, Brooks had nine carries for 22 yards and caught all three of his targets for 23 yards.

Saturday, January 11, 10:48 AM

Denver Broncos rookie running back Audric Estime is hard to recommend for fantasy lineups against the Buffalo Bills on wild-card weekend this Sunday as part of a three-man RB committee in Denver that also includes Jaleel McLaughlin and Javonte Williams. Estime did have 12 carries in the Week 18 win over the Kansas City Chiefs -- his second-highest total of the year -- but most of his work came in garbage time in a 38-0 blowout. In his first 13 NFL games in 2024, Estime averaged 4.1 yards per carry and only 5.8 rushing attempts per game. Opportunities are surely to be limited again this weekend in a game the Broncos are nearly 10-point underdogs on the road. The 21-year-old will probably only pay off as a flex play for fantasy managers if he finds the end zone, which he was only able to do twice this year. Estime has little upside as long as he's sharing touches with McLaughlin and Williams.