Who Should I Start? Patrick Taylor Jr. or Audric Estime

Wednesday, August 20, 9:56 AM

The San Francisco 49ers have placed veteran running back Patrick Taylor Jr. (shoulder) on the season-ending injured reserve list. Taylor suffered a dislocated shoulder in the team's second preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders, and he joins the growing list of 49ers running backs struck by injury. While presumed backup Isaac Guerendo (shoulder) was able to return to practice on Tuesday after missing several weeks with a shoulder injury of his own, the team has already lost Ameer Abdullah (ribs) for the season. Rookie Jordan James has already missed a few weeks due to a broken finger. After trading Jordan Mason to the Minnesota Vikings, the 49ers' running back depth has been seriously tested already, which is the last thing the team needs in their efforts to keep All-Pro Christian McCaffrey healthy. Jeff Wilson Jr. and Ke'Shawn Vaughn will likely see the majority of work in the team's final preseason game. If he can remain healthy, McCaffrey once more enters the year as perhaps the biggest difference maker in fantasy football. Still, given his checkered injury history, Guerendo is one of the league's most important backups to roster.

Wednesday, August 27, 5:32 PM

The Philadelphia Eagles signed former Denver Broncos running back Audric Estime to their practice squad on Wednesday, sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. Estime was on the open market after failing to make the Broncos' 53-man roster in a backfield that includes rookie RJ Harvey, veteran J.K. Dobbins, Jaleel McLaughlin and Tyler Badie. In Philadelphia, he'll start on the practice squad for the reigning Super Bowl champions while providing depth behind Saquon Barkley, Will Shipley and AJ Dillon. He's still very young at 21 years old and was selected in the fifth round (147th overall) last year out of Notre Dame. Estime got a little bit of run in his first NFL season with Denver, carrying the ball 76 times for 310 yards (4.1 yards per carry) and two touchdowns in 13 regular-season games (one start). He can be avoided in all fantasy leagues for now.