Audric

Estime

Playing out the string for the Saints’ injury-ruined backfield, Estime reached 100 yards from scrimmage for the first time in his career after posting 98 the week before. Not a bad end to the year for a player who spent the first half of the season on practice squads. Still only 22 years old, Estime is buying himself time to get established in the NFL, but he still probably mostly profiles as a special teamer if he’s going to make a 53-man roster out of camp. Considering the Saints’ issues at running back, it could very well be in New Orleans.

The team opted not to place Kamara on injured reserve, though he has been sidelined since Week 12. Unless something drastic occurs, Saints RB Audric Estime will start in Kamara’s stead against the Falcons on Sunday. Both teams have been eliminated from the playoffs, but it still gives coaches a chance to evaluate key players one last time.

Kamara has neither practiced nor played since spraining his MCL in Week 12. He was already dealing with an ankle injury at that time. We expect him to remain sidelined in Week 18 against the Falcons. Saints RB Audric Estime will again operate as the team’s starter.

Estime ceded the first carry of the day to Taysom Hill. After Hill easily out-carried him last week, it looked like that would be the case again versus Tennessee. The Saints quickly threw in the towel on Hill and handed the backfield over to Estime. He punctuated a solid day with a 32-yard sprint into the end zone in the fourth quarter. The touchdown gave New Orleans an eight-point lead that Tennessee never erased. Estime should hold this role into Week 18, giving him some RB2 juice versus the Falcons.

This leaves RB Audric Estime as the nominal starter, though TE Taysom Hill logged 16 touches to Estime’s eight last week. The Saints apparently wanted to feature Hill in Week 16, in what could be his final home game as a Saint. Projecting each player’s Week 17 role is difficult. Neither one should be considered a confident play, though the Titans’ defense is unimposing.

Taysom Hill, naturally, led the New Orleans backfield with 12 rushing attempts while Audrice Estime had five carries. Hull ran just 10 routes on the day and was not targeted while Estime ran 34 routes and had three grabs on four targets from Tyler Shough. Hull won’t be fantasy viable in Week 17 against the Titans.

Estime was widely believed to be the Saints’ No. 1 back headed into Week 16 with Devin Neal and Alvin Kamara sidelined with injuries. But it was gadget player Taysom Hill who easily led the New Orleans backfield with 12 rushes for 42 yards, including all of the goal line work. Estime had sold pass game usage, running a pass route on 34 of the Saints’ 55 drop backs on the day. RB Evan Hull ran ten routes and was not targeted. Estime should be considered a deep league flex play in Week 17 against the Titans.

Hill, functioning as the centerpiece of the New Orleans offense, also threw a touchdown to Chris Olave — a 38 yard strike up the seam to put the game away against an overmatched Jets team. Hill easily led the Saints offense with his 12 rushing attempts; Audric Estime had five carries for 19 yards while Evan Hull had three yards on five rushes. Hill’s stat line could have looked even better if he hadn’t had a 20-yard receiving score called back on a holding penalty. With Alvin Kamara (knee, ankle) and Devin Neal sidelined, it’s clear the Saints see Hill as their No. 1 backfield option for now. Hill’s tight end eligibility will make him something close to a must-play option in Week 17 against the Titans, assuming Kamara does not suit up.

Audric Estime is expected to function as the Saints’ lead back against the Jets with Kamara sidelined, though Evan Hull will mix in on passing downs. Estime can be played as a touchdown-dependent flex option in 12-team leagues while Hull is a desperation play in deeper formats.

Kamara has not played since Week 12, and the Saints placed his backup, RB Devin Neal, on injured reserve with a hamstring injury this week. New Orleans Football’s Nick Underhill believes RB Audric Estime will “probably” start this week against the Jets. He did not pan out as a fifth-round draft pick with the Broncos, but he flashed intriguing traits last week could receive the requisite touch volume for FLEX viability.