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Dynasty Leagues

Long-term RBs

Audric Estime makes his move in Denver backfield

What do we make of Denver’s backfield? After Thursday night’s game, I would be more inclined to invest in Audric Estime, rather than their two veterans.

Javonte Williams had the big knee injury in 2022, and I’m getting tired of waiting for him to blossom. I’m not sure that’s ever going to happen. He’ll be a free agent in the spring, and I imagine he’ll be signing a modest contract somewhere. I don’t’ think he’s getting beyond being just a contributor somewhere.

Jaleel McLaughlin has some speed and shiftiness; he’s averaged at least 5.9 per carry in five of his last seven games. But he also to me looks more like a contributor than a guy who’ll ever be stacking good numbers week in and week out.

McLaughlin seems like he might be a good pass catcher, given his body type. If they could get him into more of a Darren Sproles type role, then maybe he could be something. But they’ve been unable to get McLaughlin going in the passing game. At all. He’s averaging 3.0 yards per catch. He’s on pace to finish with the lowest YPC average for a running back with 20-plus catches in NFL history.

WORST YARDS-PER-CATCH (RBs, 20-catch min)
YearPlayerRecYdsAvgTD
2024Jaleel McLaughlin, Den.20603.02
2008Chris Perry, Cin.20713.60
1956Fran Rogel, Pitt.23883.80
2022Miles Sanders, Phi.20783.90
2005Rudi Johnson, Cin.23903.90
1997Adrian Murrell, NYJ271063.90
1970Jess Phillips, Cin.311244.01
2006Mike Alstott, T.B.21854.00
2005Cadillac Williams, T.B.20814.10
2024Chuba Hubbard, Car.391584.11
1997Raymont Harris, Chi.281154.10
2013Ben Tate, Hou.341404.10
2023Michael Carter, NYJ-Ari.241014.21
1998Charles Way, NYG311314.21
2016Justin Forsett, 3 tms20854.30
2006Thomas Jones, Chi.361544.30
1997Erric Pegram, S.D.-NYG21904.30
2007Vonta Leach, Hou.251084.32
1981Earl Campbell, Hou.361564.30
2002Fred McCrary, S.D.22964.43

Statistics compiled using search tools at Pro-Football-Reference.com

So I will take the unknowns of what’s behind Curtain No. 3. I liked the way Estime was banging out yards between the tackles on Thursday night. I would rather take a flyer on him for the 2025-27 seasons, rather than another stab at Javonte or McLaughlin.

None of the guys, ultimately, are players I’m counting on to be reliable stat producers. I don’t have any of them in my top 30 at the position for dynasty purposes.

My updated list for running backs follows. (I promised in last week’s issue that I would be doing tight ends, but a reader pointed out that I had missed running backs, and that that was the position that’s gone the longest without attention).

In the following rankings, I’m assuming PPR scoring, and I’ve got rookies tagged with black dots. To see previous editions, use the “past issues” navigation tools.

Last week: Wide receivers

Next week: Tight ends

DYNASTY RUNNING BACKS
RkTmPlayerAge
1.ATLBijan Robinson22.9
2.DETJahmyr Gibbs22.8
3.NYJBreece Hall23.6
4.INDJonathan Taylor25.9
5.LARKyren Williams24.3
6.PHISaquon Barkley27.9
7.GBJosh Jacobs26.9
8.TB• Bucky Irving22.3
9.MIADeVon Achane23.2
10.SEAKenneth Walker24.2
11.BUFJames Cook25.2
12.CINChase Brown24.8
13.HOUJoe Mixon28.4
14.NYG• Tyrone Tracy25.1
15.WASBrian Robinson25.8
16.DETDavid Montgomery27.5
17.KCIsiah Pacheco25.8
18.CARChuba Hubbard25.5
19.NERhamondre Stevenson26.8
20.SFChristian McCaffrey28.5
21.TENTony Pollard27.6
22.PITNajee Harris26.8
23.ARIJames Conner29.6
24.BALDerrick Henry31.0
25.BUF• Ray Davis25.1
26.SF• Isaac Guerendo24.5
27.LACJ.K. Dobbins26.0
28.CHID'Andre Swift25.9
29.MINAaron Jones30.1
30.LAR• Blake Corum24.1
31.DALRico Dowdle26.5
32.ATLTyler Allgeier24.7
33.SEAZach Charbonnet24.0
34.NOAlvin Kamara29.4
35.JACTank Bigsby23.3
36.MIA• Jaylen Wright21.7
37.CLENick Chubb29.0
38.ARI• Trey Benson22.4
39.DEN• Audric Estime21.3
40.NYJ• Braelon Allen20.9
41.JACTravis Etienne25.9
42.PITJaylen Warren26.1
43.TBRachaad White25.9
44.DENJavonte Williams24.7
45.CHIRoschon Johnson23.9
46.CAR• Jonathon Brooks21.4
47.LVSincere McCormick24.3
48.NOKendre Miller22.5
49.PHIKenneth Gainwell25.8
50.CLEJerome Ford25.3
51.TENTyjae Spears23.5
52.DENJaleel McLaughlin24.3
53.WASAustin Ekeler29.6
54.MINCam Akers25.5
55.GB• MarShawn Lloyd24.0
56.NEAntonio Gibson26.5
57.BALJustice Hill27.1
58.SFJordan Mason25.6
59.CINKhalil Herbert26.7
60.CARMiles Sanders27.6
61.NYGDevin Singletary27.3
62.GBEmanuel Wilson25.6
63.NYJ• Isaiah Davis22.8
64.PHI• Will Shipley22.3
65.KCKareem Hunt29.4
66.BUFTy Johnson27.3
67.TBSean Tucker23.2
68.LAC• Kimani Vidal23.3
69.INDTrey Sermon25.9
70.CINZack Moss27.0
71.LVAlexander Mattison26.5
72.SEAKenny McIntosh24.8
73.CLEPierre Strong26.0
74.MIARaheem Mostert32.7
75.WASChris Rodriguez24.2
76.DET• Sione Vaki23.4
77.HOUDameon Pierce24.8
78.SFIsrael Abanikanda22.2
79.INDTyler Goodson24.1
80.GBChris Brooks24.9

—Ian Allan

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