Audric Estime

Devin Neal left Week 17 with 14 carries — then Estime took over and never gave the job back.

Devin Neal led the New Orleans backfield through Week 15, then disappeared. Starting Week 17 Estime inherited the full workload — 14 carries for 94 yards and a TD vs Tennessee, followed by 21 carries and 106 scrimmage yards vs Atlanta. Two consecutive games where no other Saint RB recorded more than 2 carries.

Why it matters. Estime didn't earn the starting job through competition — Neal's disappearance handed it to him, making 2026's training camp battle the real audition.

Weeks 17-18 of 2025: 35 carries, 157 yards, 1 TD — back-to-back lead-back workloads.

The Saints worked him in slowly — single-digit touches in Weeks 14-16 — then turned him loose at the end of the year. Week 17 vs Tennessee: 14 carries for 94 yards and a TD, his first 90+ yard game as a pro. Week 18 vs Atlanta: 21 carries and 5 catches for 43 yards, the only 20-carry game of his career.

That's the kind of late-season ramp that tends to translate into a 2026 training-camp competition for the lead back role.

Why it matters. Back-to-back 14+ carry games at the end of a season are the clearest signal an organization is road-testing a new lead back.

In his two seasons, Estime has carried the ball 20+ times in a game exactly once — but averaged 4.1+ YPC every year.

Despite never being the designated starter, Estime has posted 4.1+ yards per carry in both NFL seasons. In Denver he was capped at 14 carries in a single game (Week 10 vs KC, 53 yds) across 13 appearances. In New Orleans, he finally broke the 20-carry barrier in Week 18 — and the YPC actually ticked up to 4.3.

The efficiency without the workload is the argument for 2026 opportunity.

Why it matters. Consistent YPC above 4.0 across two teams and two systems suggests scheme-independent production, not a system product.

Through Week 18 of his second year, Estime sits at 508 career rushing yards — second-most among 2024 Day-3 RBs.

Among 2024 Day-3 rookie RBs, Estime ranks second in career rushing yards (508) behind only Jaylen Wright (537). Wright leads in raw total but Estime has the highest carries-per-game rate (6.8) — he simply had fewer games to accumulate yards in, with 18 appearances vs Wright's 22.

Estime also leads the group in receiving yards (130), ahead of Allen (165 is only receiver with more) and suggesting he can handle a pass-catching role.

Why it matters. Second in class rushing yards with fewer games and a higher per-game carry rate makes the efficiency case without cherry-picking raw totals.

21 carries in Week 18 vs Atlanta — the single biggest workload game of his career.

Week 18 of 2025 vs Atlanta was Estime's first 20-carry game in the NFL — 21 attempts for 63 yards plus 5 catches for 43 receiving yards. 106 scrimmage yards on 26 touches.

His previous carry high was 14 (Week 10 2024 at Kansas City, 53 yds, and again Week 17 2025 vs Tennessee, 94 yds). The Week 18 showing doubled as a receiving role audition — 5 catches on 5 targets — suggesting the Saints were evaluating him as a three-down option, not just a runner.

Why it matters. The 5-catch, 21-carry line signals the Saints were testing a three-down role, not just burning a running back at season's end.