This week, the New Orleans Saints host the 3-11 New York Jets in Week 16 of the 2025 NFL season—a game with significant draft-position implications. The player to watch for this matchup filled in seamlessly
and impressed after being forced to step up in a depleted backfield: RB Audric Estime.
With Alvin Kamara missing the past three games while nursing a knee injury and Devin Neal exiting Sunday’s matchup against the Carolina Panthers early with a hamstring injury, former Denver Broncos fifth-round draft pick Audric Estime handled the majority of the workload the rest of the game—and delivered when it mattered most.
The 22-year-old finished with three rushing attempts for 11 yards and a first-down conversion on the ground, while adding three receptions on three targets for 39 yards and a first-down conversion through the air. He earned a 78.9 overall receiving grade from Pro Football Focus and served as a reliable safety valve for Tyler Shough in the screen game, playing a big role in the Saints’ 17-play, 95-yard touchdown drive. Estime has also been effective in pass protection, posting a 79.0 overall pass-blocking grade against Carolina.
If both Kamara and Neal are unable to suit up Sunday against New York, expect a hefty workload for Estime
