Saints Place RB Audric Estime on IR Before Lions Opener

Saints Move Audric Estime to IR

The Saints announced a handful of roster moves ahead of Sunday's opener against the Lions, and the headline is running back Audric Estime landing on injured reserve. The IR designation rules him out for the game as New Orleans finalizes its roster for Week 1.

What It Means for Your Survivor Pick

One backfield depth move doesn't reshape the entire survivor board, but it's a reason to slow down on the Saints. Losing a running back to IR before the opener thins New Orleans' depth against a Lions team that will command attention on the other sideline, and the payload doesn't give us any indication the Saints are favored here. For survivor purposes, that uncertainty is enough to steer clear — there's no structured game data to lean on, and you're better off building your ticket around teams with clearer edges. If you're still weighing your options, our survivor analysis blog can help you sort the safe plays from the traps, and if you haven't locked in yet, you can start a free survivor pool to run your picks.

Bottom line: file the Estime IR move as a note, not a green light. New Orleans isn't the confident survivor play this week.