Who Should I Start? Ameer Abdullah or Israel Abanikanda

Sunday, December 21, 8:24 AM

Indianapolis Colts running back Ameer Abdullah saw his highest usage of the season during last week's loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Abdullah was basically a non-factor all season until getting nine touches in last week's defeat. Adbullah rushed the ball four times for 15 yards, while hauling in five receptions for 32 additional yards through the air. It appears Abdullah is going to benefit by having Philip Rivers under center in Indy, as the veteran QB looked his way quite often in the short passing game. Given his success last week, the Colts are likely going to continue using Adbullah in short-yardage situations as a check-down option for Rivers. There could be some flex appeal in deep PPR leagues for Abdullah ahead of this Monday Night matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, given that they allowed Tony Pollard to total 18.2 PPR points last week.

Monday, September 9, 7:44 PM

New York Jets running back Israel Abanikanda is a healthy scratch for the team's Week 1 regular-season opener at Levi's Stadium on Monday night against the San Francisco 49ers. Abanikanda enters the 2024 season as the team's RB4 behind starter and bell-cow Breece Hall and rookies Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis. As such, the 21-year-old is obviously off the fantasy radar in most single-year leagues for the time being unless injuries push him into a relevant game-day role. The former fifth-round pick out of Pittsburgh last year was also buried on the depth chart in his rookie season and finished with 22 carries for 70 yards while catching seven passes for 43 yards in only six games. Abanikanda has breakaway speed but is once again buried on the depth chart and will have to wait for his opportunity beyond Week 1.