Who Should I Start? Clyde Edwards-Helaire or Israel Abanikanda

Saturday, November 1, 2:09 PM

The Kansas City Chiefs have elevated running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire from their practice squad for the team's Week 9 matchup against the Buffalo Bills. With running back Isiah Pacheco (knee) out, Edwards-Helaire will give the Chiefs a little extra depth in their running back room. Veteran back Kareem Hunt should be expected to serve as the team's early-down and goal-line rusher, with rookie Brashard Smith mixing in in a gadget and passing-downs role. However, both Edwards-Helaire and Elijah Mitchell could steal a few touches away from Hunt and Smith. Edwards-Helaire has not appeared in a game yet this season. Across two games for the New Orleans Saints in 2024, he recorded 70 scrimmage yards on 16 touches. Edwards-Helaire should remain off fantasy radars heading into Week 9.

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.