Who Should I Start? Hassan Haskins or Israel Abanikanda

Tuesday, April 29, 12:04 AM

The Athletic's Daniel Popper writes that Los Angeles Chargers running back Hassan Haskins is the leader in the clubhouse for the third running back spot on the 53-man roster this year behind Najee Harris and first-round rookie Omarion Hampton because of his versatility on special teams. Haskins played the third-most special-teams snaps of any Charger last year. Kimani Vidal will have to come to training camp ready to perform to make it more of a competition for the No. 3 job. The 25-year-old Haskins won't be on the fantasy radar in single-year leagues as long as both Harris and Hampton are healthy for the Bolts. The former fourth-rounder by the Tennessee Titans in 2022 out of Michigan had only 34 carries for 89 yards and two touchdowns for L.A. in 17 games last year while also adding three catches for 49 yards and a touchdown.

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.