Who Should I Start? Israel Abanikanda or Bam Knight

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.

Sunday, August 24, 8:09 AM

Arizona Cardinals running back Bam Knight saved his best game for last in the preseason victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday. The 24-year-old led all rushers in yards and touchdowns after he registered 83 yards on five carries and a big 67-yard touchdown run. Knight was able to find a hole right up the middle and break away from the Raiders' defense at the end of the third quarter. There hasn't been any official word on the depth chart yet, but Knight could have put plenty of pressure on Emari Demercado and DeeJay Dallas for the final RB spot.