Who Should I Start? Israel Abanikanda or Chris Rodriguez Jr.

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.

Friday, December 13, 5:30 PM

Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. will look to claim the No. 2 role behind Brian Robinson Jr. this weekend but is not a viable option in standard formats facing the New Orleans Saints. In Week 13 with Austin Ekeler (concussion) sitting out, Rodriguez logged seven more carries than the presumed No. 2 option Jeremy McNichols. Rodriguez performed very well, averaging just over 7.0 yards per carry in that contest and even added a late goal-line touchdown. While Rodriguez could see opportunities late in the game if the Commanders have a sizeable lead, fantasy managers should only view the 24-year-old as a high-risk flex option in deep 14-plus-team formats, as Robinson will see most of the work on the afternoon.