Who Should I Start? Israel Abanikanda or Deon Jackson

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.

Wednesday, August 7, 6:33 PM

The New York Jets have signed running back Deon Jackson while releasing wide receiver Hamze El-Zayat in a related move. Jackson, who worked out with the Texans in July but did not sign a contract, will now compete for a depth role in the Jets' backfield during training camp. A Duke product, Jackson signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2021 and has spent most of his career with them, with brief stints at the Cleveland Browns and Giants last season. In 29 career games (27 with the Colts), he has recorded 283 rushing yards, two touchdowns, and 223 receiving yards. The Jets recently experienced a void at running back following Tarik Cohen's retirement. Jackson will compete with Israel Abanikanda, Braelon Allen, Isaiah Davis, and Xazavian Valladay to back up Breece Hall.