Who Should I Start? Israel Abanikanda or Emani Bailey

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.

Saturday, August 31, 6:42 PM

Kansas City Chiefs running back Emani Bailey has been cut by the organization on Friday. The team has decided to move on from the 22-year-old to make room for quarterback Bailey Zappe on their practice squad. Bailey failed to impress during his time with the Chiefs during the preseason. He rushed 10 times for 29 yards and caught one pass in three games. The Chiefs decided to stick with Carson Steele as their No. 4 back instead of Bailey. The undrafted back will now look to catch on elsewhere before the season begins.