Who Should I Start? Israel Abanikanda or Julius Chestnut

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, March 19, 3:13 PM

The Tennessee Titans are re-signing running back Julius Chestnut to a one-year contract, according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero. Chestnut signed with Tennessee after going undrafted in 2022 out of Sacred Heart University, and he has contributed on special teams and offense over the last three seasons. Overall, the 24-year-old has logged 31 rushes for 102 yards, five receptions for 52 yards, four tackles, and one fumble recovery in 23 career games. While Chestnut is unlikely to be fantasy-relevant in 2025, the run of unfortunate injury luck for backup running back Tyjae Spears keeps him on the fantasy football radar in the deepest of fantasy football leagues. That said, if the Titans select a running back in the 2025 NFL Draft at any point, Chestnut could be a cut candidate after training camp.