Who Should I Start? Israel Abanikanda or Kene Nwangwu

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, November 30, 7:32 PM

New York Jets running back Kene Nwangwu has been elevated from the practice squad ahead of the Week 13 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. This is noteworthy because lead back Breece Hall (knee) is currently considered questionable for this game. The move to bring up Nwangwu could mean that Hall is headed in the wrong direction. If Hall sits, Braelon Allen would become the lead back with Isaiah Davis likely mixed in as well. Nwangwu probably wouldn't see any snaps, but is coming up as added insurance in the backfield.