Who Should I Start? Israel Abanikanda or Kenny McIntosh

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, September 20, 10:08 PM

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenny McIntosh was a non-factor behind Zach Charbonnet in Week 2. While the Seahawks use Charbonnet behind Kenneth Walker III (oblique) when Walker is healthy, Week 2 indicated that Charbonnet will be a true workhorse back when Walker is injured. McIntosh may see a few snaps, but he will not see enough volume to merit a fantasy start.