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.

Saturday, January 4, 4:29 PM

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenny McIntosh remains the backup to Zach Charbonnet heading into Sunday's Week 18 contest against the Los Angeles Rams. McIntosh played just 25 percent of the offensive snaps last week, rushing seven times for 46 yards on the ground. He was highly efficient but took a backseat to Charbonnet, as expected. McIntosh's efficiency could earn him some extra snaps against the Rams, but he's still expected to be the clear No. 2 option behind Charbonnet. The 24-year-old ranks as a low-end RB4 ahead of his matchup against a Rams defense allowing the 11th-most rushing yards to opposing running backs in 2024.