Who Should I Start? Israel Abanikanda or Sean Tucker

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, December 13, 5:08 PM

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Sean Tucker moved into the No. 2 role in the backfield after Bucky Irving (hip, back) went down early during last week's game. Rachaad White took over as the lead back and looked great with a two-score performance. However, Tucker didn't do much as he rushed three times for 47 yards and finished with zero receptions on two targets. There is a chance that Irving does sit in Week 15, which would mean Tucker moves into the No. 2 role once again. Fantasy managers shouldn't get too excited about that considering Tucker only saw three rushing attempts last week. Tucker is too risky of a streaming choice to start in important fantasy games this weekend.