Who Should I Start? Jaylen Warren or Braelon Allen

Friday, September 5, 6:11 PM

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren will begin his first campaign as the team's featured ballcarrier in a road bout with the New York Jets. Warren thrived in a complementary role through his first three seasons, averaging 4.8 yards per tote while adding 127 receptions. Although he is expected to lead Pittsburgh's backfield ahead of rookie Kaleb Johnson, Warren will be tested by a solid New York defense. The Jets shut down running backs in the passing game and held the position to the fifth-fewest yards per carry in 2024. This is expected to be a low-scoring affair, so while Warren doesn't offer extreme upside, he can be started as a volume-based RB2 or flex option in Week 1.

Sunday, August 31, 5:58 PM

New York Jets running back Braelon Allen feels that he has a lot left to prove, according to an interview he conducted with Steve Serby of the New York Post. "I felt like I was the best running back in [the 2024] draft, and I still do," Allen said. "I have a lot left to prove, not even to the outside world but still people in this locker room and people in this building and to myself. Last year, I kind of gotta flush it, forget about it, but that still drives me." In 2024, Allen totaled 334 rushing yards, 148 receiving yards, and three touchdowns. He enters his second NFL season with a chance to carve out an even larger role in the Jets' offense. There's a growing sense that New York may look to reduce Breece Hall's workload, which could lead to additional opportunities for Allen and Isaiah Davis. Still, those opportunities will have to be earned, and Allen sounds dedicated to proving himself to his teammates, the Jets' front office and coaching staff, and the rest of the league. He's currently being drafted 101st in Yahoo leagues, which ranks 33rd among running backs. That price tag seems a little steep when you consider that Allen is the overall RB39 in this year's RotoBaller fantasy draft rankings.