Who Should I Start? Kyren Williams or Israel Abanikanda

Sunday, May 4, 1:58 PM

Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams doesn't think he has reached his ceiling despite back-to-back 1,100-yard rushing seasons. Williams has also added an impressive 26 total touchdowns the last two years. "I don't feel like I've touched my peak yet. I've gotten to where I wanted to be, but I'm determined to make this my best season," Williams said. The 24-year-old former fifth-rounder in 2022 remains hungry for more production as he enters the final year of his rookie deal in 2025 with the Rams. L.A. could involve backup Blake Corum behind Williams more in his second year in the league, but Williams remains the team's unquestioned RB1 as long as he's healthy, and he should be considered a solid midrange RB1 option in fantasy drafts this fall. In 16 regular-season games in 2024, Williams was the RB6 in half-PPR scoring with 1,299 rushing yards and 14 rushing TDs on 316 carries.

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.