Who Should I Start? Michael Burton or Israel Abanikanda

Wednesday, March 26, 2:35 PM

The Denver Broncos are re-signing fullback Michael Burton for the 2025 campaign, according to team reporter Zac Stevens. Burton was originally a fifth-round pick by the Detroit Lions in 2015 out of Rutgers and has spent time with the Lions, Bears, Saints, Redskins, Chiefs, and Broncos. He reunited with Sean Payton in Denver in 2023 and is back for his third season with the organization. The 33-year-old is primarily utilized as a pure blocker, but he has compiled 42 carries for 79 yards and two touchdowns in 147 career games. He's hauled in 31 receptions for 196 yards and two scores as a receiver. In 2025, he could be blocking for a highly-drafted rookie running back like North Carolina's Omarion Hampton or Ohio State's TreVeyon Henderson.

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.