Who Should I Start? Salvon Ahmed or Israel Abanikanda

Friday, August 8, 7:12 PM

Indianapolis Colts running back Salvon Ahmed (ankle) was taken down by a defender with an illegal hip-drop tackle in training camp practice on Sunday and suffered a season-ending ankle injury, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The Colts placed Ahmed on season-ending Injured Reserve on Friday and have signed former Dolphins RB Nate Noel in a corresponding move. Jonathan Taylor is the unquestioned RB1 in Indy, with Tyler Goodson and rookie DJ Giddens battling for backup duties in 2025. With Ahmed now done for the entire 2025 campaign, it will mean added opportunities for Khalil Herbert, Ulysses Bentley and Noel as they look to make the 53-man roster out of training camp. The 26-year-old Ahmed spent his first four seasons in Miami and had a combined 593 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns on 163 carries over 38 games (four starts).

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.