Braelon Allen's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh expressed his enthusiasm for the running back room, noting its significant improvement since his first year with the team. He described rookie Braelon Allen as a "very heavy runner," mentioning that it's "painful" for other players to try to tackle him. Allen, starting in place of the sidelined Breece Hall, rushed for 54 yards on six carries in his preseason debut. He also demonstrated his pass-blocking skills and looked promising as a receiver, though his only catch was nullified by an ineligible man downfield. Despite playing only one half, Allen did more to boost his stock than any other player on the roster. Entering the game as the leading candidate for the RB2 role, the Wisconsin product solidified his position as the top contender for that spot this summer. He looks like the ideal handcuff to roster if you select Hall in the first round of fantasy drafts.

New York Jets running back Braelon Allen staked his claim as the team's top backup to starter Breece Hall in Saturday's preseason win over the visiting Washington Commanders at MetLife Stadium, rushing six times for a team-high 54 yards in the victory. Allen had a long run of 24 yards on Saturday afternoon against the Commanders, showcasing plenty of strength with his 235-pound frame. The 20-year-old power back out of Wisconsin was drafted by the Jets in the fourth round of this past spring's NFL Draft, and while he isn't likely to make a big impact in the receiving game, Allen sure looks like the handcuff to roster in fantasy leagues in New York's backfield over Israel Abanikanda and Isaiah Davis behind Hall at the moment. His next chance to impress arrives next Saturday against the hosting Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium.

New York Jets rookie running back Braelon Allen was listed as the top backup to Breece Hall on the team's first unofficial depth chart of the preseason on Monday. Allen was not really known for his pass-catching skills at Wisconsin, but he impressed the coaching staff in that regard in spring practices and early in training camp, so he currently has the leg up over fellow rookie Isaiah Davis and former fifth-rounder Israel Abanikanda for the RB2 role to open the 2024 season for the Jets. The 20-year-old fourth-round selection is currently the best handcuff option in deeper fantasy leagues for those that take Hall as their RB1 in fantasy. We'll be keeping a close eye on how Allen performs in the preseason as he looks to retain the RB2 role ahead of Week 1.

New York Jets rookie running back Braelon Allen has been one of the biggest standouts at organized team activities open to the media, especially because of his emergence as a legitimate option as a pass-catcher. Most of his catches had been coming on short throws out of the backfield until Tuesday, when he hauled in a deep 50/50 ball from Tyrod Taylor. He caught only 49 passes in his career at Wisconsin, but pass-catching should be a bigger part of his game at the next level, and he'll get plenty of passing-down reps because of his skills in pass protection. The 20-year-old is the clear front-runner for the No. 2 job as Breece Hall's direct backup in 2024, while fifth-rounder Isaiah Davis has also been getting a lot of work in the passing game. Israel Abanikanda seems to have fallen down the depth chart. Allen's stock is slowly rising in rookie-only drafts, especially for those that already have Hall.

New York Jets rookie running back Braelon Allen is the early favorite to be Breece Hall's primary backup in 2024, according to Zack Rosenblatt of the Athletic. "He's known for his ability in pass protection but also flashed as a receiver on Wednesday, getting open against linebackers in coverage." Rosenblatt wrote. "He showed some shiftiness after the catch too." Allen was once viewed as a potential contender for the RB1 in the class of 2024, but he regressed following his freshman season. The 6-foot-1, 235-pound Wisconsin product posted 1,307 yards from scrimmage and 12 total touchdowns while averaging 6.8 yards per attempt as a 17-year-old freshman, but he fell to a 5.4 yards-per-carry clip in his junior season and fell short of 1,200 yards from scrimmage. This likely led to him falling to the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Either way, he looks to be the leader for the RB2 job, making him worth stashing as Hall's "handcuff" in 2024. If New York's offense turns things around with a healthy Aaron Rodgers, Allen could have a few spike weeks in his rookie campaign.