Israel Abanikanda's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

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.

New York Jets running back Israel Abanikanda picked up 83 yards with a touchdown in Saturday night's preseason win over the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium, doing so on only nine carries in the victory. He added a six-yard reception. Abanikanda shed multiple tackles on his way to the end zone in the second quarter, rushing 45 yards down the field for the score. The 21-year-old former fifth-round pick may have locked down a spot on New York's final 53-man roster ahead of the regular season with Saturday's performance against the Giants, but he'll likely slot in as the Jets' No. 4 option in the backfield behind workhorse starter Breece Hall, considering rookies Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis were held out of action in this one.

New York Jets running back Israel Abanikanda led the team with 29 rushing yards in Saturday's preseason victory over the hosting Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Abanikanda handled six carries in Saturday's win over the Panthers, rushing for 12 yards on his longest pickup. Abanikanda, a 2023 fifth-round pick out of Pittsburgh, should be able to make New York's roster as a third- or fourth-string back behind workhorse starter Breece Hall and rookie fourth-rounder Braelon Allen this season, but he's likely to need a number of variables to fall into his favor in order to muster fantasy relevance in 2024. Next Saturday's preseason finale in the Meadowlands against the New York Giants will be Abanikanda's final chance to establish his role on the Jets.

New York Jets running back Israel Abanikanda found the end zone in Saturday's preseason win over the visiting Washington Commanders in East Rutherford, but he only produced 17 yards on his six rushing attempts in the victory. He added an eight-yard reception. Abanikanda rushed up the middle in the fourth quarter, plunging his way into the end zone from two yards out to tie the game at 17 points apiece on Saturday afternoon against Washington. Around this time last year, Abanikanda lost a lot of handcuff upside to starter Breece Hall when the Jets signed veteran Dalvin Cook. This time around, however, the 21-year-old former Pittsburgh standout has a better chance of carving out a change-of-pace role in New York's backfield, but rookie fourth-rounder Braelon Allen poses a big obstacle after impressing on Saturday.

New York Jets running back Israel Abanikanda did not get any reps with the first-team or second-team offense during Friday's OTAs, according to Jets reporter Brandyn Pokrass. Pokrass said he is falling down the depth chart and could be a cut or trade candidate this offseason. Following Abanikanda's 1431-yard, 20-touchdown rushing season in 2022 at Pittsburgh, he was selected by New York in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. As a rookie, he rushed just six times for 22 yards and caught six passes for 11 yards. After New York drafted Wisconsin running back Braelon Allen (fourth round) and South Dakota State running back Isaiah Davis (fifth round) in April's draft, the writing was on the wall for the 21-year-old speedster. Fantasy managers in deep dynasty leagues can consider continuing to stash Abanikanda, but he's unlikely to make an impact in 2024.