Most NFL teams have backup plans in case of injury to their primary running backs. Some opt for a timeshare that plays to the strengths of two or three guys. When there’s a clear lead back, many teams make sure they have an understudy waiting for his chance or a veteran with a history as Plan B.
The New York Jets have no such plan. Breece Hall is the clear-cut starter and a first-round fantasy pick. Hall has the potential to be a three-down dominator, but injuries happen in the NFL, and the Jets have three players with a combined 29 NFL touches in six games. There’s no Plan B in New York, except for these three unknowns….
Israel Abanikanda
Abanikanda, a fifth-round rookie in 2023, earned a chance late last year, rushing 22 times for 70 yards and catching seven passes for 43 more. Those are numbers that didn’t impress, but it was enough for the Jets to get rid of Dalvin Cook and Michael Carter.
He has the big-play ability seen on highlight clips when he played at Pitt, but has yet to translate that to the NFL. However, he is the only backup with experience on the roster and has a similar skill set to Hall.
Braelon Allen
A 235-pounder taken in the fourth round in April, Allen may have the most immediate value as a goal-line sniper. He comes to the NFL with 35 rushing touchdowns at Wisconsin and offers something as a receiver, despite averaging just 5.6 yards per catch.
He is a drastic change of pace from Hall but could be valuable if the latter misses a game. His utility with Hall in the lineup may end up being as an occasional short-yardage and/or goal-line spell.
Isaiah Davis
A fifth-round rookie, over his last two seasons at South Dakota State, Davis rushed for 3,029 yards, caught 44 passes for 372 yards, and scored 34 touchdowns. He dominated lesser competition and will likely have a longer adjustment period than Allen. His best scenario is likely being a core special teams players in his first season.
Fantasy football outlook
The current Jets chatter is that Allen would likely be the best suited to be the handcuff for Hall. He’s the highest selected of the three with an ADP in the RB64-66 range. The other two are much farther down the list, largely going undrafted.
That said, the Jets are so all-in on Hall that if he were to go down, they might bring in a veteran street free agent or, if things are going well, make a trade.
There’s a reasonable chance the coaching staff opts for a committee approach. Abanikanda has home-run ability but doesn’t have a track record to get an endorsement. Allen offers burst and bruising ability, whereas Davis is a respectable receiving outlet.
While there’s an argument to be made for not handcuffing any of these guys and using your RB5 slot on a veteran who may be closer to seeing consistent touches, Allen is the smartest one to link with Hall should you go that route.
