The Jets drafted Abanikanda in the fifth round, and he could be a surprise Fantasy option if the top backs on the Jets deal with injury again this season. With Breece Hall coming back from last year's torn ACL, Abanikanda will compete with Michael Carter to be No. 3 on the depth chart until Hall returns. However, the Jets signed Dalvin Cook in mid-August, a move that will likely remove any upside Abanikanda had in redraft leagues. In 2022 at Pitt, Abanikanda had 239 carries for 1,431 yards and 20 touchdowns and 12 catches for 146 yards and a touchdown. In rookie-only drafts for Dynasty leagues, Abanikanda is worth selecting with a second-round pick.
Abanikanda (illness) is active for Sunday's game against the Falcons.
Since the Jets waived Michael Carter on Nov. 14, Abanikanda has moved up to the third spot on the depth chart at running back. The rookie fifth-round pick out of Pittsburgh carried once for 11 yards and added a five-yard reception in a Week 11 loss to the Bills, but he didn't see any snaps in the Jets' Week 12 loss to the Dolphins. Though he's seemingly moved past the illness that resulted in him taking a questionable tag into the weekend, Abanikanda may not be guaranteed much more than garbage-time snaps against the Falcons while both Breece Hall (hamstring) and Dalvin Cook (shoulder) are available.
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Jets' Israel Abanikanda: Questionable for Sunday
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Abanikanda (illness) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's game against the Falcons, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.
The rookie running back out of Pittsburgh seems to be trending in the right direction to play Sunday, as he was able to log a limited practice session Friday after recording consecutive DNPs to begin the Jets' week of practice. Abanikanda's injury status will be something to look out for, as Dalvin Cook (shoulder) is also listed as questionable for Week 13's contest.
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Jets' Israel Abanikanda: Two touches in NFL debut
Rotowire
Abanikanda made his NFL debut in Sunday's 32-6 loss to the Bills, rushing once for 11 yards and adding one catch for five yards on two targets. He also returned one kickoff for 19 yards.
Abanikanda is third on the running back depth chart behind Breece Hall and Dalvin Cook, but with the game out of hand late, the 2023 fifth-round pick out of Pittsburgh got the opportunity to get his feet wet. While Abanikanda's breakaway speed could help him become a big-play threat as his career develops, his lack of touches coupled with the ineffective play of the Jets' injury-riddled offensive line limits his short-term appeal.
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Jets' Israel Abanikanda: Won't debut Monday
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Abanikanda (coach's decision) is inactive for Monday's game against the Bills.
Abanikanda was able to clear the Jets' injury report Thursday after dealing with a thigh contusion but will not play in the season opener. He's buried on the depth chart behind Dalvin Cook, Breece Hall and Michael Carter and will have to wait until at least Week 2 against the Cowboys to make his debut.
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Jets' Israel Abanikanda: Returning to practice
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Abanikanda (thigh) is slated to practice Tuesday, Eric Allen of the Jets' official site reports.
Coach Robert Saleh noted his surprise at how quickly Abanikanda was able to bounce back from a thigh contusion. Now that the 2023 fifth-rounder is back on the field, he'll gear up for Week 1 action, at which time he's slated to work in a depth role behind Breece Hall (knee), Dalvin Cook (shoulder) and Michael Carter.
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Jets' Israel Abanikanda: Suffers thigh injury Saturday
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Abanikanda won't return to Saturday's preseason contest against the Buccaneers due to a thigh injury.
Abanikanda appeared to suffer a knee-to-knee injury with one of his offensive linemen, but the Jets confirmed its nature not long after he was helped off the field and carted to the locker room. Considering he couldn't put any weight on his right leg, the rookie fifth-round pick seems slated for an absence of some type. New York held Breece Hall (knee), newcomer Dalvin Cook (shoulder) and Michael Carter out Saturday, which leaves Zonovan Knight and Travis Dye as the team's only healthy and available running backs.
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Jets' Israel Abanikanda: Productive in second preseason game
Rotowire
Abanikanda rushed 12 times for 56 yards and caught all three of his targets for 31 yards in Saturday's 27-0 preseason win over the Panthers.
Abanikanda came in on the Jets' third possession after Michael Carter and Zonovan Knight split the first two. Abanikanda, a rookie fifth-round pick, is gaining on Knight for the third-string spot, as Abanikanda has impressed in each of the Jets' first two preseason games; he scored a 10-yard touchdown in the Hall of Fame Game the previous week. Abanikanda will have two more preseason games to make his case for surpassing Knight, starting with an Aug. 19 home game against the Buccaneers.
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Jets' Israel Abanikanda: Brought along slowly in camp
Rotowire
Abanikanda hasn't pushed Michael Carter or Zonovan Knight for reps early on during training camp, as the Jets coaching staff is looking for a greater sense of urgency from the rookie fifth-round pick, Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic reports.
According to head coach Robert Saleh, Breece Hall needed a similar ramp-up period as a rookie last season to learn how to run through contact in NFL practices. With Hall recovering from a torn ACL, Abanikanda should get plenty of opportunities in camp, and the rookie took a step in the right direction with a 50-yard touchdown run in Tuesday's session.
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Jets' Israel Abanikanda: Taken by Jets in fifth round
Rotowire
The Jets selected Abanikanda in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, 143rd overall.
Abanikanda (5-foot-10, 216 pounds) is one of the most talented runners in the draft both in the sense of skill and tools, so this is a great pick for the Jets. It's one of the worst landing spots for Abanikanda in terms of playing time opportunities, however, because while former Pittsburgh star projects as an eventual NFL starter he is definitely not on Breece Hall's level as a prospect. Still, Abanikanda has sub-4.5 speed and unique explosiveness on a workhorse-viable frame, and he could pose an immediate threat to Michael Carter as the team's RB2. More likely, though, Abanikanda will start out as the Jets' RB3, especially since he won't turn 21 until October.
