49ers Add Israel Abanikanda, Ke'Shawn Vaughn For RB Depth
The San Francisco 49ers claimed running back Israel Abanikanda off waivers from the New York Jets on Tuesday and also signed former Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Ke'Shawn Vaughn to their practice squad, according to a source. In corresponding moves, the Niners officially placed both Christian McCaffrey (knee) and Jordan Mason (ankle) on Injured Reserve, meaning they'll be out for at least the next four games. CMC has a PCL sprain and will need six weeks to recover, so his season is essentially over unless the Niners make a run to get into the playoffs. Abanikanda didn't play in a single game for the Jets this year but could serve as the team's No. 3 down the stretch behind rookie Isaac Guerendo and Patrick Taylor. Vaughn also hasn't seen the field in 2024 after averaging 3.7 yards a carry in four previous seasons with Tampa. They can both stay on the waiver wire in most fantasy leagues.
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.
Israel Abanikanda Impresses With 83 Yards, Touchdown
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.
Israel Abanikanda Leads Team With 29 Rushing Yards
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.
Israel Abanikanda Plunges Into The End Zone In Win
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.
Israel Abanikanda Stays Involved, Sees Six Touches
New York Jets rookie running back Israel Abanikanda has seemingly leapfrogged Dalvin Cook as the No. 2 back behind Breece Hall with the team playing out the string of another lost season in 2023. Abanikanda carried the ball twice for three yards and caught a season-high four passes on seven targets for 27 yards in Thursday night's 37-20 loss to the visiting Cleveland Browns. The 21-year-old rookie also lost a fumble on a kickoff return in the first half. Abanikanda saw a career-high nine carries in last week's win over the Washington Commanders and should be more involved behind Hall in the team's Week 18 regular season finale against the New England Patriots on Jan. 7. He figures to be more involved in a complementary role in 2024 and should be stashed in dynasty/keeper leagues.
Israel Abanikanda Active For Thursday Night Football
New York Jets rookie running back Israel Abanikanda (ankle) is officially active on Thursday night against the Cleveland Browns after coming into the game listed as questionable on the final Week 17 injury report. With the Jets playing out the string the last couple weeks, Abanikanda saw a season-high nine carries for 43 yards in the Week 16 win over the Washington Commanders and could once again see more action over Dalvin Cook on Thursday night. However, the 21-year-old rookie will still be well behind Breece Hall in the RB pecking order and won't have any standalone fantasy value in Week 17, especially against a stout Browns defense on the road. Abanikanda is worth stashing in dynasty/keeper leagues heading into the offseason.
Israel Abanikanda Officially Questionable For Thursday
New York Jets running back Israel Abanikanda (ankle) was limited on Wednesday and is officially listed as questionable as his team prepares to take on the Cleveland Browns in Week 17's Thursday night game. Abanikanda usurped Dalvin Cook as the No. 2 running back in New York behind Breece Hall last week but his status is in jeopardy after he was limited all week by an ankle injury. It looks like the rookie running back will be a game-time decision this week, so be sure to check in on final inactives roughly 90 minutes before kickoff on Thursday night. If he is forced to miss, expect Dalvin Cook to resume his role as the chief backup to Hall this week.
Israel Abanikanda Limited In Tuesday’s Walkthrough
New York Jets running back Israel Abanikanda (ankle) was a limited participant in Tuesday's practice. The Jets held a walkthrough on Tuesday, but Abanikanda would have been a limited participant if the team held a regular practice. The rookie was also limited in practice all of last week due to this ankle injury. However, it didn't limit him in the contest, as he totaled a career-high nine carries for 43 yards in the Jets' win. He'll have one more chance to upgrade his practice status before Thursday's game against the Cleveland Browns. Even if he suits up, Abanikanda doesn't carry much fantasy value in Week 17.
Ke'Shawn Vaughn
• RB
•
49ers
|
