Kene Nwangwu Fantasy Stats

New York Jets running back Kene Nwangwu (hamstring) was downgraded to out ahead of Sunday's Week 5 contest against the Dallas Cowboys. This hardly comes as a surprise after Nwangwu missed all three practices earlier this week. The 27-year-old is headed for his fourth consecutive absence, leaving Isaiah Davis in line to handle kick return duties once again.

The New York Jets announced that running back Kene Nwangwu (hamstring) is questionable to return to the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The veteran's primary job is to be the kick returner, so the Jets placed receiver Xavier Gipson in that role in the meantime. From a fantasy perspective, Nwangwu, who has four career kick return touchdowns, is only a roster option in leagues that score return yards.

The New York Jets re-signed running back/kick returner Kene Nwangwu (hand) to a one-year deal worth up to $2.5 million on Friday, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Nwangwu will return for his second season with the Jets and is currently the No. 4 RB on their depth chart behind Breece Hall, Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis, so he's once again unlikely to make much of an impact in 2025. Last year, he was only active for two games and didn't see any involvement on offense, although he did have a 99-yard kickoff return in Week 13 on special teams. The former fourth-rounder (119th overall) by the Minnesota Vikings in 2021 out of Iowa State spent his first three years in Minnesota and had 27 carries for 88 yards and no touchdowns, adding six catches for 30 yards. Nwangwu ended the year on Injured Reserve with a hand injury in 2024.

New York Jets running back Kene Nwangwu has been elevated from the practice squad ahead of the Week 13 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. This is noteworthy because lead back Breece Hall (knee) is currently considered questionable for this game. The move to bring up Nwangwu could mean that Hall is headed in the wrong direction. If Hall sits, Braelon Allen would become the lead back with Isaiah Davis likely mixed in as well. Nwangwu probably wouldn't see any snaps, but is coming up as added insurance in the backfield.

The New Orleans Saints have claimed running back and punt returner Kene Nwangwu off waivers from the Minnesota Vikings, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Nwangwu had been cut loose when the Vikings trimmed their roster down to 53 players on Tuesday. The 26-year-old is primarily a return specialist, having attempted just 14 rushes over the last two seasons. On the other hand, he led the NFL with 35 punt returns in 2022 and tacked on another 15 over nine games last year. He owns an impressive 27.6 yards per return and three return touchdowns over 37 career contests. It's no surprise that Nwangwu was claimed off waivers given his special teams talent, but it's an interesting landing spot given that the Saints already have Rashid Shaheed on their roster. Presumably, Shaheed will handle kick returns and Nwangwu will get the nod for punt returns in 2024.

The Minnesota Vikings are moving on from running back/kick returner Kene Nwangwu, according to a source. The Vikings are expected to cut or trade him by Tuesday's deadline. With Nwangwu and Myles Gaskin out of the picture in Minnesota, the Vikings only have running backs Aaron Jones and Ty Chandler in the RB room, alongside fullback C.J. Ham. The former fourth-round pick in 2021 out of Iowa State has plenty of speed, so at the very least, he should get another opportunity elsewhere as a kick returner on special teams in 2024. The 26-year-old had a career-low five carries for just 13 yards in nine games with the Vikings last year. Nwangwu has been more useful as a returner on special teams than as an offensive asset, as he's totaled just 88 rushing yards and no touchdowns on 27 career carries for a weak 3.3 yards per tote in 37 total games (zero starts).

Minnesota Vikings running back Kene Nwangwu has seen more reps this summer than in years past, according to Alec Lewis of The Athletic. Lewis said he remains the third back on the depth chart behind Ty Chander, but this development is still noteworthy considering Nwangwu has just 27 career carries across 37 games. The speedster has been primarily used as a special teamer early in his career, but he could now have a path toward touches if the injury bug hits the Minnesota running back room. For now, he can be ignored in traditional fantasy setups, but there are deep leagues where almost all backup and third-string running backs are rostered. He should be on the fantasy radar in those formats as a deep handcuff stash. His 4.37 speed could give him a chance to produce spike weeks if he's given any opportunities in the backfield during the regular season.

Minnesota Vikings running back Kene Nwangwu (back) is being elevated to the team's 53-man roster. Nwangwu began the season on Injured Reserve with a back injury and is ready to make his return in Week 7 against the San Francisco 49ers. The 25-year-old only has 28 career touches on offense in two seasons, so he's unlikely to enter the fantasy radar. However, he earned second-team All-Pro honors as a returner last season, so he could give the Vikings a boost on special teams.

Minnesota Vikings running back Kene Nwangwu was placed on injured reserve with an undisclosed injury on Wednesday. Nwangwu has been sidelined with his injury throughout the month of August. His placement on injured reserve, along with the release of Jalen Reagor, opened up room for the Vikings to sign running back Myles Gaskin and offensive lineman Dan Quessenberry. The loss of Nwangwu likely opens up the backup role for Ty Chandler, although Gaskin could get involved as well, once he's up to speed with his new team.

Minnesota Vikings running back Kene Nwangwu (undisclosed) remained out for the team's training camp practice on Thursday. The Athletic's Alec Lewis also noted that Ty Chandler looked solid in pass protection on Thursday. Nwangwu has been out for most of camp with an undisclosed injury, which isn't helping in his cause to win a backup job behind Alexander Mattison over Chandler. Unless the 25-year-old returns to the field soon and starts impressing, it's looking like Chandler will be the favorite for primary backup duties to begin the 2023 regular season. A fourth-round selection in 2021 out of Iowa State, Nwangwu has seen just 22 carries for 75 yards and no touchdowns in 28 games (zero starts) in his first two NFL campaigns in Minnesota.