Israel Abanikanda (Jets) NFL Draft Preview
Post-Draft Fantasy Impact
Israel Abanikanda landed in a very exciting spot for any player, being drafted 143rd overall in the fifth round to the New York Jets. The Jets just finalized their blockbuster trade for QB Aaron Rodgers, hoping that he is the final missing piece for a Super Bowl run.
The Jets are full of exciting young talent, so Abanikanda is just another weapon for the mostly young team (sorry Aaron). He joins Breece Hall, Zonovan Knight, and Michael Carter in the backfield.
Abanikanda isn’t known for his pass-catching, so he will have to either work on that skill or figure he will only be utilized on first and second downs when Hall needs a break.
Fantasy-wise, Abanikanda landed on what I’d consider a “meh” team for Running Backs. On the one hand, Hall is coming back from a devastating knee injury and Michael Carter isn’t really anything special after a decent rookie season. Zonovan Knight had some solid games as the starter when Hall went down, but he struggled the last few weeks of the season.
So basically it’s not impossible that Abanikanda could move up the depth chart at least over Knight to start, but he probably would need some injuries to happen to see relevant playing time.
Abanikanda is best left on waivers until he becomes the next man up.
Israel Abanikanda NFL Draft Preview
Ok let’s be real, Israel Abanikanda has probably the best name in the draft and somehow is relatively unknown.
Abanikanda played three seasons for the Pittsburgh Panthers, but it was his junior year that really put his name firmly in the NFL draft discussion. He rushed 239 times for 1431 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also caught 12 passes for 146 yards and one touchdown and returned 12 kicks for 228 yards.
As a freshman, Abanikanda saw limited action, only playing in six games and rushing 28 times. He saw increased usage as a sophomore, but still only carried the ball 123 times for 65 1 yards and seven touchdowns.
He finished his college career with 390 carries for 2177 yards and 28 touchdowns, most of which came in his junior season. He also caught a total of 38 passes for 354 yards and three touchdowns. He returned 19 kicks for 434 yards and one touchdown.
Abanikanda was a First-Team All-American and First-Team All-ACC in 2022.
Abanikanda is considered a fourth-round pick as of now.
Israel Abanikanda goes 76 yards for the TD💨
pic.twitter.com/FfZzJuBiTO— On3 (@On3sports) September 10, 2022
Measurables
- 5’10” 216 lbs
- 40-yard dash – 4.50 seconds (not official – he did not run in the combine)
POSITIVES
Abanikanda is a good-sized back with solid strength. He fights through tackles and generally falls forward.
He has good jump-cut abilities and uses lateral jumps to make defenders miss in the backfield. Abanikanda was a sprinter who was considered one of the faster Running Backs in the class. His initial burst allows him to get to speed quickly and hit holes before they close.
He is shifty and can escape tight situations, using quick cuts and spin moves to continue moving the ball forward. Abanikanda is a solid blocker and has experience in kick returning, making him a well-rounded piece for any offense.
He is currently being compared to Isiah Pacheco, which at least for now is a good comparison based on how Pacheco performed as a relatively unknown rookie.
I think Bengals fans should be talking about RB Israel Abanikanda more.
He’s gonna be a bit of a project as a 5th-6th rounder, but he’s only 20 years old. Solid size and elite acceleration. pic.twitter.com/OzLjZR8dtU
— Blake Jewell (@BlakeJewellNFL) February 16, 2023
NEGATIVES
Abanikanda sometimes hurries his rushes, not allowing blocks/holes to fully form. He has limited experience in pass-catching and really doesn’t have much of a route tree. As mentioned above he is a solid blocker, however, he struggles to keep blitzers in front of him.
Overall Abanikanda can be a bit inconsistent at times and his heavier weight doesn’t always mean he is pushing opposing defenders out of his way.
GRADE – C
Abanikanda is another one of those players that could go either way. As a projected fourth-rounder, he could either find himself in a timeshare that he never fully gets out of, or he could pull a “Pacheco” and become the lead back.
He has good size, speed, and juke moves that make him a threat to get to the second level on any carry. That said, he has limited experience with pass-catching and it’s tough to say how he will handle NFL defenses.
Abanikanda doesn’t have too many red flags, but he doesn’t necessarily have a ton of wow factors either. Still, he has every opportunity to become a starter if he lands on the right team.
Happily married father of two boys. I love all sports, although prefer watching them since I’m a wildly mediocre athlete. And that’s why I write fantasy football articles! I’ve been writing for Fantasyfootballcalculator for over six years now. Besides that, I enjoy watching Badger football and basketball even though it raises my blood pressure. In my downtime, I enjoy traveling with my family, playing video games with friends, and golfing.
