The New York Jets have spent three picks on the running back position over the last two years to play a complementary role behind Breece Hall, which has capped the fantasy impact of some intriguing prospects entering the NFL. Unfortunately, Braelon Allen is one of those backs.
Set to start his NFL career behind one of the best young backs in the league, what does Allen’s fantasy football impact look like entering his rookie year and beyond?
Should You Draft Braelon Allen in Dynasty Fantasy Football?
There is no gentle way to put this … Allen fell in an awful landing spot in the 2024 NFL Draft. Hall is coming off of an RB2 overall finish with 1,585 total yards and nine TDs on 299 total touches on one of the worst offenses in the league just one season after suffering a torn ACL. The idea that Hall could be even more productive with competent play under center is certainly not outside of the range of outcomes.
This makes Allen’s short-term outlook very bleak. Allen is not going to steal any significant amount of passing work away from Hall. Allen is unlikely to steal very much early-down work away from Hall, either. Sure, Allen’s imposing physical profile at 6’1”, 235 pounds projects as a potential short-yardage back at the next level, but Hall tips the scales at 220 pounds and is far from a liability in those situations.
This isn’t an indictment on Allen as a prospect. I do believe he can be an effective runner in the NFL, but playing behind a dynamic back like Hall who produced a high-quality season under terrible circumstances doesn’t bode well for Allen playing a reliable fantasy role in this offense.
Despite having an intriguing amount of upside, Allen is worth nothing more than a late-round pick in your dynasty rookie draft.
Who Is Allen?
Background
Allen was a highly touted four-star prospect by the major recruiting outlets coming out of Fond du Lac High School in the state of Wisconsin. He was an early graduate, which helped him enroll in college early.
Allen was originally recruited as a defensive prospect at linebacker but ultimately ended up contributing as a running back as a true freshman at the University of Wisconsin.
College Production
As a true freshman, at 17 years old, Allen made an instant impact on the Big Ten program, generating 1,258 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on just 185 attempts.
In 2022, Allen again led the Badgers’ formidable rushing attack with 1,242 yards and 11 scores on the ground but saw his yards per carry drop from 6.8 to 5.4 his sophomore season.
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Allen’s final season at Wisconsin would once again prove productive, but he missed some time due to injuries, which led to him failing to rush for over 1,000 yards for the first time in his collegiate career.
In 2023, Allen finished with 984 rushing yards and 12 rushing TDs while adding another 132 yards on 28 receptions through the air.
Injury History
In 2023, Allen missed some time due to a shoulder strain and ankle injury in his junior season. The year before, he missed the season finale against Minnesota due to an injured right leg.
In 2021, Allen was unavailable for the team’s matchup against Notre Dame due to a concussion.
Allen’s Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
- Elite size and strength combination for a running back prospect.
- Despite limited receiving yardage output, 28 receptions in 2023 suggest he’s a capable receiver who could contribute to the NFL passing game.
- A strong frame can power through tacklers effortlessly.
- Leg strength, overwhelming size, and instincts in short-yardage situations to be a highly effective goal-line producer.
- Play strength and contact balance helped produce solid yards after contact and elusive metrics, which suggests he could have success breaking tackles at the next level.
- Able to produce in zone or gap-based schemes.
- A physical runner who isn’t afraid to initiate contact; can run with a bit of violence and physically impose his will on defenders at times.
Weaknesses
- Lateral agility and acceleration are functional but not elite.
- Hips look a little stiffer in situations that call for creativity in the open field.
- The ability to navigate tight spaces and reaccelerate to top speed quickly is limited.
- Vision and timing can be a little inconsistent.
