The New York Jets‘ addition of running back Braelon Allen in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft frustrated some fantasy football managers who felt the Wisconsin product had upside as a potential rookie starter. However, the landing spot in New York took that away, as Allen was always going to struggle to push Breece Hall off the top of the depth chart.
Still, that doesn’t mean Allen won’t have an opportunity as a rookie in 2024. Let’s examine Allen’s fantasy outlook for this season and consider whether he could be a tremendous value in drafts as Hall’s handcuff.
Braelon Allen’s Fantasy Profile for the 2024 NFL Season
Allen’s career at Wisconsin demonstrates his ability to be a force. He rushed for 3,494 yards at an average of 5.9 yards per attempt and found the end zone 35 times across those three seasons.
Allen was remarkably consistent during his time in college, never averaging less than 5.4 yards per attempt and scoring at least 11 touchdowns in each season. But if we had to pick holes in his profile, you would point to the lack of receiving upside.
In three years, Allen had just 49 receptions for 275 yards at an average of just 5.6 yards per catch. In contrast, Hall had 82 catches for 734 yards (9.0 average) while also averaging 5.5 yards per attempt across 718 rushes at Iowa State.
Allen is not the all-around back that Hall proved to be for the Jets last season. That rather caps his ceiling as both a handcuff and a change-of-pace back.
Usually, that secondary role in the offense goes to someone who is more dynamic and able to contribute in the passing game than a run-first back. Sure, there could be short-yardage and goal-line back value, but that would make Allen a touchdown-dependent boom-or-bust candidate. It could be a very profitable role, but the floor is also extremely low.
Additionally, if Hall were to get hurt, Allen could be pigeonholed as a two-down runner, with Israel Abanikanda or Isaiah Davis providing a pass-catching role. That would limit Allen’s ceiling as a fantasy starter and make him a Flex option with RB2 upside unless he can find the end zone consistently in that role.
The positives are certainly there for Allen, who didn’t touch the ball in the Jets’ final preseason game, suggesting they view him as a safe roster option. He was also the first RB into both of the first two preseason games, indicating that he is the primary backup, which always has some level of fantasy value as a stash-and-hold type option.
Unfortunately, Allen did nothing significant in the preseason to dispel the pass-catching fears. He was targeted a total of four times, catching two for 12 yards, both in the second game against the Carolina Panthers.
Is Allen a Good Fantasy Pick?
It’s hard to argue that Allen is a bad draft pick in 2024 because, on many sites, you can select him as a last-round pick or even add him from the waiver wire. On average, he’s the RB64 off the board at 198.3 overall, but his selections range from 159 to 262, depending on the site (on ESPN, he doesn’t even have an ADP).
Allen is going in the same range as other backups, such as Bucky Irving, Jordan Mason, Ray Davis, and Tyrone Tracy Jr. That’s the right spot, and it ultimately comes down to picking your poison.
Tracy arguably has the most standalone value — especially in PPR formats — as the Giants’ potential pass-catching back. He is also behind Devin Singletary, who is by far the starter with the least firm grip ahead of these guys.
After Tracy, I can make an equal case for selecting Irving, Allen, and Mason. Each has the potential to be a starter in the event of an injury to the guy ahead of them, but each comes with limitations.
Allen is as good a last-round upside swing as there is. I’m not actively targeting him in drafts, but I will have a share of him on benches, just in case Hall goes down this season.