Israel Abanikanda’s Dynasty Value | Fantasy Outlook, Ranking, and More

The depth chart behind New York Jets RB Breece Hall heading into the 2023 NFL season was pretty crowded, with both Dalvin Cook and Michael Carter factoring in behind the talented starting back from Iowa State.

Fast forward to the end of the final game of the regular season, and neither Cook nor Carter were on the Jets’ roster. The reason the depth chart thinned out behind Hall was that New York saw plenty of promise in RB Israel Abanikanda during his rookie campaign.

Now slated as Hall’s primary backup, what is Abanikanda’s dynasty fantasy football value heading into his second year in the NFL?

Israel Abanikanda’s Dynasty Outlook

On paper, there really isn’t very much to dive into with regard to Abanikanda’s production in 2023. He generated just 113 total yards on 29 total touches while working behind Hall, Cook, and Carter for the majority of the year.

First touchdown and first celebration dance goes to #Jets rookie Israel Abanikanda! #PFN365 celly grade: 7.5/10 pic.twitter.com/BuwwCKyYCf

— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) August 4, 2023

In addition, limited opportunities in a Jets offense that never got on track after QB Aaron Rodgers suffered a season-ending injury just four snaps into the 2023 season didn’t exactly create a recipe for fantasy success.

Abanikanada wasn’t particularly effective with his limited opportunities in his rookie year, but, to be fair, no Jets player was very efficient in 2023.

Hall finished as the RB2 overall in full-PPR formats mostly due to his overwhelming volume in the passing game. Hall caught 76 passes in 2023, which led all RBs across the league.

That factor is why Abanikanda does have some dynasty value heading into 2024.

Now that he is positioned as Hall’s primary backup, he presents some value as a big-play option who would see an immediate jump in his weekly workload if Hall were to ever miss any time with an injury.

MORE: Dynasty Fantasy Football Trade Value Chart

In addition, if Rodgers comes back to the offense and plays at a high level next season, then Abanikanda could have some stand-alone value as a complementary big-play threat in a drastically improved offense.

The most likely scenario is that Abanikanda is nothing more than a nice handcuff to Hall. But his home run-hitting ability and the possibility of him climbing the depth chart in what should be a much better offense in 2024 gives the second-year player from Pitt a slight bump in dynasty value heading into his second NFL campaign.

Abanikanda’s Dynasty Ranking

Where does Abanikanda land in the dynasty RB landscape going into the 2024 offseason? Here are Tate’s latest dynasty rankings, featuring where Abanikanda lands in comparison to other top names at the position.

1) Bijan Robinson | ATL
2) Breece Hall | NYJ
3) Jahmyr Gibbs | DET
4) Christian McCaffrey | SF
5) Jonathan Taylor | IND
6) Kyren Williams | LAR
7) Travis Etienne Jr. | JAX
8) Saquon Barkley | NYG
9) Rachaad White | TB
10) Isiah Pacheco | KC
11) James Cook | BUF
12) De’Von Achane | MIA
13) Kenneth Walker III | SEA
14) Alvin Kamara | NO
15) Javonte Williams | DEN
16) Tyjae Spears | TEN
17) Josh Jacobs | LV
18) Austin Ekeler | LAC
19) D’Andre Swift | PHI
20) Tony Pollard | DAL

21) Brian Robinson Jr. | WAS
22) Najee Harris | PIT
23) Jaylen Warren | PIT
24) Joe Mixon | CIN
25) David Montgomery | DET
26) Zach Charbonnet | SEA
27) Zamir White | LV
28) Nick Chubb | CLE
29) Rhamondre Stevenson | NE
30) Derrick Henry | TEN
31) Kendre Miller | NO
32) Chase Brown | CIN
33) Keaton Mitchell | BAL
34) Roschon Johnson | CHI
35) Jerome Ford | CLE
36) Aaron Jones | GB
37) James Conner | ARI
38) Tyler Allgeier | ATL
39) Khalil Herbert | CHI
40) Ty Chandler | MIN

41) Devin Singletary | HOU
42) Raheem Mostert | MIA
43) Chuba Hubbard | CAR
44) Alexander Mattison | MIN
45) Kenneth Gainwell | PHI
46) J.K. Dobbins | BAL
47) Gus Edwards | BAL
48) AJ Dillon | GB
49) Dameon Pierce | HOU
50) Tank Bigsby | JAX
51) Deuce Vaughn | DAL
52) Emari Demercado | ARI
53) Dalvin Cook | BAL
54) Miles Sanders | CAR
55) Isaiah Spiller | LAC
56) Ezekiel Elliott | NE
57) Antonio Gibson | WAS
58) Damien Harris | BUF
59) Zach Evans | LAR
60) Kareem Hunt | CLE

61) Rico Dowdle | DAL
62) Jamaal Williams | NO
63) Elijah Mitchell | SF
64) Zack Moss | IND
65) Rashaad Penny | PHI
66) Samaje Perine | DEN
67) Israel Abanikanda | NYJ
68) Ronnie Rivers | LAR
69) Cam Akers | MIN
70) Sean Tucker | TB
71) Evan Hull | IND
72) Ty Johnson | BUF
73) D’Onta Foreman | CHI
74) Leonard Fournette | BUF
75) Jeff Wilson Jr. | MIA
76) Clyde Edwards-Helaire | KC
77) Jaleel McLaughlin | DEN
78) Justice Hill | BAL
79) Jerick McKinnon | KC
80) Michael Carter | ARI

Should You Trade Abanikanda in Dynasty?

Are you considering trading Abanikanda? Our free PFN Trade Analyzer allows you to find the best trade offer to make in seconds!

The bump in dynasty value from Abanikanda’s rookie year to his second season isn’t a large one, but he can be viewed as a bit of a high-upside handcuff working behind Hall in 2024.

This alone likely makes him worth a late third- or fourth-round rookie pick. If you are willing to cash out at that price point to offload Abanikanda, then that makes sense.

KEEP READING: Dynasty Fantasy Football Startup Draft Strategies

I can also see the strategy of holding Abanikanda in the unfortunate scenario where Hall suffers a significant injury, and the second-year RB has the chance to see an expanded role in 2024, which would certainly improve his fantasy value from its current state.