The New York Jets may have gotten a fifth-round steal during the 2023 National Football League Draft.
With the No. 143 overall selection, the Jets added to their stable of running backs by picking Pittsburgh's Israel Abanikanda. The 2022 Atlantic Coast Conference rushing champion has 4.41 (40-yard dash) speed and his pro potential has caught the attention of Sports Illustrated fantasy expert Michael Fabiano.
In his "Fantasy Deep Sleepers" article, Fabiano tabbed Abanikanda as one of eight rookies to consider as a late-round pick in upcoming drafts.
The octet included five runnings backs, two receivers and one tight end. The Jets' rookie rusher was the lone representative from the AFC East division.
Framing the list, Fabiano wrote, "In an effort to make some significant late-round gains in drafts, here’s my look at eight deep rookie sleepers who could exceed expectations in Year One."
From "Fantasy Deep Sleepers: 8 Rookies to Consider in the Later Rounds":
Israel Abanikanda, RB, Jets
Abanikanda landed in a tough spot, as the Jets are loaded at running back with guys like Breece Hall, Michael Carter and Zonovan Knight all in the mix. Hall is coming off a torn ACL, however, and his status for the start of the regular season is in question. If he isn’t ready to roll, Abanikanda could earn some early-season fantasy appeal as the Jets’ potential starting runner in the interim.
— Michael Fabiano
The 5-foot-11 Abanikanda averaged 5.6 yards per carry over 30 career games with the Pitt Panthers. He missed 1.5 games due to injury, but hit the 100-yard rushing mark in nine of 11 appearances last fall.
"Izzy is a home run threat with size, speed, and production," said Joe Douglas after drafting the running back in late April.
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With the addition of undrafted free agent Travis Dye, Abanikanda is one of five running backs on the Jets' 90-man roster.
"There’s a lot of gas in that room between Bam (Zonovan Knight), Michael (Carter), adding Izzy, and then Breece (Hall), who has looked really good, knock on wood, over phase one," said Jets' head coach Robert Saleh. "There’s a lot of versatility, a lot of juice in that room. They’re big, they’re fast, they’re strong. Michael has versatility coming out of the backfield. It’s an exciting group to work with."
Heading into the 2023 NFL Draft, Abanikanda earned a fourth-round grade from NFL Draft Bible, which described the Pitt product as, "an explosive home run hitter who quickly blows past the second level, Abanikanda is a one-cut and go running back with elite acceleration and burst."
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