Braelon

Allen

Hall was understandably blunt with reporters, saying he isn’t obligated anything but is going to prove he’s the best back on the roster every day. The Jets have openly talked about using a committee throughout the offseason. Head coach Aaron Glenn previously told reporters the team had three backs they planned on utilizing “as much as possible.” While Hall is clearly the top option in this backfield, Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis could see more work in a combined bruiser role this year. Hall’s home run potential should keep him in the RB1 mix, but a committee approach would limit his ceiling.

Engstrand entering his first year as an NFL play caller, worked under Ben Johnson in Detroit before landing the Jets job this offseason. Engstrand and pass game coordinator Scott Turner said the Jets would use elements of the hyper-efficient Lions offense in 2025 and beyond with Justin Fields under center. “It’s going to be a physical system,” Turner said. “We’re going to run the football, we’re going to be aggressive up front and try to chase explosive plays [in the passing game]. ... That’s what we’re going to be hunting.” New York’s main challenge will come in the form of transitioning from Jared Goff, a pocket passer, to Fields, a dynamic mobile quarterback. “In theory,” Cimini said, “run-pass options should become a staple in the offense.” The Lions under Johnson (and Engstrand) led the NFL in middle-of-the-field pass attempts and profiled as a run-first offense. Detroit has been six percent below their expected pass rate since the start of the 2023 season. If all goes well, the Jets will be among the two or three run-heaviest offenses in the NFL this season.

It’s hard to fully unwrap what that means for the Jets offense without seeing it on the field. But if they are seeking to emulate the Lions and run Allen in a significant role “alongside [Breece] Hall,” it’s certainly possible Allen could have fantasy value this year. The 21-year-old second-year back already cut into Hall’s snaps in 2024, rushing 92 times to Hall’s 209. How effective Allen winds up being is probably more about the overall scope of the Jets offense with Justin Fields than it is about his play, but a significant role would certainly be enough to put him in the RB3 conversation.

Not exactly re-assuring news for Hall in re-draft leagues this year. The Lions, of course, managed to create fantasy value for both David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. But it is much harder to reliably project a back for fantasy points if they don’t get a full slate of touches. It sounds like both Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis could be factors in the Jets backfield. Hall is entering the final year of his rookie deal and the way Glenn presents this, it sounds more like he’s the head of a committee than a true three-down back this year.

Once considered a touchdown vulture to Breece Hall in the Jets’ offense, Allen was anything but in his rookie campaign. The rookie fourth-rounder found the end zone three times this season and was out-played by fellow rookie Isaiah Davis late in the season. In Week 14 against the Dolphins, Davis played ahead of Allen and found the end zone. Allen’s final rushing line on the year was 92-334-2 with a 3.6 YPC. His fantasy ceiling will be capped by Hall as long as he is healthy, but he could face more challenges for fantasy relevance with Davis firmly in the mix for the RB2 role heading into next season. Assuming the Jets enter 2025 with the same trio of running backs, the camp battle between Allen and Davis will be one to monitor as we get closer to draft season.

He was notably stuffed on New York’s first drive when they went for it on fourth-and-short. Allen saw some of his touches siphoned off to Isaiah Davis (3/35, 1/8 on one target) as the Jets went deep into the bench down 40-0. If the Jets were to rest Breece Hall in Week 18, Allen would be an interesting RB2 play. As things stand he’s just not getting enough of a snap share in a bad offense to warrant starting.

Allen was limited for the first two practices of the week because of the back injury before being upgraded to a full session on Friday. He was still listed as questionable on the final injury report, though the rookie never appeared to be at risk of missing Week 16. Breece Hall was off the injury report entirely this week, suggesting he’s as healthy as he has been since tweaking his knee a month ago. With Isaiah Davis also in the mix for touches, only Hall is worth starting in the fantasy semifinals.

Allen was upgraded to a full session to close the week, meaning he should play through this back issue on Sunday. Fellow backup running back Isaiah Davis was dealing with a back injury of his own this week. He was removed from the injury report entirely. Breece Hall, who never made an appearance on the injury report this week, should see an uptick in touches as he gets healthier. Neither Allen nor Davis will escape the RB4/5 border this week.

That makes back-to-back practices with a limited session for Allen. The 20-year-old hasn’t been able to be a full go this week, nor has Isaiah Davis as Davis got another limited session with a back ailment of his own. It could be a game against the Rams on Sunday where Breece Hall touches the ball an awful lot. He probably would, anyway. Neither Davis nor Allen are on the fantasy radar for Week 16.

Both Allen and fellow backup Isaiah Davis were limited by back injuries on Wednesday while starter Breece Hall was absent from the injury report after dealing with a multi-week knee injury. Allen suffered the injury during Week 15 play. His early-week participation bodes positively for his Week 16 availability.