Israel Abanikanda: Dynasty Rookie Draft Advice (2023 Fantasy Football)

The 2023 NFL Draft is in the books, and now it’s time for dynasty rookie drafts. Landing spots and draft capital have been determined, and we’re here with your dynasty rookie draft outlooks. Let’s take a look at what Derek Brown expects of Israel Abanikanda.

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Dynasty Rookie Draft Picks & Predictions: Israel Abanikanda

Israel Abanikanda (Pittsburgh)

Israel Abanikanda is a RB prospect in the 2023 draft class. He scored an unofficial 9.88 RAS out of a possible 10.00 after his pro day. This ranked 22 out of 1683 RB from 1987 to 2023. https://t.co/Cr89zTCS0N #RAS pic.twitter.com/35wJ5tXuND

— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 30, 2023

Stats:

2022 (minimum 100 carries, 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 133rd
- Breakaway rate: 36th
- PFF elusive rating: 108th
- PFF receiving grade*: 107th
- Yards per route run*: 76th

*only 17 targets

2021 (minimum 100 carries, 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 39th
- Breakaway rate: 91st
- PFF elusive rating: 13th
- PFF receiving grade: 87th
- Yards per route run: 60th

Career
- 97th percentile college dominator
- 72nd percentile college ypc
- 42nd percentile college target share

Scouting report:

Abanikanda is a patient runner with electric burst. When he sees a crease, he moves like lightning. He’s tailor-made for an outside-zone team. He’s a natural moving down the line surveying for a hole or cutback lane. He sets up his blocks in the second level well before exploding to daylight.
He’s a linear runner that has some hip tightness. He is likelier to spin move a defender to avoid a tackle than move laterally or jump-cut.
Abanikanda has house call type of speed. Any touch can go for 50 yards if he gets a crease. He looks the part of a 4.3 speedster. His spindly lower half doesn’t lend itself to many broken tackles. He more than makes up for what he lacks in power with his speed.

Player Comp: prime Raheem Mostert

Dynasty Outlook: Abanikanda didn’t go early on Day 3 or Day 2 as many dynasty GMs had hoped with his stellar testing. He was drafted by the Jets in the fifth round and now slots in as the RB3/4 on this depth chart. After Breece Hall, the running back work for New York could get divided up in many ways. With the combination of landing spot and draft capital, Abanikanda has been reduced to a round-three dart throw in rookie drafts.