I like big backs, and I cannot lie. And I sure liked the look of Braelon Allen today for the Jets. He looks like a guy who’ll be dishing out some punishment.
Allen (who started the game) wasn’t a big factor in the first quarter, but he ripped off a pair of impressive runs early in the second. On the first, he built up a head of steam, looking like a runaway freight train, and didn’t slow down at all as the safety came up to make the tackle, laying into him to pick up an extra 5 yards. On the same drive, he popped outside and got rumbling, picking up 24 yards.
Allen looks like one of those guys who isn’t fun to tackle, weighing 235 pounds. And it looks like the Jets have settled on him as their backup behind Breece Hall. They may even mix Allen in as a change of pace at time, looking to wear down defenses.
Typically with backs coming out of Wisconsin, they don’t have much experience catching the ball. While that’s not a strength of Allen’s, he caught 28 passes there last year and had a catch today that was wiped out by a penalty. (But I think the Jets have another backup running back, Isaiah Davis, they like more on passing downs).
New York drafted Israel Abanikanda last year, and he may eventually wind up being a factor for some team at some point. Abanikanda ran for 20 TDs his final year at Pitt. But it looks like the decision has been made here. Allen looks like a real solid backup, and he was listed as their second-string back even prior to the kickoff today. Those who draft Hall will want to roster him in the later rounds. (If we’re in one of those leagues where about half of the No. 2 backs around the league are rostered, Allen should be picked up in the later rounds.)
If we’re time-machining Allen back into the past, he would fit in nicely with that pair of Christian Okoye and Barry Word that Kansas City was rolling with 35 years ago.
Below is the list of all backs weighing at least 235 pounds who’ve run for 1,000-plus yards in the 32-team era. I won’t be surprised if Allen at some point winds up on this list. Nice looking back.
(To keep the list manageable, I’m listing each player only once, with his best season between 2002 and today.)
| BIG BACKS GOING OVER 1,000 YARDS | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Player (number) | Att | Yards | Avg | TD |
| 2003 | Jamal Lewis, Balt. (6) | 387 | 2,066 | 5.3 | 14 |
| 2020 | Derrick Henry, Ten. (5) | 378 | 2,027 | 5.4 | 17 |
| 2006 | Larry Johnson, K.C. (2) | 416 | 1,789 | 4.3 | 17 |
| 2008 | Michael Turner, Atl. (3) | 376 | 1,699 | 4.5 | 17 |
| 2006 | Steven Jackson, St.L. (8) | 346 | 1,528 | 4.4 | 13 |
| 2005 | Willis McGahee, Buff. (4) | 325 | 1,247 | 3.8 | 5 |
| 2021 | Najee Harris, Pitt. (3) | 307 | 1,200 | 3.9 | 7 |
| 2013 | Eddie Lacy, G.B. (2) | 284 | 1,178 | 4.1 | 11 |
| 2010 | Peyton Hillis, Cle. | 270 | 1,177 | 4.4 | 11 |
| 2002 | Eddie George, Ten. (2) | 343 | 1,165 | 3.4 | 12 |
| 2016 | LeGarrette Blount, N.E. (2) | 299 | 1,161 | 3.9 | 18 |
| 2009 | Jonathan Stewart, Car. | 221 | 1,133 | 5.1 | 10 |
| 2007 | LenDale White, Ten. | 303 | 1,110 | 3.7 | 7 |
| 2008 | Brandon Jacobs, NYG (2) | 219 | 1,089 | 5.0 | 15 |
| 2004 | Chris Brown, Ten. | 220 | 1,067 | 4.9 | 6 |
| 2012 | Shonn Greene, NYJ (2) | 276 | 1,063 | 3.9 | 8 |
| 2011 | Beanie Wells, Ari. | 245 | 1,047 | 4.3 | 10 |
| 2002 | Duce Staley, Phil. | 269 | 1,029 | 3.8 | 5 |
| 2008 | Derrick Ward, NYG | 182 | 1,025 | 5.6 | 2 |
| 2005 | LaMont Jordan, Oak. | 272 | 1,025 | 3.8 | 9 |
—Ian Allan