The New York Jets accomplished something they hadn’t achieved in nearly a decade on “Thursday Night Football.” They defeated the New England Patriots at MetLife Stadium.

The Jets dominated their rival with a 24-3 victory that clearly showcased their superiority. Aaron Rodgers had his best game yet with the Jets, completing 27 of 35 passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns, skillfully directing New York upfield.

New York’s running attack also performed well against New England, but that led NFL fans — especially fantasy football players — to notice a curious pattern.

Rookie Braelon Allen played a significant role in the Jets’ running strategy, not just in garbage time. He frequently took turns with Breece Hall during the game and even outgained him by a yard.

Let’s dive into the carry distribution for the Jets and see if this trend will continue or if it was just a one-time occurrence.

Breece Hall stats vs. Braelon Allen stats

Breece Hall stats vs. Patriots

• Carries: 16
• Rushing yards: 54
• Rushing TDs: 1
• Receptions: 4
• Receiving yards: 29

Braelon Allen stats vs. Patriots

• Carries: 11
• Rushing yards: 55
• Rushing TDs: 0
• Receptions: 3
• Receiving yards: 13

Both Hall and Allen featured prominently in the Jets’ Week 3 victory over the Patriots, although Hall was the primary running back. He participated in 52 of the Jets’ 73 offensive plays, while Allen was involved in 23 plays. The only other running back, Isaiah Davis, saw limited action with just three snaps in the fourth quarter.

Despite Hall playing significantly more snaps, he and Allen were nearly even in touches, with Hall getting the ball 20 times against Allen’s 14. This means Allen was involved in 60.9% of his snaps, which is notably high. In contrast, Hall’s possession rate was 38.5%.

Allen also showed more efficiency with the ball, averaging 5 yards per carry compared to Hall’s 3.4 yards. Notably, Allen’s longer carries were capped at just 11 yards.

Overall, Allen ran powerfully and executed some strong runs against a tough Patriots defense. This solid performance came after a two-touchdown game in Week 2 and likely reassures the Jets’ coaches about his readiness for a larger role, as he is the youngest player in the NFL.

Jets RBs fantasy outlook: What to consider with Breece Hall vs. Braelon Allen

Should fantasy managers have faith in Allen? And is it time for Hall’s fantasy buyers to worry?

Not quite.

Allen’s participation didn’t vary much from Week 2 to Week 3. He was on the field for 35% of the snaps against the Titans and dropped to 31.5% in Week 3. While the decrease can be attributed to the blowout, it’s unlikely that his role will grow dramatically in tighter contests, barring an injury to Hall.

Moreover, anticipating that Allen will get touches on 60.9% of his snaps weekly is unrealistic. The Jets had a specific strategy to involve Allen in Week 3, aided by their favorable lead that allowed for frequent runs.

The Jets may have intended to give both Allen and Hall ample opportunities due to the short week. Regardless, this 14-touch scenario can’t be assumed as the norm for Allen’s managers, particularly in games where the Jets may find themselves behind, as Hall continues to be the favored option for passing plays.

In summary, Allen seems to be a valuable fantasy handcuff. If Hall were to sustain an injury, Allen could step up as a full-time starter with ample touches. For now, he retains the potential for flex play but is primarily reliant on finding the end zone for fantasy points.