2 Jets players who must produce after difficult sophomore seasons

The New York Jets have been below average in total offense each year since 2015, when they last had a winning record. It remains to be seen whether that will change in 2026, but they have plenty of talent around veteran quarterback Geno Smith.

For example, running backs Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis will once again back up Breece Hall after the latter player signed a three-year, $43.5 million extension in May.

Allen was a three-time second-team All-Big Ten honoree at Wisconsin, and Davis was a first-team FCS All-American at South Dakota State in 2023.

Braelon Allen & Isaiah Davis must earn their roster spots

The Jets took Allen in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft before selecting Davis the following round, but neither has made a major impact since. Allen averaged just 3.6 yards per carry (334 total rushing yards) in 2024, along with 148 yards on 19 catches (7.8-yard average), before playing just four games last season due to injury.

Conversely, Davis has missed just one game in two seasons but has only 410 rushing yards and 261 receiving yards to his name. However, he does average 5.6 yards per carry and 8.7 yards per reception.

Allen and Davis' lack of overall production isn't an indictment on their abilities, as there are only so many reps available for backup running backs in a below-average offense. In Allen's case, suffering a season-ending MCL injury in Year 2 doesn't help either.

At the same time, each player only has two more years on their contracts, so they must prove their worth before it's time to re-sign.

Running backs will have more rushing opportunities without Justin Fields

A unique challenge for New York's backup running backs last season was Justin Fields taking carries from them. The front office signed Fields last offseason as its first starting quarterback under the new regime, and he finished second on the team with 383 rushing yards on 71 carries (5.4-yard average) over nine games.

The Jets have since traded the 27-year-old to the Kansas City Chiefs and acquired Smith, who had just 41 carries over 15 games for the Las Vegas Raiders last season. That decrease in rushing volume at quarterback will give Allen and Davis a shot at being the team's second-leading rusher behind Hall.

If either player averages at least four yards a carry and touches the ball several times per game next season, they'll have the inside track at being part of New York's future alongside Hall and star wideout Garrett Wilson.

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