Bigger role predicted for Jets running back in 2025

The 2025 NFL season is still three months away, but the New York Jets have already clued in the fans on what to expect from their offense. By hiring Tanner Engstrand, who spent the last three seasons under Ben Johnson in Detroit, and signing quarterback Justin Fields, arguably the best running quarterback in the NFL, you can expect the Jets to field a dominant run game in 2025.

But to do that, they're going to need more than just Breece Hall, as good as he is. Engstrand will likely want to mimic the 1-2 running back duo he helped run in Detroit, which means a bigger workload for second-year player Braelon Allen.

That's exactly what is predicted by Ryan Smith of Pro Football Focus. In his list of second-year players who are due for a bigger role, he mentions Allen. Smith writes: "Allen impressed in his rookie campaign with the Jets, earning an 82.0 PFF rushing grade across 92 rushing attempts, and he did so as the youngest active player (20 years old) in the NFL. Breece Hall is expected to remain the lead back in New York, but the arrow is pointing up on Allen’s outlook this season."

While it's true that Allen graded well as a rookie, 92 rushing attempts is a pretty small sample size, and he only averaged 3.6 yards per carry. The arrow is definitely pointing up, but he's going to need to prove himself on the field before Jets fans can get too excited about his future.

Luckily, Engstrand will likely include him in a run-heavy game plan, and the presence of Justin Fields under center will make it far more difficult for defenses to know who's going to get the ball. Plus, the Jets are projected to have one of the better interior offensive lines in the NFL this season.

If Allen does indeed carve out a larger role for himself in 2025, then the Jets will likely be on track for their first playoff appearance since 2010.