More than 100 years ago the New York Yankees had a starting first baseman named Wally Pipp. Pipp was a good player. He had a long, successful 15 year career. He led the league in fielding percentage three times, led the league in home runs twice and led the league in triples once. Unfortunately for Pipp, he is mostly remembered for being replaced. On June 2, 2025 Wally Pipp sat out a game due to a severe headache. His replacement that day: some dude by the name of Lou Gehrig. Gehrig substituted for an ailing Pipp and went on to become a top 10 all time player for the Yankees. Pipp never got another chance with the Yankees and was traded the next year. He was a good player, but his name is mostly remembered today for being replaced by a better player.
Breece Hall has been a good player for the New York Jets. In 59 games over parts of five seasons with the Jets Hall has racked up more than 5300 yards from scrimmage. For all his success with the Jets, Hall has never quite lived up to his pre-draft billing. He has been a good, not a great player. We’ve always been left wanting just a little bit more from Hall.
On September 27, 2026 Breece Hall was injured in the Jets game against the Detroit Lions. He proceeded to miss the next four Jets games. It was the first time since his rookie year Hall missed multiple games in a season.
In Hall’s absence Braelon Allen took over the starting role at running back. His results have been impressive. After waiting patiently as Hall’s backup for 2+ years, Allen has started the last four games for the Jets. It is the first time in his career Allen has had the opportunity to carry the load over a multi-game stretch. He has not disappointed.
Braelon Allen has produced 421 yards from scrimmage over the last four games. The last time Breece Hall put together such a productive four game stretch came almost exactly two years ago, from October 14 through October 31, 2024.
Allen has rushed 72 times for 357 yards over the last four games, good for 5 yards per carry. In each of those games he has produced at least 4.2 yards per carry. In 59 career games Hall has had just two four game stretches in his career where he produced as many as 357 rushing yards. Hall has also produced just two four game stretches in his career where he averaged 4.2+ yards per carry in each game.
In three seasons Braelon Allen has never had a season with a success rate as a runner under 50%. In five years Breece Hall has never had a season with a success rate as a runner over 50%.
It’s a relatively small sample of Braelon Allen performances compared to a large sample for Breece Hall. It’s entirely possible Allen falls flat if given a lead role over a full season. However, with each successive performance by Allen, Breece Hall’s grip on the lead runner role may be getting more tenuous. Breece Hall has been a good player for the Jets. At this point, however, the Jets should at least be entertaining the question, can Braelon Allen do better?
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