San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell goes to Seattle this week to face the Seahawks on Thanksgiving night. Last week at home against the Buccaneers, Mitchell had his best performance since an 11-carry, 42-yard rushing day in Week 3. In the Bucs game, he had four carries for 24 yards which all came during one drive early in the second quarter. Needless to say, this is not a starter-worthy usage profile in any format. He should still be rostered though, because if anything should happen to Christian McCaffrey, Mitchell could instantly become an RB2 with RB1 upside. For Week 12, however, keep Mitchell on the bench.
Nov 22, 2023 10:26 PM EST
San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell faces the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at home on Sunday. Last week, Mitchell handled eight carries for 23 yards with all but one of those carries happening in garbage time. The last time Mitchell had anything close to a complementary role was in Week 3 when he was given 11 apparent pity carries against the Giants after the media questioned head coach Kyle Shanahan about his decision to give Mitchell zero snaps against the Rams in the previous game. Since returning from a knee injury four games ago, Mitchell has returned to near-complete noninvolvement. Given the current era's ubiquitous running back by committee approach, Mitchell is arguably the only true backup ball carrier in the game. Fantasy managers shouldn't consider starting him this week, but Mitchell should be rostered in most leagues, as he's only an injury away from being an RB2 with RB1 upside.
Nov 18, 2023 1:28 AM EST
San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell travels with the team to Jacksonville on Sunday to take on the Jaguars. Jacksonville has a stout run defense, which ranks fourth in the NFL at 79.3 yards allowed per game. More importantly, though, San Francisco's running game is likely to continue to be a one-man show with lead back Christian McCaffrey consistently dominating touches through eight games. Mitchell has totaled six carries and one target in his past three games combined. To put Mitchell into fantasy lineups this week would be to bet on garbage time points or an in-game injury to McCaffrey. Mitchell is off the fantasy map in Week 10 and only retains fantasy value as a handcuff/stash.
Nov 11, 2023 2:16 AM EST
Fantasy managers should consider San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell to be no more than a bench stash in Week 8 when the team hosts the Cincinnati Bengals. For most of the week leading up to San Francisco's Week 7 matchup with Minnesota, Mitchell stashers were licking their chops in anticipation of starter Christian McCaffrey missing the game with an oblique injury. Not only did that not pan out when McCaffrey was cleared to play, but the 49ers apparently didn't even feel compelled to limit his workload. McCaffrey took nearly all the running back touches, with Mitchell handling only one carry for a one-yard loss and no targets. On the bright side for Mitchell managers, fellow backup and hot waiver wire pickup Jordan Mason had zero involvement in the offense. As a pure stash/handcuff, Mitchell will only be startable when McCaffrey doesn't play. Keep him on the bench in Week 8.
Oct 28, 2023 4:04 AM EST
San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell comes into Monday's matchup at the Minnesota Vikings with questions regarding his fantasy outlook, mostly because starting running back Christian McCaffrey (oblique) remains questionable. If McCaffrey doesn't play, it would vault Mitchell to RB2 status. The problem is that most fantasy managers won't have the luxury of waiting for a game-time decision, as the 49ers play on Monday night. Even if one can wait, playing Mitchell would also come with some risk as last week at Cleveland he had two carries for minus-three yards while fellow backup Jordan Mason had five carries for 27 yards and a touchdown. On the other hand, Mitchell has been the clear number two on the depth chart and might not have been fully healthy last week. Mitchell is startable if McCaffrey is declared out, but counting on him if CMC's status is still unknown by Sunday's kickoffs could be disastrous.
Oct 22, 2023 1:01 AM EST
San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell (knee) will be a full-go this week in practices, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan. Mitchell returned in the Week 6 loss to the Cleveland Browns after missing the previous two games with a knee injury. Even with Christian McCaffrey (oblique, ribs) getting hurt on Sunday, Mitchell took a back seat to Jordan Mason and had only two carries for minus-three yards. Now that the 25-year-old is back up to full speed in practices this week, he seems likely to have a bigger backfield role for San Francisco on Monday night in Week 7 against the Minnesota Vikings if McCaffrey is unable to play. That's bad news for those that spent money on Mason on the waiver wire this week expecting him to be a workhorse in Week 7.
Oct 19, 2023 6:14 PM EST
San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell (knee) is officially active on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns in Week 6 after being listed as questionable coming into the day. With Mitchell back in action, Tyrion Davis-Price will be a healthy scratch. Mitchell was inactive the last two weeks with a knee injury that has plagued him in recent years, but he will return to back up Christian McCaffrey in Cleveland. The 25-year-old will be looking for scraps behind CMC and will not have any standalone fantasy value. Jordan Mason put up some surprising numbers in last week's blowout win over the Dallas Cowboys, but he'll be pushed even further down the RB depth chart with Mitchell back in action.
Oct 15, 2023 12:31 PM EST
San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell (knee) appears on track to return on Sunday against the Browns. He sat out a few games because of a knee injury. But head coach Kyle Shanahan seemed optimistic the 25-year-old would be back by indicating he was a "full-go" in practice on Friday. For now, Mitchell officially remains questionable for Week 6. However, Christian McCaffrey is the primary rusher, meaning Mitchell, assuming he plays, or Jordan Mason won't have much of an upside in any fantasy format, regardless of which player is No. 2 on the depth chart.
Oct 13, 2023 9:15 PM EST
San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell (knee) was a limited participant during Thursday's practice session. Mitchell has missed each of the last two games because of this knee issue, but is hopeful to play in Week 6. The fact he was able to suit up for a limited practice session is good news. Fantasy managers will have to check back on Friday as that practice will go a long way to determining his availability for Week 6 against the Cleveland Browns. If Mitchell sits out, Jordan Mason could likely continue to see additional reps behind Christian McCaffrey in the backfield.
Oct 12, 2023 9:51 PM EST
San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell (knee) did not practice on Wednesday. The 25-year-old back has been dealing with a knee injury that's limited him to just two games so far this season. He'll likely be out for Week 6 against the Cleveland Browns if Wednesday's DNP is any indication. Jordan Mason has done a fine job backing up all-world talent Christian McCaffrey in the 49ers' backfield in the meantime. Over the last two weeks, Mason has 13 carries for 79 yards (6.0 YPC), one touchdown, and one catch for 13 yards. McCaffrey dominates backfield touches for San Francisco, so whoever is backing him up, be it Mitchell or Mason, lacks fantasy value.
Oct 11, 2023 6:57 PM EST
San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell (knee) has been ruled out for Week 5 against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. It will be the second straight game that Mitchell will miss due to a knee injury he suffered in Week 3. Bell-cow back Christian McCaffrey should once again see the lion's share of the backfield work in a showdown with Dallas this weekend, with second-year back Jordan Mason picking up the scraps behind him. In the Week 4 win over the Arizona Cardinals with Mitchell inactive, Mason played just 15 percent of the offensive snaps and carried the ball three times for 10 yards, adding a 13-yard reception. Mitchell is only worth stashing in standard-sized fantasy leagues as a handcuff to McCaffrey.
Oct 6, 2023 5:32 PM EST
San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell (knee) was absent from practice on Thursday for the second straight day this week. Mitchell didn't play in the Week 4 win over the Arizona Cardinals and looks to be headed toward another inactive this Sunday night against the Dallas Cowboys. The 25-year-old needs to get back on the practice field on Friday to have a shot at playing. Even if Mitchell is active, though, he has no standalone fantasy value as long as Christian McCaffrey remains healthy. If Mitchell misses a second straight game, Jordan Mason should serve as CMC's backup once again. Mitchell has 16 carries for just 52 yards in two games so far in 2023.
Oct 5, 2023 8:28 PM EST
San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell (knee) did not practice on Wednesday. The third-year back missed Week 4 with the same knee issue and missing Wednesday's practice does not bode well for his chances of suiting up in Week 5. Mitchell has just 16 carries for 52 scoreless yards to begin the season so his role has practically no fantasy value anyway. Christian McCaffrey has been a dominant force both in real life and fantasy football so Mitchell and Jordan Mason are mere handcuffs.
Oct 4, 2023 6:54 PM EST
San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell (knee) is considered day-to-day before practice begins for Week 5 versus the Dallas Cowboys, per Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com. Mitchell missed Sunday's easy win against the Arizona Cardinals with a right knee injury after taking on his largest workload of the year (14 touches) in Week 3. The 25-year-old suffered the setback during last Thursday's practice in the same knee he sustained an MCL sprain in last year, costing him nine games. Though, a day-to-day designation certainly leaves the door open for him to return soon. Mitchell saw Jordan Mason flip four touches into 23 yards as the change-of-pace back in his stead while Christian McCaffrey broke Sunday's slate for 177 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns. Mitchell hasn't done much with 16 carries this year, but he remains one of fantasy's highest-upside handcuffs behind the oft-injured McCaffrey.
Oct 3, 2023 1:04 AM EST
San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell (knee) is expected to be inactive for Week 4 versus the Arizona Cardinals, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Mitchell was listed as questionable after missing practice on Friday. The only 49ers running back worth starting in fantasy football is the dangerous Christian McCaffrey. However, Jordan Mason and Tyrion Davis-Price can also expected to earn some snaps in Mitchell's absence.
Oct 1, 2023 8:36 AM EST
San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell (knee) is listed as questionable for Week 4 against the Arizona Cardinals. The third-year running back injured his knee during Thursday's practice and missed Friday's session as a result. Mitchell has logged 16 carries for 52 yards and has caught 3-of-4 targets for just two yards while spelling starting RB Christian McCaffrey across two games this year (Weeks 1 & 3). He did not log a snap in Week 2. If he is unable to suit up for Sunday's divisional tilt against the Cardinals then Jordan Mason would likely fill in as McCaffrey's backup, although that role does not lend itself to much fantasy value. We will hear more about Mitchell's status on Sunday morning.
Sep 29, 2023 6:27 PM EST
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan made good on his promise to get running back Elijah Mitchell involved in the game plan after Mitchell didn't play at all in the Week 2 win over the Los Angeles Rams. On Thursday night in the 30-12 win over the New York Giants, Mitchell saw a season-high 11 carries for 42 yards and caught all three of his targets for two yards. It was nice to see the 25-year-old get more involved in a game that wasn't close at all late, but Mitchell's week-to-week workload could vary drastically based on game flow, and as long as bell-cow Christian McCaffrey is healthy and doing his thing, Mitchell isn't going to have standalone fantasy value. He could, however, see another solid workload in a Week 4 matchup with the lowly Arizona Cardinals.
Sep 22, 2023 11:29 AM EST
On Monday, fantasy managers got San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan's word that running back Elijah Mitchell would be involved in the team's offensive attack on Thursday night against the New York Giants. The third-year pro out of Louisiana was active in Week 2 against the Los Angeles Rams but was on the field for exactly zero snaps. When asked why, Shanahan admitted that he "definitely should have noticed" and that he's "got to make sure that doesn't happen". It remains to be seen just how much work Mitchell is given, but fantasy managers should expect 5-10 touches on Thursday, given Shanahan's comments and McCaffrey's heavy usage just 4 days prior. Mitchell should remain on fantasy benches in standard formats and only started as a deep-league dart throw, hoping he finds the end zone.
Sep 20, 2023 6:33 PM EST
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said the team has to do a better job with its running back rotation and giving Christian McCaffrey 100% of the running back touches (like in Week 2) is not the plan. McCaffrey rushed 20 times for 116 yards and a touchdown and caught three passes for 19 yards against the Los Angeles Rams, while Elijah Mitchell did not receive a touch. Fantasy managers who selected Mitchell and expected some standalone value from him as a handcuff running back will have to hope Shanahan is being truthful. This will be a situation worth monitoring, especially with a Thursday Night Football game coming up against the New York Giants.
Sep 18, 2023 2:17 PM EST
San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell made no contribution to the team's 30-23 victory over the Rams in Los Angeles on Sunday. Mitchell, 25, did not garner a single carry or target. The good news is that no other running back on the 49ers' roster besides starter Christian McCaffrey got any touches either. It's unlikely that Mitchell will continue his role as a ghost when the 49ers host the New York Giants on Thursday night, especially given the quick turnaround and Christian McCaffrey's heavy usage on Sunday. Even with the goose egg, fantasy managers who have the roster flexibility would be wise to hold on to Mitchell as one of the most valuable in-case-of-injury stashes at the running back position.
Sep 18, 2023 1:07 AM EST
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