Who Should I Start? Elijah Mitchell or Brian Robinson Jr.

Friday, September 22, 11:29 AM

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.

Friday, September 22, 4:36 PM

Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. has been off and running to start the 2023 season. Through the first two weeks of the season, the second-year back is eighth in rushing yards and tied for second in total touchdowns. He could have a solid game on the way as well with the Buffalo Bills on the schedule and inclement weather on the way. The D.C. area is reported to be a likely destination for heavy rain and wind on Sunday. If that indeed occurs, the Commanders may have to turn to a run-heavy approach which favors Robinson's outlook. Based on his recent performances and the upcoming environment, Robinson is a low-end RB1 or a high-end RB2 in Week 3.