Who Should I Start? Elijah Mitchell or Bucky Irving

Friday, September 5, 7:20 PM

Kansas City Chiefs running back Elijah Mitchell is a healthy inactive for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Friday night in Brazil against the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers, according to Nate Taylor of ESPN. It's bad news for Mitchell heading into his first year with the Chiefs, as it looks like he's the RB4 to open the year, behind starter Isiah Pacheco, Kareem Hunt and rookie Brashard Smith. The 27-year-old was getting some first-team reps early in training camp, but that was a long time ago in late July. Mitchell signed a one-year, $2.5 million deal with KC in the offseason after spending his first three NFL seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. In his three years in the Bay Area, the former sixth-rounder in 2021 out of Louisiana averaged 4.7 yards per tote on 327 rush attempts for 1,523 yards and nine touchdowns (five in his rookie season).

Thursday, November 13, 11:59 AM

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (foot, shoulder) was spotted at practice for the second consecutive day ahead of the team's road clash with the Buffalo Bills in Week 11. Irving hasn't touched the field since a standout performance in Week 4, but the recent string of practices is encouraging. It's unknown if he'll be on track to play in Sunday's outing, though fantasy managers must be relieved to see him practicing in at least a limited capacity. Presumably, he'll likely sit for another week or so as he works back to full strength. If that's the case, it will be another game of backfield mates Rachaad White and Sean Tucker splitting work in his stead. White has led the duo by a wide margin in snaps, but it's worth mentioning that Tucker has garnered more work in the previous two outings.