Who Should I Start? Elijah Mitchell or Emari Demercado

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).

Sunday, December 14, 8:24 AM

Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado (ankle) currently carries a questionable tag into Sunday's Week 15 matchup against the Houston Texans. According to Adam Schefter, Demercado is expected to make his return to the field after missing the last three games with an ankle injury. His return to the mix would make for a messy situation in the backfield. Demercado figures to immediately have a significant role, which should reduce the playing time of Bam Knight and Michael Carter. This is already an unfavorable matchup against a Texans defense that has allowed the fourth-fewest rushing yards this season. If Demercado is active, fantasy managers should view him on the lower end of the FLEX radar in deep leagues.