Who Should I Start? Elijah Mitchell or Jaleel McLaughlin

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 27, 9:44 AM

Denver Broncos running back Jaleel McLaughlin totaled just six offensive snaps and one carry all season before Week 11 against the Kansas City Chiefs. McLaughlin played just eight offensive snaps in the game, but handled six carries for 19 yards and a touchdown while adding one catch (one target) for negative five yards. Rookie R.J. Harvey operated as the clear lead back, playing 60.7% of the snaps and recording 14 touches, but McLaughlin outcarried him two to one inside the 10-yard line and found the end zone. Head coach Sean Payton praised the 25-year-old after the game and said that he will be "important down the stretch." With J.K. Dobbins (foot) likely out for the year and Tyler Badie mostly operating on passing downs, McLaughlin should play a key role in Denver's backfield for the remainder of the season and could be the preferred goal-line option, giving him value in deeper leagues.