Who Should I Start? Elijah Mitchell or Jarquez Hunter

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, September 7, 3:11 PM

Los Angeles Rams running back Jarquez Hunter (coach's decision) is a healthy scratch for Week 1 against the Houston Texans. Although the rookie has fourth-round draft capital, it appears that the coaching staff wasn't ready to include him as a member of their gameday backfield. Hunter's absence is not necessarily a surprise, though. Yesterday, we noted that Hunter's position on the depth chart may be falling after the Rams elevated Cody Schrader from the practice squad. Indeed, Schrader will operate behind Kyren Williams and Blake Corum, while Hunter watches from the sideline. He's a fine dynasty stash but should be dropped in all redraft leagues.