Who Should I Start? Elijah Mitchell or Jase McClellan

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, August 25, 1:15 PM

Atlanta Falcons rookie sixth-round running back Jase McClellan (undisclosed) has been banged up the past few weeks in training camp but should make the final 53-man roster as a fourth running back. The former Alabama product carried the ball four times for 12 yards and added an 11-yard catch on his only target in the team's preseason finale on Friday against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 22-year-old picked up 55 rushing yards last week against the Baltimore Ravens and looks lined up as the team's RB4 behind Bijan Robinson, Tyler Allgeier and Carlos Washington. McClellan fell to the sixth round in April because of a foot injury that cut his final season short at Alabama last year. His skill set doesn't particularly stand out, but McClellan is a well-rounded rookie that will give Atlanta depth at the position. McClellan is only worth stashing in deep dynasty/keeper leagues.