Who Should I Start? Elijah Mitchell or Khalil Shakir

Friday, January 19, 11:05 PM

San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell will back up starter Christian McCaffrey in Saturday night's Divisional Round tilt versus the Green Bay Packers. Mitchell finished the regular season with a career-low 3.7 yards per attempt and two touchdowns, almost exclusively as McCaffrey's injury and garbage-time replacement. Conceivably, DFS players willing to gamble on those scenarios occurring on Saturday could find a healthy return on minimal investment but otherwise, Mitchell should not be considered for fantasy lineups.

Monday, January 22, 1:06 AM

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir (shoulder) overcame a shoulder injury to close out Sunday's 27-24 Divisional Round defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs, tallying team highs in receptions (seven) and targets (nine) with 44 yards and a touchdown. Shakir made an impressive 13-yard catch for a score in the front corner of the end zone late in the third quarter before heading to the locker room, but he returned after just a handful of missed plays. Proving to be a very capable producer when granted opportunities, the 23-year-old second-year wideout hauled in 49 of his 57 targets for 686 yards (12.0 yards per target) and four touchdowns overall this year. Perhaps more versed in supplying efficiency than erratic field stretcher Gabe Davis (knee), Shakir will sport a compelling late-round fantasy-flier case in 2024 drafts with Davis headed for unrestricted free agency and Stefon Diggs turning 31 years old in November.