Who Should I Start? James Conner or Elijah Mitchell

Monday, July 15, 7:07 PM

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner may have recorded a career-high 1,040 rushing yards in 2023, but he hopes that was his floor and he can build on that total in 2024. "That's the floor," Conner told Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com. "I want that to be the lowest I rush for in my career going forward. Definitely got a lot of work to put in but that's the floor, not the ceiling." Now 29 years old, Conner still has a solid grasp on the Cardinals' No. 1 running back role even after Arizona added Trey Benson in the draft. He has continued to show that he can make an impact on the ground and through the air, entering 2024 as a solid RB2 option in most fantasy football leagues.

Thursday, June 6, 2:11 PM

According to The Athletic's David Lombardi, San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell is the team's clear No. 2 back behind All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey. Mitchell is an all-around back, but his health is the key. If training camp this summer yields a productive backfield logjam, Lombardi points out that the 49ers have previously traded Matt Breida and Jeff Wilson Jr. when they have an excess of depth at the position. As of right now, the 26-year-old Mitchell is the best handcuff option for fantasy managers that take McCaffrey first overall in fantasy drafts this fall. Mitchell has produced 4.7 yards per carry in his three years in the NFL in the Bay Area, but he's also played in just 27 games in a three-year span. If CMC misses time with an injury in 2024, Mitchell will become a hot commodity.