Who Should I Start? Jaret Patterson or Elijah Mitchell

Monday, December 1, 6:41 PM

Los Angeles Chargers running back Jaret Patterson carried the ball 11 times for 54 yards and a touchdown in the team's 31-14 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. After being signed to the active roster early last week, Patterson served as the primary back behind Kimani Vidal as the Chargers totaled 192 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Patterson looked decisive and scored his first rushing touchdown of the season as the offense relied heavily on the ground game following Justin Herbert's hand injury. Looking ahead, rookie Omarion Hampton's return from IR is imminent after his 21-day practice window opened last week, which would move Patterson behind Hampton and Vidal. Next Monday night, the Bolts face a Philadelphia Eagles defense that has recently been vulnerable against the run. However, Patterson's fantasy value depends entirely on Hampton's availability in Week 14. If Hampton returns, Patterson might not even see the field. If he doesn't, Patterson will remain a depth piece with a few change-of-pace carries.

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).