Who Should I Start? Kareem Hunt or Keaton Mitchell

Friday, December 5, 10:21 AM

Across 12 games this season, Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt has recorded 629 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns on 144 touches. While the 30-year-old's season-long numbers don't jump off the page, Hunt's work in recent weeks is more notable. He's earned double-digit touches in five straight games and scored five touchdowns in that span. Hunt saw a boost in playing time throughout November due to a knee injury to fellow Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco. Still, in Pacheco's first game back in Week 13, Hunt remained the clear lead rusher and out-touched Pacheco 15 to five. Even if Kansas City works towards a more even split between the two backs as Pacheco gets healthier, Hunt has proven to be the team's trusted option at the goal-line. Hunt has earned 34 red zone snaps so far this season, compared to just 15 for Pacheco. Hunt profiles as a low-end fantasy RB2 heading into Kansas City's Week 14 matchup against the Houston Texans.

Tuesday, December 2, 10:33 PM

Baltimore Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell scored for the first time this year in last Thursday's Thanksgiving Day loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Mitchell was extremely efficient with his limited opportunities on Turkey Day, taking two carries for 19 yards and a touchdown while picking up 12 receiving yards on his two receptions (three targets). The 23-year-old third-year back only played 13% of the offensive snaps as Baltimore's RB3, though, behind Rasheen Ali (48% snap share) and Derrick Henry (40%). Mitchell had a nice 18-yard touchdown scamper against the Bengals and has intriguing explosiveness out of the backfield, but right now he's stuck as the No. 3 option in the Ravens' backfield, making him a hard sell for a roster spot in 12-team fantasy leagues. He has added value in leagues that include return yardage on special teams. Mitchell had 91 return yards on three kickoffs in Week 13.