Who Should I Start? Keaton Mitchell or DJ Giddens

Tuesday, June 3, 2:37 PM

Baltimore Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell suffered a significant ACL tear at the end of his 2023 rookie campaign and was limited to just five games in 2024, logging touches in two contests. In his first season, the East Carolina product averaged a whopping 8.4 yards per carry on 47 rushing attempts, totalling 396 yards and two touchdowns. Had he not suffered a major injury, he could have entered last season as the clear RB2 behind Derrick Henry, but he'll get that chance again entering the 2025 campaign, and the 23-year-old is back to 100%. "I feel like I'm back better than when I first got here," Mitchell said. "I tell guys a lot that talk to me that I'm starting all over. They don't even know what I can do. I'm just starting all over again, proving what I can do and taking it day by day." While Henry remains the clear workhorse in Baltimore, he is entering his age-31 season and carries additional injury risk. In deeper setups, Mitchell and Justice Hill can be considered handcuff stashes, though Rasheen Ali will also have the chance to compete for a spot on the depth chart.

Thursday, June 5, 2:27 PM

Indianapolis Colts rookie running back DJ Giddens will likely have the opportunity to win the RB2 job, and he could earn a weekly role on offense if he proves capable in the pass-blocking and pass-catching game, according to team reporter Jake Arthur. "Giddens may carve out some sort of role regardless of what's going on ahead of him with Jonathan Taylor and/or Khalil Herbert," Arthur wrote. "The Colts really like Giddens." The Kansas State product was the No. 151 overall pick (fifth-round) in the 2025 NFL Draft after posting 2,469 rushing yards, 581 receiving yards, and 21 total touchdowns over his final two collegiate seasons. He'll be competing with Herbert and Tyler Goodson to earn a spot behind Jonathan Taylor. For now, he's a late-round handcuff stash in deeper fantasy football leagues, but he's worth monitoring early in his first professional campaign.