Who Should I Start? Keaton Mitchell or Dylan Sampson
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.7 | 23.6 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 6.3 | 0.0 |
Keaton Mitchell News
Tuesday, August 4, 7:37 AM
In signing speedy running back Keaton Mitchell to a two-year deal, the Los Angeles Chargers provided offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel with a unique weapon that could find a significant role in 2026. McDaniel recently told ESPN's Dan Graziano, "He's as dynamic as they come with the ball in his hands in space," going on to say, "He's a matchup issue for every defense. I think he has a lot of pass-game value that he hasn't been able to really represent in his career, but it's showing so far in camp. He's a playmaker that I'm very excited about." Mitchell is likely to work as the Chargers' primary change-of-pace back behind presumed starter Omarion Hampton, with last year's leading rusher Kimani Vidal serving as more of a direct handcuff, more capable of handling a full workload if called upon. While any fantasy viability for Vidal is injury-dependent, Mitchell should see his own standalone value and is a high-upside swing as RotoBaller's RB42.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.1 | 16.9 | 0.1 | 1.9 | 14.8 | 0.1 |
Dylan Sampson News
Thursday, August 6, 10:13 AM
Cleveland Browns running back Dylan Sampson has a clear role behind Quinshon Judkins, but fantasy managers should not assume every Judkins touch would fall to him. Sampson was much better as a receiver than a runner during his rookie year, catching 33 passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns while managing only 175 yards on 65 carries. Jerome Ford is gone, which leaves Sampson as the leading passing-down option in the backfield. That gives him some standalone value in deeper PPR leagues. The handcuff case is less straightforward. Judkins returned to full work during the offseason after recovering from a dislocated ankle and fractured fibula, and Cleveland still has 6-foot, 230-pound Raheim Sanders for heavier carries. The Browns also added fullback Michael Burton as Todd Monken installs more gap concepts and short-yardage looks. RotoBaller ranks Sampson RB53 in PPR and RB52 in half-PPR. He is worth a late pick in deeper formats, especially for managers looking for catches from the back end of the roster. Just do not draft him expecting a three-down role if Judkins misses time.
Keaton Mitchell vs. Dylan Sampson
Still trying to decide between Mitchell and Sampson? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Keaton Mitchell is projected to score 4.7 points this week while Dylan Sampson is projected to score 6.1 points.
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