Elijah Mitchell
  • Elijah Mitchell

  • RB
  • , San Francisco 49ers
  • 26
  • 200 lbs
  • 5' 10"
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Scouting report

by Brandon Niles

SF RB Elijah Mitchell - Week 7 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 7 at Minnesota Vikings

Elijah Mitchell gave way to Jordan Mason last week, but that could’ve been related to how little he’d practiced coming off an injury. Mitchell has been the guy in the past, when healthy, but Mason has looked good and Mitchell is rarely healthy. If Christian McCaffrey is out this weekend - far from a sure thing - then Mitchell becomes interesting. However, he’s too risky to put in fantasy lineups with Mason looming. Stash him if you have room, but look elsewhere this week.

by Brandon Niles

SF RB Elijah Mitchell - Week 4 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 4 vs. Arizona Cardinals

After being inactive in Week 2, Elijah Mitchell received 11 carries and three receptions for a total of 44 yards against the Giants last week. This is probably the best case scenario for Mitchell while Christian McCaffrey is healthy, and while 14 touches certainly could produce value in any given week, his usage and role make him too risky to bank on in most fantasy leagues. This week, he has a shot at some garbage time against the Cardinals in a game the 49ers are heavily favored to win, but again, he’s too risky to put in lineups.

by Brandon Niles

SF RB Elijah Mitchell - Week 2 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 2 at Los Angeles Rams

Elijah Mitchell received five change-of-pace carries and one target last week against the Steelers, finishing with just 10 yards from scrimmage. It was concerning to see Mitchell get such limited work, even in a lopsided victory. Until we see more consistent production and touches from Mitchell, he should be left on fantasy benches, although he remains a quality stash option with tremendous upside if Christian McCaffrey were to miss time with an injury.

by Brandon Niles

SF RB Elijah Mitchell - Week 1 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 1 at Pittsburgh Steelers

Elijah Mitchell is productive when he’s healthy. He averaged 6.2 yards on 45 rushing attempts last year, scoring two touchdowns while being limited to just five games due to injury. He also rushed for 963 yards and scored six touchdowns in just 11 games as a rookie. Mitchell is stuck behind Christian McCaffrey on the depth chart, which hurts his chances to produce in any given week, though he’ll likely have at least a change-of-pace role. Still, he should be viewed as a backup with starter potential in the event of a McCaffrey injury rather than as a stand-alone fantasy option. Plus, he’s getting over an adductor injury. Sit him.

by Bob Harris

SF RB Elijah Mitchell - 2023 Fantasy Football Outlook

Fantasy Upside
In April of 2021, Kyle Shanahan and the San Francisco 49ers selected running back Trey Sermon, who was coming off a strong career at Oklahoma and Ohio State, in the third round of the NFL draft. Fantasy experts across the nation salivated over the fit. As Field Level Media put it, "Those were the days." It was not Sermon but sixth-rounder Elijah Mitchell who emerged from that draft to become the Niners' lead back. Mitchell has flashed in the two seasons since, and if he could stay healthy, he might be a top-20 fantasy running back heading into this fall. It wasn't to be, as after Mitchell sprained his MCL in Week 1, the 49ers pulled the trigger on the Christian McCaffrey trade.

Fantasy Downside
He's mired behind arguably the best back in football.

2023 Bottom Line
Mitchell projects as a great No. 2 back in San Francisco and a flex or McCaffrey handcuff with some upside. He can still rip off giant gains when defenses are least expecting it. He'll need to spell McCaffrey now and again. For that matter, McCaffrey has his own injury baggage, and Mitchell's stock would soar if McCaffrey missed any amount of time.

by Brandon Niles

SF RB Elijah Mitchell - Week 12 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 12 vs. New Orleans Saints

Elijah Mitchell gained 59 yards on nine carries last week against the Cardinals. Mitchell seems to have a role in this offense, but his ceiling is limited with so many other weapons on the offense, especially when Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel are combining for 10 carries out of the backfield. Plus, Mitchell doesn’t get any passing-down work, with just two targets and one reception in three games this season. Mitchell has a role in the offense, giving him some deep-league potential if you need to avoid a goose egg, but with limited upside, he’s best relegated to the bench this week with a full slate of games on the docket.

by Brandon Niles

SF RB Elijah Mitchell - Week 11 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 11 at Arizona Cardinals

Despite the presence of Christian McCaffrey, Elijah Mitchell still saw 18 carries last week and 35% of the team’s offensive snaps in his return from injury. He finished the day with 89 yards on the ground and he lost a yard in the passing game.

Mitchell should continue to be part of a one-two punch as the coaching staff has shown a desire to use him when he’s healthy. McCaffrey limits Mitchell’s upside, but in a nice matchup against an Arizona defense that ranks 27th in aFPA to opposing running backs, he has some deep-league fringe-RB2 potential.

Elijah Mitchell news