Elijah Mitchell in 2022 Fantasy Football: Risk vs. Reward?

NFL football is upcoming, along with fantasy football. With training camps already held by teams, it’s a matter of time before leagues start and people have to consider who to draft. Last year’s offseason was crazy, and to celebrate the NFL’s unpredictability and excitement, there’s one player that needs to be looked at. What do we do with Elijah Mitchell in 2022 fantasy football?

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Elijah Mitchell is a running back for the San Francisco 49ers. Prior to the start of the 2021 season, the San Francisco 49ers seemed to have their picks locked up with Raheem Mostert and Trey Sermon, projected to assume the bulk of the carries. But after an unexpected healthy scratch to Trey Sermon and a season-ending injury to Raheem Mostert in Week 1, Elijah Mitchell, a sixth-round rookie from Louisianna-Lafayette, took the field in their place. While Mitchell was unknown to most people, he quickly gained recognition with his efficient running and strong fantasy performances. After his appearance in Week 1, he maintained control of the backfield for the remainder of the 2021 season which resulted in him being one of the better waiver acquisitions for fantasy managers and RB1 for the 49ers.

Mitchell had an impressive rookie season, finishing with 963 rushing yards (8th in the NFL) on 207 carries, six total touchdowns, zero fumbles, and five games with over 100 rushing yards. While he wasn’t bad as a receiver, Mitchell’s upside was capped to a point due to the 49ers’ coaching staff favoring other running backs in that role, resulting in lower-than-expected fantasy numbers.

Another concerning piece of Elijah Mitchell’s rookie season was his inability to stay healthy. Over the course of the year, Mitchell sustained five separate injuries that resulted in six missed games. Those injuries could just be a result of his unexpected workload, but it is a concern for fantasy managers and the 49ers alike.

In addition to that, the 49ers don’t have a clear running back leader to choose in consecutive years. They decided to use a third-round pick to get running back Tyrion Davis-Price as well. Elijah Mitchell’s currently in the dead zone between rounds 3-6, and the difference between his proven capabilities and the 49ers’ inability to be definite make it hard to determine whether he’ll be a risk or a reward.

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