Elijah Mitchell Fantasy Football News | Shark Bites

NBC Bay Area's Matt Maiocco says 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan "appears determined to deploy more of a backs-by-committee approach" this season. That would obviously hurt the touch count for RB Elijah Mitchell, who averaged 18.8 carries per game as a rookie. He also missed 6 games with multiple injuries, though, and needed a knee "clean-up" after the season. San Francisco added RB Tyrion Davis-Price in Round 3 of the NFL Draft and get Jeff Wilson Jr. back to full health after he basically lost 2020 to a meniscus tear. Trey Sermon and JaMycal Hasty also remain but will likely need to fight their way into contention for touches. Mitchell is going RB24 in FFPC drafting and RB23 on Underdog right now. That's not a terrible range, but we're not excited about his 2022 outlook -- especially in full-PPR formats.

Jeff Wilson will head to training camp as the 49ers' #2 RB, according to The Athletic's Matt Barrows. Wilson "looked significantly better in the spring than he did late last season when he was still dealing with the aftereffects of an offseason knee injury," Barrows writes. RB Ty Davis-Price, meanwhile, missed some time this spring with an injury. There's still plenty of time for the rookie to climb the depth chart, but don't assume that TDP will begin the season as RB Elijah Mitchell's backup.

Per beat writer Cam Inman, new 49ers RB coach Anthony Lynn “is believed to be high” on Trey Sermon. The 2nd-year RB handled only 41 attempts as a rookie and watched Elijah Mitchell — drafted 3 rounds later — lead the team in rushing. A former HC, Lynn brings a wealth of experience following stops with 8 different organizations. Only 23, Sermon will look to carve out a role alongside Mitchell, Jeff Wilson and rookie 3rd-rounder Tyrion Davis-Price.

The 49ers held RB Elijah Mitchell out of the offseason program following a "clean-up" knee procedure. While an exact date is unknown, Mitchell underwent the procedure sometime in early 2022. Per team insider Matt Barrows, Mitchell is “expected” to return for training camp. Frankly, it’d be a major surprise if he’s not on the field for day 1. But we’ll keep a close eye on the 2nd-year back who’s fresh off posting 207-963-5 in 11 games (10 starts). He'll be pushed for touches by Jeff Wilson, Trey Sermon and rookie 3rd-rounder Tyrion Davis-Price.

The Athletic's Matt Barrows expects to see "plenty of rotation" in the 49ers' backfield this season. That wasn't the case last year, when RB Elijah Mitchell dominated carries whenever he was healthy. But Barrows believes "the 49ers are hesitant to give Mitchell or any of the running backs too great a load this season" after Mitchell dealt with a variety of injuries in 2021. Barrows expects rookie RB Ty Davis-Price to be part of San Francisco's RB rotation. Trey Sermon, Jeff Wilson and JaMycal Hasty are also on the roster.

49ers RB Elijah Mitchell is looking to play this season at 215 pounds -- up about 15 pounds from last season. The added weight is aimed at keeping Mitchell healthier after he dealt with knee, rib, concussion and shoulder issues as a rookie last year. We've seen plenty of RBs lose burst and speed after packing on pounds, though, so Mitchell will be worth watching closely this summer.

Beat writer Eric Branch believes the 49ers could "hand off even more this season while easing in Trey Lance.” Last year, San Francisco ranked 6th in rush attempts (29.3 per game). Under HC Kyle Shanahan, the team’s ranked top-14 in rushes in 4 straight seasons. The 49ers were reportedly sold on Tyrion Davis-Price’s “size, physicality and aggressiveness,” per Branch. The rookie will need to earn a role this summer. But Elijah Mitchell’s durability concerns and a lost 2021 from Trey Sermon shows there’s a path to year 1 snaps for TDP.

The 49ers selected LSU RB Tyrion Davis-Price in Round 3 of the NFL Draft. The 6'0, 219-pounder ran a 4.48-second 40-yard dash at the Combine, giving him an 89th-percentile speed score among NFL RBs. He turned that into just 4.6 yards per rush across 3 seasons with the Tigers, though. Davis-Price took over the backfield in 2021, carrying 211 times for 1,003 yards and 6 TDs. He added just 10 catches, though that number did lead LSU RBs. San Francisco selected him in the same round it chose RB Trey Sermon a year ago. We'll see about the planned role for Davis-Price in his rookie season.

49ers RB Elijah Mitchell had what he called a "clean-up" procedure on his knee this offseason. He added that he expects to be ready for the start of training camp. Mitchell missed 3 games in December with what was described as knee swelling -- although it's unclear if this surgery was related. We'll keep an eye on Mitchell this summer. He escaped free agency without the 'Niners adding backfield competition. We'll see what the draft brings.

49ers RB Elijah Mitchell (knee) is active for today’s game vs. the Texans. It’ll be his first action since Week 13. A healthy Mitchell has been a workhorse this season, though. And HC Kyle Shanahan said Friday that they’ll “play Elijah as much as he can handle.” Check where Mitchell sits in the Week 17 RB Rankings.

49ers RB Elijah Mitchell (knee) is expected to play vs. the Texans today, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Mitchell has been out since Week 13 with a concussion and knee swelling but got in 3 limited practices this week. HC Kyle Shanahan said Friday that he'll "play Elijah as much as he can handle," while adding that he'll monitor that knee. He's not the safest fantasy play today but has 20-carry upside.

49ers RB Elijah Mitchell (knee) was limited in practice all week and is listed as questionable for this weekend’s game vs. the Texans. HC Kyle Shanahan sure made it sound like Mitchell will play, though. "We’ll play Elijah as much as he can handle, so that’s about watching him, watching how his legs work, communicating with him," Shanahan said Friday. Mitchell has averaged 18.3 carries across his 9 outings this season and could reach that number on Sunday if that knee holds up.

49ers RB Elijah Mitchell (knee) remained limited on Thursday. His status for this weekend's game vs. Houston is still uncertain. Check back tomorrow for another update.

49ers RB Elijah Mitchell (knee) got in a limited practice on Wednesday. It looks like he has a shot to return for this weekend's game vs. the Texans. We'll get another update on Mitchell tomorrow.

The 49ers have ruled RB Elijah Mitchell out for Thursday night's game at Tennessee with his knee injury. Jeff Wilson Jr. dominated backfield work in Sunday's win over Atlanta, with Deebo Samuel and Jimmy Garoppolo the only 2 other Niners to handle more than 1 carry.

49ers GM John Lynch said Tuesday morning that RB Elijah Mitchell will be a game-time decision for Thursday night's tilt with the Titans. Mitchell is out of concussion protocol, and his knee has "taken a positive turn," Lynch said. We'll see what Mitchell does in practice today and tomorrow and how he's listed on the final injury report. A healthy Mitchell has been a workhorse for the 'Niners this season.

49ers RB Elijah Mitchell (concussion, knee) is out for Sunday’s game vs. the Falcons. HC Kyle Shanahan said Friday that it’s swelling in Mitchell’s knee, and not the concussion, that’s keeping him out. Jeff Wilson will get another game as San Francisco’s lead back. He’s been disappointing in 2 spot starts this season but at least has a plus matchup this weekend against Atlanta’s 27th-ranked RB defense.