What You Need to Know:

• Mitchell racked up 963 yards and 5 TDs on 2017 carries as a rookie last year. He added a 19-137-1 receiving line on 20 targets.
• He did that despite missing 6 games with shoulder, finger and knee injuries – plus a concussion. Mitchell had what he called a "clean-up" procedure on that knee after the season.
• When Mitchell was healthy, he was San Francisco’s workhorse. He averaged 18.8 carries per game and toted it 17+ times in 9 of his 11 games. Only Joe Mixon had more games of 17+ carries last season.
• Mitchell was much less busy in the passing game, averaging only 1.8 targets, 1.7 catches and 12.5 receiving yards per game. He topped 3 catches in only 2 of his 11 outings.
• Mitchell ranked 16th among RBs in PPR points per game and 11th in non-PPR points per game.
• He benefited from playing in HC Kyle Shanahan’s scheme and behind an offensive line that ranked 2nd in Pro Football Focus’ run-blocking grades and 11th in Football Outsiders’ Adjusted Line Yards.
• Mitchell ranked 20th in PFF rushing grade and 12th in Elusive Rating among 50 RBs with 100+ carries last season.
• HC Kyle Shanahan returns in 2022 for his 6th season with the 49ers.
  • San Francisco has ranked top 14 in rushing attempts and top 15 in rushing yards in 4 straight seasons.
• But the ‘Niners have had a different rushing leader in all 5 of Shanahan’s seasons:
  • 2017 - Carlos Hyde
  • 2018 - Matt Breida
  • 2019 - Raheem Mostert
  • 2020 - Jeff Wilson
  • 2021 - Elijah Mitchell
• RBs Jeff Wilson, Trey Sermon and JaMycal Hasty return from last year’s 49ers team. They combined for just 136 carries last year, with Wilson leading the way with 79.
• San Francisco spent a 3rd-round pick in this spring’s draft on RB Ty Davis-Price. The LSU product totaled just 741 rushing yards over his first 2 college seasons but broke out with a 211-1,003-6 line last year. He goes 6'0, 219 pounds and ran a 4.48-second 40-yard dash at the Combine, giving him an 89th-percentile speed score among NFL RBs.
• The Athletic's Matt Barrows wrote in May that he expects to see "plenty of rotation" in the 49ers' backfield this season. 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.
• For his part, Mitchell is planning to play at 215 pounds this season – up 15 from last year – in an attempt to stay healthier.
• The 49ers have questions on their interior offensive line heading into this season after C Alex Mack retired and LG Laken Tomlinson signed with the Jets in free agency.
• Elijah Mitchell "continues to look like the clear-cut No. 1 option at RB" for the 49ers, ESPN's Nick Wagoner tweeted

Draft Sharks Bottom Line:

The 49ers leaned on Mitchell when he was healthy last season – and he delivered. He ranked 16th among RBs in PPR points per game and 11th in non-PPR points per game.

But Mitchell dealt with a bunch of injuries and didn’t do much in the passing game. HC Kyle Shanahan has never been afraid to mix things up in his backfield. And there’s already been talk that the ‘Niners will go with more of a committee attack this season, including 3rd-round rookie RB Ty Davis-Price.

Mitchell looks risky if you’re drafting him as more than a RB3.