We start looking for Mitchell in Fantasy drafts once we get to Round 10. His upside is enormous if Christian McCaffrey goes down with an injury, but Mitchell himself has missed enough time to be a concern. He was unable to log one game with a 50% snap share last year, but in his rookie season, he totaled 1,326 yards from scrimmage in 14 games including the playoffs. Mitchell played six games with McCaffrey last year, including the playoffs, and averaged just over 11 touches per week. He scored double-digit Fantasy points in two of those games. View him as a desperation flex for as long as McCaffrey is healthy and do your best to hold on to him once the bye weeks start.
Mitchell (knee) is inactive for Sunday's Week 14 clash with Seattle.
Mitchell's inactive status doesn't come as a surprise, as he didn't practice at all during Week 14 prep and entered the weekend listed as doubtful. The third-year running back has now missed four games this season, though the first three all came within the first five weeks of the campaign. With Mitchell out, Jordan Mason will ascend to the role of San Francisco's No. 2 back behind Christian McCaffrey.
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49ers' Elijah Mitchell: Doubtful after missed practices
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Mitchell (knee) is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against Seattle, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
Mitchell didn't practice this week, setting up Jordan Mason for the backup role behind lead back Christian McCaffrey. It's a job that doesn't come with many snaps or touches outside of blowout scenarios, with Mitchell averaging 5.5 carries for 24.8 yards in four games (all wins) since the 49ers' Week 9 bye.
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49ers' Elijah Mitchell: No practice Thursday
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Mitchell (knee) didn't practice Thursday, Josh Dubow of The Associated Press reports.
Per Matt Barrows of The Athletic, Mitchell was seen working out on the side during the portion of Thursday's session open to media. However, Mitchell received the same listing as he did one day earlier, giving him only one more opportunity to mix into practice this week. Friday's injury could be telling for his potential to suit up Sunday against the Seahawks.
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49ers' Elijah Mitchell: Tending to knee issue
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Mitchell won't take part in Wednesday's practice due to a knee injury, David Lombardi of The Athletic reports.
Mitchell has routinely missed time due to knee issues in his two-plus years as a pro, but he's been able to string together seven consecutive appearances dating back to Week 6. Overall, he's totaled 28 carries and one catch (on two targets) during that span while Christian McCaffrey continues to handle the bulk of the reps afforded the 49ers backfield. As a result, even if he's able to suit up Sunday against the Seahawks, Mitchell likely won't contribute much in the box score.
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49ers' Elijah Mitchell: Just three carries behind CMC
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Mitchell rushed three times for 13 yards and was not targeted in the passing game in Sunday's 42-19 rout of the Eagles.
Mitchell experienced a dip in usage Sunday with Christian McCaffrey (17-93-1) and the rest of San Francisco's talented starting lineup taking care of business against Philadelphia. The three carries were Mitchell's lowest since Week 8 against Cincinnati. The 25-year-old has been running the ball well of late, maintaining a per-carry average above four yards for the third consecutive week. Mitchell should receive a handful of carries spelling CMC against Seattle next Sunday.
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49ers' Elijah Mitchell: Stashes (RB Preview)
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Mitchell is fully healthy and back in his RB2 position in San Francisco. If something happens to McCaffrey during the Fantasy playoffs, Mitchell will be a league winner. He's exactly the type of player first and second place teams should be stashing.
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49ers' Elijah Mitchell: Week 13 Waiver Priority List
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Mitchell should be added in all leagues since he's a lottery ticket in case something happens to Christian McCaffrey. That's really all there is to say. If McCaffrey were to miss any time, then Mitchell would be a must-start Fantasy running back in all leagues. You should stash Mitchell for up to 5 percent of your FAB.
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49ers' Elijah Mitchell: Strings together two solid games
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Mitchell carried the ball seven times for 39 yards and caught his lone target for a loss of three yards in Thursday's 31-13 win over the Seahawks.
Mitchell didn't post a notable fantasy line per se, but this was the second game in a row where the backup looked like his old self with the ball in his hands. The oft-injured back logged 17 snaps on offense (26 percent) while Christian McCaffrey went off for 100-plus rushing yards and a pair of scores Thursday. The 49ers will presumably lean on CMC as much as possible in Week 13 for a benchmark game against Philadelphia on Dec. 3. The 49ers' schedule softens up considerably after that, which could open up opportunities for Mitchell to get some extra run and become a potential deep-league option down the stretch.
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49ers' Elijah Mitchell: Stashes (RB Preview)
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Mitchell is fully healthy and back in his RB2 position in San Francisco. If something happens to McCaffrey during the Fantasy playoffs, Mitchell will be a league winner. He's exactly the type of player first and second place teams should be stashing.
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49ers' Elijah Mitchell: Logs eight snaps on offense Sunday
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Mitchell had four carries for 24 yards and was not targeted as a receiver in Sunday's 27-14 win over the Buccaneers.
Mitchell spelled starter Christian McCaffrey for eight offensive snaps Sunday, which is right around what the backup has been receiving through seven appearances this season. The 25-year-old managed to average more than four yards per tote for the first time in 2023, but his season average still sits at an unsavory mark of 2.9 yards. Mitchell simply isn't receiving enough touches to offset his regression as a runner this season, leaving the backup with little to no fantasy value for Thursday's tilt against the Seahawks.
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49ers' Elijah Mitchell: Gets 12 percent of snaps
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Mitchell had three carries for two yards and failed to bring in his lone target in Sunday's 31-17 loss to the Bengals.
Mitchell was the only 49ers backup running back to receive carries for the second straight week. The 25-year-old wound up logging seven snaps on offense, but he barely made an impact in the box score Sunday. Mitchell's inconsistent play combined with a smaller role on offense this year should keep him out of fantasy lineups when San Francisco returns from its bye to face the Jaguars on Sunday, Nov. 12.
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49ers' Elijah Mitchell: Only backup with touches Monday
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Mitchell lost one yard on his only carry in Monday's 22-17 loss to the Vikings.
Starting tailback Christian McCaffrey (oblique) did not leave the field in Monday's loss despite playing at less than 100 percent. Mitchell was still able to get on the field via two-back sets for four offensive snaps (eight percent). The 25-year-old wound up being the only other backup to touch the ball against Minnesota despite losing favor to the hotter Jordan Mason in recent weeks. Mitchell appears to still be No. 2 on depth chart heading into next Sunday's game against Cincinnati despite struggling with his production (2.5 YPC) when he has been healthy enough to play this season.
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49ers' Elijah Mitchell: Sleeper RBs
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We'll be watching the 49ers practice reports closely to see if Christian McCaffrey (oblique) can play Monday night at Minnesota. If he's out then expect a tandem of Mitchell and Jordan Mason, and Mitchell will likely get the majority of touches. It's not an easy matchup against the Vikings, who are No. 6 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. But if Mitchell is going to get the bulk of the touches then I'd view him as a No. 2 Fantasy running back in all leagues. He has 11 games in his career with at least 13 total touches, and he's averaging 14.6 PPR points over that span. One of those games was against Minnesota in Week 12 in 2021 when he scored a career-high 27.8 PPR points. Also, keep an eye on Deebo Samuel (shoulder), and if he's out along with McCaffrey, then Mitchell could be in line for a big game. As for Mason, consider him a flex if McCaffrey is out.
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49ers' Elijah Mitchell: Week 7 Adds (RB Preview)
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The situation in San Francisco is a fluid one, so make sure you check the latest news before making your final waiver claims. If Christian McCaffrey misses Week 7, we expect a split between Jordan Mason and Elijah Mitchell. Mason saw most of the work in Week 6, so we lean toward him, but both backs would be worth starting as flexes at least. Mitchell should do most of the work in the passing game, but Mason is expected to be the lead rusher.
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49ers' Elijah Mitchell: Returning to action Sunday
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Mitchell (knee) is listed as active Sunday at Cleveland, Lindsey Pallares of the 49ers' official site reports.
Mitchell has been plagued by knee injuries during his two-plus seasons as a pro, but the current issue will force him to miss only two games. Now that he's available to San Francisco's offense, he should get any of the RB reps that don't go to Christian McCaffrey. On the campaign, Mitchell has averaged 3.3 yards on his 16 carries and also gathered in three of four targets for two yards.
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49ers' Elijah Mitchell: Questionable for Sunday
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Mitchell (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game in Cleveland, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
A return to practice Thursday gives Mitchell at least some chance to avoid a third straight absence due to a knee injury suffered during practice. Jordan Mason has been filling in as the No. 2 RB behind Christian McCaffrey, with the role mostly consisting of garbage-time carries.
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49ers' Elijah Mitchell: Practicing Thursday
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Mitchell (knee) returned to practice Thursday, David Lombardi of The Athletic reports.
This marks Mitchell's first visible on-field work since the Thursday before a Week 4 matchup with the Cardinals. A knee injury has conspired to sidelined him for the last two games, but by mixing into drills in the middle of Week 6 prep, he's giving himself a chance to be available Sunday at Cleveland. First, though, Mitchell's activity level this Thursday will become known once the 49ers release their practice report.
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49ers' Elijah Mitchell: Still not practicing
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Head coach Kyle Shanahan said Mitchell (knee) won't practice Wednesday, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Mitchell has missed the last two games due to a knee injury, and his inability to practice to kick off Week 6 prep could mean another absence is on the horizon this Sunday in Cleveland. As long as Mitchell is sidelined, Jordan Mason will be next in line to absorb any snaps and touches that don't go to the 49ers' top running back, Christian McCaffrey.
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49ers' Elijah Mitchell: Not practicing
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Mitchell (knee) isn't practicing Wednesday, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Mitchell barely played the first two weeks of the season and then suffered a knee injury when he picked up 13 touches in a 30-13 win over the Giants in Week 3. He missed the Week 4 win over Arizona and now appears in danger of missing Sunday's game against Dallas, though a report earlier this week suggested the Niners consider him day-to-day. In any case, lead back Christian McCaffrey is unlikely to come off the field much Sunday in a battle between NFC heavyweights.
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49ers' Elijah Mitchell: Day-to-day for Week 5
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Mitchell (knee) is viewed as day-to-day as Sunday's game against the Cowboys approaches, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Mitchell sat out the 49ers' Week 4 win over the Cardinals after being added to the team's injury report this past Friday, but it appears as though he has a chance to return to action this weekend. In his absence versus Arizona, Jordan Mason logged three carries for 10 yards while working behind starting RB Christian McCaffrey.
