Elijah Mitchell Placed On Injured Reserve, Out For The Season
The San Francisco 49ers placed running back Elijah Mitchell (hamstring) on Injured Reserve on Tuesday, and his 2024 season is over. Mitchell, who was projected as the team's RB2, has dealt with injury problems throughout his career, having never played more than 11 games in a year. Jordan Mason is now expected to be the 49ers' RB2 behind Christian McCaffrey (calf) with Mitchell sidelined. Rookie Isaac Guerendo and Patrick Taylor Jr. will also see an uptick in playing time behind McCaffrey and Mason with Mitchell now done for the year.
The San Francisco 49ers have typically carried four running backs and a fullback on their 53-man roster. They've traded two RBs for fifth-round draft picks in the past, Matt Breida and Jeff Wilson Jr., during Kyle Shanahan's tenure as head coach. If Elijah Mitchell can fetch a return, then perhaps the 49ers have adequate depth to orchestrate another trade. San Francisco has been happy with Cody Schrader and Patrick Taylor Jr., so expect at least one of those backs to remain in the building, even if it's on the practice squad. Mitchell is one of San Fran's top backups to workhorse starter Christian McCaffrey (calf), who is currently not practicing. If Mitchell were to get traded ahead of the regular season, it would leave Jordan Mason as McCaffrey's clear-cut backup and an abundance of contingency upside as a handcuff.
Elijah Mitchell, Isaac Guerendo Return To Practice
San Francisco 49ers running backs Elijah Mitchell (hamstring), Isaac Guerendo (hamstring) and Patrick Taylor Jr. (undisclosed) have all returned to training camp practices in the last two days. The only Niners running back out of practice still is starter Christian McCaffrey (calf), but he's been doing heavy work on the side. Mitchell will now try to hold off Jordan Mason for the RB2 role in San Fran. Although McCaffrey will end up missing the entire preseason, the 49ers aren't worried that he'll miss the start of the regular season. The 26-year-old former sixth-rounder in 2021 out of Louisiana would become a weekly fantasy option if CMC were to miss extended time, but Mitchell has battled injury issues of his own in his three years in the NFL and has played in a total of 27 games (12 starts) since entering the league. Guerendo is behind in his development heading into his rookie year, but he, too, could be a threat to Mitchell's spot on the depth chart eventually in 2024.
San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell (hamstring) won't suit up for Saturday's preseason opener. The 49ers will be without Mitchell, Christian McCaffrey (calf), and Isaac Guerendo (hamstring) for Saturday's contest. Undrafted rookie Cody Schrader and veteran Matt Breida are likely to see increased touches with the 49ers limited on players. These injuries aren't expected to linger into the regular season.
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan relayed to reporters on Tuesday that San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell (hamstring) has been dealing with a strained hamstring. While it's unknown if Mitchell will miss any time because of this injury, but the fact that Christian McCaffrey (calf) is also set to miss the preseason with a calf injury and the team adding former 49er Matt Breida to the running back stable raises the level of concern. The pecking order for the backup running back behind McCaffrey has heated up with Mitchell, Jordan Mason, rookie Isaac Guerendo, and now Breida. Mitchell has been the primary backup since McCaffrey arrived in San Francisco in a 2022 mid-season trade, but the hold on that job has loosened by the day. Keep an eye on any news regarding the injury status for Mitchell, but Mitchell does carry a slight edge as the contingency running back for the 49ers in case CMC isn't ready for Week 1.
Jordan Mason, Elijah Mitchell Competing For Backup Role
With Christian McCaffrey receiving a training-camp rest day on Monday, Jordan Mason was the San Francisco 49ers' first running back on the field for the start of team drills. Mason, the 49ers' No. 3 back the past two seasons, carried the ball on the first snap. Elijah Mitchell, the No. 2 back since McCaffrey arrived in 2022, had a carry on the second snap. Head coach Kyle Shanahan also shared praise of Mason's development after the session. After Mitchell served as McCaffrey's unquestioned backup, Mason at least is making the situation murkier. San Fran's backfield pecking order behind McCaffrey will certainly be something for fantasy managers to monitor leading into the Aug. 10 preseason opener against the hosting Tennessee Titans. Until then, Mitchell should be treated as CMC's preferred handcuff at the end of fantasy drafts with rookie Isaac Guerendo (hamstring) sidelined.
Elijah Mitchell The Clear No. 2 RB In San Francisco
According to The Athletic's David Lombardi, San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell is the team's clear No. 2 back behind All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey. Mitchell is an all-around back, but his health is the key. If training camp this summer yields a productive backfield logjam, Lombardi points out that the 49ers have previously traded Matt Breida and Jeff Wilson Jr. when they have an excess of depth at the position. As of right now, the 26-year-old Mitchell is the best handcuff option for fantasy managers that take McCaffrey first overall in fantasy drafts this fall. Mitchell has produced 4.7 yards per carry in his three years in the NFL in the Bay Area, but he's also played in just 27 games in a three-year span. If CMC misses time with an injury in 2024, Mitchell will become a hot commodity.
Elijah Mitchell To Back Up McCaffrey In Super Bowl LVIII
With most NFL teams employing a backfield committee or time-share approach, San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell has spent the season as a throwback, one of only a handful of second running backs who are true backups. While Mitchell did score a touchdown in the NFC Championship Game against Detroit -- after McCaffrey pulled himself out following a long run to the goal line -- he only got three other touches for a total of seven yards. In the game before that versus Green Bay, Mitchell posted all zeros while playing only one offensive snap. The probability that Mitchell's usage suddenly changes is near zero when the team squares off against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Putting Mitchell into a fantasy lineup for the Super Bowl would be betting on an early McCaffrey injury, an improbable scenario that would eliminate many competitors. Having started Mitchell in that event could be a difference-maker.
Elijah Mitchell To Back Up Christian McCaffrey In NFC Championship
San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell will not be a fantasy option when the team hosts the Detroit Lions on Sunday with the NFC Championship on the line. Last week as the No. 2 back on the depth chart in the Divisional Round against Green Bay, Mitchell garnered zero touches and zero targets on one snap. To invest in Mitchell this week in fantasy would be to gamble on an early McCaffrey injury or garbage time in a blowout 49ers win, which are his only realistic routes to production. Even DFS players going cheap at running back will want to look elsewhere.
Elijah Mitchell Unlikely To Contribute Much In Divisional Round
San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell will back up starter Christian McCaffrey in Saturday night's Divisional Round tilt versus the Green Bay Packers. Mitchell finished the regular season with a career-low 3.7 yards per attempt and two touchdowns, almost exclusively as McCaffrey's injury and garbage-time replacement. Conceivably, DFS players willing to gamble on those scenarios occurring on Saturday could find a healthy return on minimal investment but otherwise, Mitchell should not be considered for fantasy lineups.
Elijah Mitchell
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49ers
