Fantasy Upside
In April of 2021, Kyle Shanahan and the San Francisco 49ers selected running back Trey Sermon, who was coming off a strong career at Oklahoma and Ohio State, in the third round of the NFL draft. Fantasy experts across the nation salivated over the fit. As Field Level Media put it, "Those were the days." It was not Sermon but sixth-rounder Elijah Mitchell who emerged from that draft to become the Niners' lead back. Mitchell has flashed in the two seasons since, and if he could stay healthy, he might be a top-20 fantasy running back heading into this fall. It wasn't to be, as after Mitchell sprained his MCL in Week 1, the 49ers pulled the trigger on the Christian McCaffrey trade.
Fantasy Downside
He's mired behind arguably the best back in football.
2023 Bottom Line
Mitchell projects as a great No. 2 back in San Francisco and a flex or McCaffrey handcuff with some upside. He can still rip off giant gains when defenses are least expecting it. He'll need to spell McCaffrey now and again. For that matter, McCaffrey has his own injury baggage, and Mitchell's stock would soar if McCaffrey missed any amount of time.