Elijah Mitchell was expected to really break out this year after a strong rookie season, but after suffering a knee injury in Week 1, he was sidelined two months. Over the next eight weeks, the 49ers started Jeff Wilson Jr. and traded for star running back Christian McCaffrey. Now, McCaffrey safely sits atop the 49ers' depth chart, while Wilson Jr. is at the top of the Dolphins' after a midseason trade. That opens the door for Mitchell to be the primary handcuff in San Francisco when he returns, which could be as soon as Sunday night against the Chargers, and more than a few fantasy football owners are undoubtedly wondering if he's worth starting.
We'll continue to update this article with news on Mitchell until the official active/inactive report comes out on Sunday around 6:50 p.m. ET.
WEEK 10 INJURY UPDATES: QBs | RBs | Cooks
Is Elijah Mitchell playing Sunday night Week 10?
UPDATE: Mitchell has been officially activated off the IR and is fully expected to play Sunday night against the Chargers.
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters Friday that Mitchell (knee) will be activated off injured reserve ahead of Sunday night's game against the Chargers. The second-year running back was designated to return from injured reserve earlier this week. Mitchell is coming back at the right time, as the 49ers' running back depth is a question mark after they traded Jeff Wilson Jr. If Mitchell were not to be activated this week, rookies Tyrion Davis-Price and Jordan Mason would be Christian McCaffrey's primary backups.
WEEK 10 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Even though it's great to see Mitchell back on the field, shallow-league fantasy owners should not be rushing to put him in their fantasy lineups despite facing the Chargers' 29th-ranked run defense. McCaffrey will get the majority of carries as the Niners use him across the formation. In Week 8 against the Rams, McCaffrey had 26 touches compared to just six for Wilson Jr. A similar split could be in order this week as Mitchell works his way back into the offense, so he's risky even in deep leagues.
WEEK 10 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
However, Mitchell is ranked as SN Fantasy's No. 33 RB in PPR formats for Week 10, which isn't bad for someone who hasn't played in two months. He's always been a highly efficient runner (4.7 yards per carry last season), and the Chargers allow the second-most fantasy points per game to RBs. It's an excellent matchup for the Niners' running game, so Mitchell has flex upside if you're in a bind.
