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San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell had a breakout rookie season and was a popular fantasy football selection in preseason drafts but after an early-season injury that kept him out of action for an extended period of time, the Niners traded for Christian McCaffrey.
Still, Mitchell has had a healthy workload in a handful of games this season but is now back on the injury report as his team prepares for the NFC Championship game. Mitchell is a solid DFS option at a low price tag, so his availability will impact fantasy-related contests. McCaffrey is also banged up, so there are several outcomes at play here.
Is Mitchell healthy enough to play against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday? If so, what is his outlook for postseason fantasy leagues and daily fantasy action? Let's dive in.
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Elijah Mitchell Injury Update for Fantasy Football
McCaffrey (calf) and Mitchell (groin) are both considered day-to-day with minor injuries after the Divisional Round win on Sunday over the Dallas Cowboys. Head coach Kyle Shanahan expects both McCaffrey and Mitchell to play this Sunday in the NFC Championship against the Philadelphia Eagles.
That being said, there's little to no worry either guy could miss this contest, so we'll have to evaluate both players as if they're good to go.
Elijah Mitchell NFC Championship Fantasy Outlook
Against Dallas, Mitchell handled 14 carries for 51 yards and wasn't targeted through the air. Needless to say, it wasn't a fantasy-friendly outing for the second-year running back, but the 14 touches were a positive sign for potential things to come.
With big names like McCaffrey, Travis Kelce, Ja'Marr Chase, and A.J. Brown on Sunday's two-game slate, DFSers will have to get creative to fit in big-time studs and mix them with budget-friendly options. At just ($4,900) on DraftKings, Mitchell is just the 13th-most expensive flex option for the Conference Championship round. That said, he is far from bust-proof, but that's just part of the game in DFS contests.
The Eagles were just a neutral matchup for running backs in the regular season but were a top-five defense against fantasy wide receivers. Ultimately, there's a great chance Kyle Shanahan will try to dominate on the ground as Brock Purdy and the passing game have a tough matchup ahead. Even so, Mitchell is a touchdown-or-bust fantasy option since McCaffrey is called upon for nearly all of the receiving work in that backfield.
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