Is Keaton Mitchell The Starting Running Back For The Ravens When He Returns?

Baltimore Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell has yet to play this season due to a knee injury, but he has been practicing this week and could return as soon as the team's Week 10 contest against the Cincinnati Bengals.

What will Mitchell's role be this year with Derrick Henry on the Ravens?

Will Keaton Mitchell start for the Ravens when he's back? What is Keaton Mitchell's fantasy football outlook when he returns?

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Will Keaton Mitchell Start For The Ravens When He Returns?

There's plenty of reason to be excited about Keaton Mitchell in the long term, but he faces a tough road to short-term fantasy relevance.

Mitchell played eight games last year as a rookie, carrying the ball 47 times for 396 yards and two touchdowns. His stock took a sharp turn up in Week 9 of the 2023 season when he carried the ball nine times for 138 yards and a touchdown.

But the Ravens added Derrick Henry this offseason, who has remained one of the NFL's best running backs. Henry has rushed for over 100 yards three times already this season.

The #Ravens rushing attack with Keaton Mitchell:#RavensFlock https://t.co/04lDCkZolm pic.twitter.com/XxkWhFtcbn

— Ben Dackiw (@BenDackiw) November 4, 2024

Mitchell could be used to spell Henry. He arguably provides more upside in that role than Justice Hill, but it's not clear if the Ravens will actually give Hill's touches to Mitchell or not.

Keaton Mitchell Fantasy Football Outlook

With Henry dominating the touches, there isn't going to be much room for Keaton Mitchell to make an impact on the field this season. At least, not an impact that does enough for fantasy managers.

While it's great to see that Mitchell has a chance to make his season debut this week, he's going to be fighting with Hill for scraps in this offense.

In other news. How many snaps does Keaton Mitchell get tomorrow?

— TheFlockOpinion🐦‍⬛ (@TheFlockOpinion) November 6, 2024

He only has standalone fantasy value in the event that an injury sidelines Henry. The Ravens have one of the all-time game-changers at the running back position and while Mitchell is an intriguing young player with upside, he won't fundamentally change the nature of this offense.

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