In some fantasy football leagues, you’ve got to plan way ahead to grab high-upside players, especially at running back, where there are limited options avalable. If you’re looking down the road and trying to get ahead of the curve, stashing Keaton Mitchell makes sense, although he is still a ways away from making a fantasy impact.
The Latest Update
The Ravens will designate Mitchell to return from PUP later this week according to the Mitchell to The Atheltic’s Jeff Zrebiec.
While he is still not ready to return to game action quite yet, coach John Harbaugh has repeatedly said that Mitchell is on track and that the team is expecting him to contribute this season. The latest report tracks with that sentiment, even though he may not return for a couple weeks.
The Ravens bye week is extremely late this season, in Week 14, so that won’t impact Mitchell’s return. Looking at the schedule ahead, the Ravens play the Browns this week and the Broncos in Week 9, but Mitchell could target either Week 10 on Thursday Night Football against the Bengals or Week 11 on the road in Pittsburgh after the mini-bye.
The key to Keaton Mitchell’s value
Mitchell showed his sky-high potential last season. He broke through for 138 rushing yards on nine carries with his first NFL touchdown last year against the Seahawks and had eight or nine carries in four straight games before sustaining the knee injury that has sidelined him since. He finished his rookie season with an average of 8.4 yards per carry and totaled nine catches for 93 more yards.
The Ravens offense has proven that it can make multiple running backs fantasy relevant, but the key to Mitchell’s value will be his role in the Ravens’ backfield. Last year, Derrick Henry ($8,100) was still in Tennessee, but now that he’s the clear lead back, with Justice Hill ($5,400) mixing in as a very servicable backup and third-down option, the backfield mix could be crowded.
Mitchell’s value will depend on his usage and role. If he’s getting 10 touches a game, he’ll have fringe FLEX viability with even more upside if Henry or Hill goes down with an injury.
The Bottom Line
If you can stash Mitchell in a IR spot for a few weeks, he definitely brings enough future potential to be worth picking up off your league’s waiver wire. If you have to hold him in an active roster spot, it could be tricky to carry him depending on your leagues’ depth and roster structure.
Whether it’s time to act now or just put a flag on Mitchell, he at least needs to be monitored closely as he works his way back to full strength for the Ravens.
This week, the Ravens are on the road in Cleveland, where they are 8.5-point road favorites. They have climbed out of their early-season hole and are currently -4000 to make the playoffs and +250 to win the AFC with the second-shortest odds behind only the Chiefs.
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