The San Francisco 49ers have already clinched the No. 1 seed in the NFC and will be sitting the majority of their starters in the season finale against the Los Angeles Rams. One player whom the team has already decided to hold out of Week 18 is Christian McCaffrey, as the veteran RB is dealing with a strained calf to give him two full weeks off before their next matchup.
With McCaffrey out, should fantasy football managers trust running back Jordan Mason or Elijah Mitchell to fill the void in Week 18?
Should You Start Elijah Mitchell in Fantasy This Week?
Mitchell was the guy who filled in last week when McCaffrey left the game with an injury, and he had a pretty solid outing. In the win against the Washington Commanders, Mitchell finished the game with 17 carries, 80 yards, and one touchdown.
Mitchell flashed some big-play ability in his rookie year, finishing that season with 963 yards and five touchdowns. While he hasn’t been as involved since the 49ers acquired McCaffrey, he is still certainly capable of having a big game.
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However, he was limited at practice this week due to an illness. If he is back and ready to go, this feels like a spot he could have a big game in. The Rams have already clinched a playoff spot and will be sitting out some of their guys as well.
Keep an eye the next couple of days, but if Mitchell’s illness dissipates, you could be looking at a solid low-end RB1/high-end RB2 for fantasy purposes in Week 18.
Should You Start Jordan Mason in Fantasy This Week?
If Mitchell is good to go, it is hard to imagine Mason being heavily involved in the offensive game plan. On the season, Mason has been solid when given the opportunity, as he has 34 carries for 170 yards and one touchdown.
That 5.0-yard-per-carry number is fantastic, and he was even better last year when he averaged 6.0 yards per carry on 43 attempts.
The 49ers’ blocking scheme is obviously renowned around the league, and the team will be able to run the ball efficiently with many different players. If Mitchell goes, Mason isn’t worth the play. However, if the aforementioned illness holds Mitchell out, Mason could be in store for a big game himself.
In the Pro Football Network Start/Sit Optimizer, PFN’s Consensus Rankings say that Mitchell is the player to start. His projected 8.0 points include a projection of 48 rushing yards and one catch for two yards. That doesn’t seem like a big stat line, but it outperforms the consensus projection for Mason (6.0).
It’s possible either one of these running backs could have a solid Week 18 when it comes to production. If Mitchell is going, he is the guy and could be an admirable option for fantasy managers this week. If he is out, Mason absolutely has a role in your lineup this week.
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