Elijah Mitchell Injury: Waiver Wire Replacements to Target (2022 Fantasy Football)

With the injury to Chris Godwin, fantasy football managers are left with a void on their roster. Let’s check out the extent of the injury and players you can target on your waiver wire this week.

• Week 2 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Advice

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Elijah Mitchell Injury Outlook

Elijah Mitchell (knee) expected to miss about two months

Elijah Mitchell is expected to be sidelined for about two months with a sprained MCL he suffered in Chicago Sunday.

Fantasy Impact

A sliver lining that it was not an ACL and that Mitchell will be able to return at some point this season. Fantasy managers should check if Jeff Wilson or Jordan Mason are available on their waiver wire. The 49ers have always been able to get the most out of their starting running back, so whoever takes over that role will have fantasy value. Expect Deebo Samuel to see more touches out of the backfield, increasing his upside.

Waiver Wire Replacements to Target

Jeff Wilson (SF): 16% rostered

• Next opponents: SEA, @DEN, LAR
• True value: $18
• Desperate need: $40
• Budget-minded: $11

Analysis: When Elijah Mitchell went down with a knee injury on Sunday, Jeff Wilson struggled to get going on flooded Soldier Field, scoring only 5.0 fantasy points. Shanahan and the 49ers typically give their top back a heavy share of the snaps until they ultimately break down and leave their musket to the next man up. Wilson will be fantasy-viable in the run-heavy Niners scheme as long as Mitchell is sidelined, and it now appears that he could be out for about two months, according to a tweet from ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Perhaps the biggest selling point for anyone debating whether to bid on Wilson this week (aside from the Mitchell injury, of course) is that Kyle Shanahan really likes him. It might surprise you that Wilson scored 10 touchdowns in 2020 and was a strong RB3 in fantasy. He is a very capable receiver and is trusted with high-leverage situations in the offense.

Khalil Herbert (CHI): 41% rostered

• Next opponents: @GB, HOU, @NYG
• True value: $5
• Desperate need: $10
• Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: It should come as no surprise that Herbert cracked double-digit fantasy points in Week 1 against the 49ers. More impressively, he put up those 11.3 points on only nine carries and was out-snapped and out-touched by starter David Montgomery. Chicago looked to Herbert instead of Montgomery to close out San Francisco in their comeback win in the soggy deluge at Soldier Field. Look for the more efficient second-year pro from Virginia Tech to earn a more even share of the backfield as the season progresses.

Dontrell Hilliard (TEN): 6% rostered

• Next opponents: @BUF, LV, @IND
• True value: $4
• Desperate need: $8
• Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: Absolutely no one could have foretold Hilliard more than doubling Derrick Henry‘s Week 1 fantasy production, but here we are. Where Henry was the obvious bell cow in the rushing department, the young Hilliard hauled in three receptions for 61 yards and two pivotal touchdowns versus the Giants. Don’t go crazy and chase points with a frivolous FAAB bid, but the receiving volume in this Titans offense has to be funneled somewhere other than to an uninspiring WR corps.

Jaylen Warren (PIT): 4% rostered

• Next opponents: NE, @CLE, NYJ
• True value: $4
• Desperate need: $8
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: Najee Harris was one of the big early-season injury scares, but it seems he should be good to go this week against the Patriots. Still, Warren absolutely earned the RB2 spot in Steelers camp this summer and will be called upon to fill in. There weren’t many more glaring handcuff RBs to roster entering this season. If for some reason you rostered Harris without Warren, you might need to spend a decent amount of FAAB to save face at the position going forward.

Rex Burkhead (HOU): 13% rostered

• Next opponents: @DEN, @CHI, LAC
• True Value: $5
• Desperate need: $10
• Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: It was a stern reminder to everyone that a head coach naming a starting RB means absolutely nothing. Lovie Smith anointed the promising rookie Dameon Pierce as his “lead” back, and then the preponderance of backfield snaps and opportunities for the Texans in Week 1 went to the perennially irrelevant Burkhead. Rex was his boring self, turning 19 touches into a ho-hum 12.0 fantasy points. Eight of those points came through the air for Burkhead, revealing Houston’s obvious preference for the vet in important situations. Rexy isn’t sexy, but he is a lot less annoying as a spot flex starter locked in for double-digit PPR points with how often the Texans are in negative game scripts.

Kenneth Gainwell (PHI): 48% rostered

• Next Opponents: MIN, @WAS, JAX
• True value: $7
• Desperate need: $12
• Budget-minded: $3

Analysis: It was nice to see Miles Sanders reacquaint himself with the end zone on Sunday, but he was not alone. The Philly offense was really clicking in Detroit, with Jalen Hurts and each of the three RBs scoring one rushing TD. Again, I will always have a strong lean toward the RB who is most involved in the passing game. Gainwell was targeted four times in Week 1, compared to two targets for Sanders and none for Boston Scott. The second-year back from Memphis is also earning a reputation for having a nose for the end zone with his seventh score despite limited work in his 17 career games.

Stash candidates: Tyrion Davis-Price, Jordan Mason, Mark Ingram, Brian Robinson, Zamir White, Isiah Pacheco, Zack Moss, Jerome Ford, Samaje Perine

With Elijah Mitchell now expected to miss two months with a knee injury, Tyrion Davis-Price and Jordan Mason become interesting speculative plays in the San Francisco backfield, although it appears that Jeff Wilson will start in Mitchell’s absence. … Alvin Kamara is dealing with a rib issue, so Kamara investors with a roster spot to spare might want to snag Mark Ingram. … We received encouraging news that Brian Robinson is recovering well from his gunshot wounds and could be available as early as Week 5. Even though Antonio Gibson enjoyed a very successful Week 1 performance, I doubt the Commanders want him to bear such a heavy workload in the long-term. Stashing the ‘Bama rookie is still a very strong play as the season unfolds. … D’Ernest Johnson was a healthy scratch on Sunday for the Browns, who instead suited up rookie Jerome Ford. The healthy tandem backfield of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt doesn’t leave any meat on the bone for Ford, who did not see a Week 1 snap. The young Cincinnati Bearcat is still in pole position to fill in if either of the co-starters miss time.