Russini: RB Keaton Mitchell expected to play for Ravens vs. Browns in Week 10
The Baltimore Ravens faced a setback with the season-ending injury suffered by first-string running back, J.K. Dobbins. While that's facts, it cannot be argued that Gus Edwards has been great in covering for Dobbins' absence by scoring a monster seven touchdowns on just 110 carries for 478 yards. Now, you can add Keaton Mitchell to the mixture.
Last week, in the Ravens' demolition of Seattle, UDFA rookie rusher Keaton Mitchell emerged as the freshest golden prospect in Baltimore rushing for 138 yards and his first touchdown while carrying the ball only nine times throughout the game.
After such a marvelous performance, Ravens Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken praised Mitchell's outing and said the rookie will "get more opportunities" going forward. The problem was that earlier this week, Mitchell's name popped up in the Ravens injury report for Week 10, ultimately entering Sunday listed as "questionable" to play with a hamstring issue.
Fear nothing, fam, as football insider Dianna Russini of The Athletic made clear that her sources are telling her Mitchell is cleared and will play on Sunday against the Browns. Fire your fantasy shares, folks.
"For those of you who messaged me about our intel on Ravens rookie running back Keaton Mitchell three weeks ago, I saw the comments, and I am psyched it helped. Though his performance last week seemed to come from out of nowhere, Ravens people have been saying for weeks to keep an eye on this instinctual back who is lightning fast with elite acceleration and high-level vision. The 21-year-old rookie ran for 138 yards and a touchdown after not having a single rushing attempt in his first two active NFL games. This week, he is dealing with a hamstring injury and is listed as questionable, but my team sources are optimistic he is playing."
- Dianna Russini, The Athletic
"[Mitchell] is dealing with a hamstring injury and is listed as questionable," wrote Russini, "but my team sources are optimistic he is playing."
As the reporter pointed out in her blurb, the Ravens "have been saying for weeks" that they have always trusted the undrafted rookie. According to Russini's information, Baltimore believes Mitchell is an "instinctual back" who is "lightning fast with elite acceleration and high-level vision."
If you have a fantasy team for the full season or are planning on playing some DFS football today, make sure to grab some Mitchell shares for the Week 10 divisional clash against the Browns.
While Gus Edwards will probably still be heavily featured on offense, odds are Mitchell has shown Baltimore enough to get at least 10 carries on Sunday and get at least one long-gain rush throughout the game, perhaps going for a touchdown.