Keaton

Mitchell

He’ll be wheels-up as a potential RB3/FLEX option against a sad sack Bengals defense. Mitchell had full practices in each of the last two days of the week. It appears his Week 14 injury was just a scare at this time.

Mitchell suffered a knee injury in the Ravens’ Week 14 loss to the Steelers. He left the game early and was subsequently ruled out. An MRI after the game revealed it to be only a minor injury. All signs point to Mitchell suiting up for Week 15 versus the Bengals. The explosive backup will sit in the RB4 ranks for a potential shootout in Cincinnati.

An MRI on Mitchell’s knee came back clean, per Fowler, following the Ravens’ Week 14 loss to the Steelers. Mitchell left the game in the second half with the knee issue after rushing for 76 yards on six carries, including an explosive 55-yard run. If Mitchell can practice in a limited capacity this week, he could suit up in Week 15 against the Bengals. Rasheen Ali would be the clear RB2 for Baltimore if Mitchell is sidelined.

We’ll keep an eye out for the practice reports this week, but Mitchell should have a shot to play in Week 15 based on this news. He’ll be a viable FLEX option, if he plays, in what amounts to an elimination game between the Bengals and Ravens.

Ali could see a marked uptick in snaps, routes, and touches if Keaton Mitchell misses extended time with the knee injury he sustained in the second half of Sunday’s loss to the Steelers. Ali, who drew praise from head coach John Harbaugh last week, is a decent bench stash headed into the fantasy playoffs in case Derrick Henry gets dinged up in the coming weeks.

Mitchell hobbled to the locker room near the end of the third quarter after totaling 76 yards on six rushes, including an explosive 55-yard run in the third quarter. Mitchell, who has a long history of serious knee injuries, has emerged as a solid complement to Derrick Henry in recent weeks. If he misses time, Rasheen Ali would presumably function as the team’s No. 2 running back and could be rostered in deeper formats.

Mitchell rewarded fantasy managers bold enough to start him with an 18-yard touchdown sprint late in the third quarter. Those fantasy managers should likely take their chips off the table after this game. Even with Justice Hill out this week, Mitchell split the backup duties with Rasheen Ali. Ali easily out-snapped Mitchell and saw four carries, though three of them came on the team’s final drive. Despite scoring in Week 13, Mitchell isn’t really on the FLEX radar heading into a Week 14 matchup with the Steelers.

Mitchell’s longest run of the day came on a nine-yard gain, but offensive holding on the center in the fourth quarter negated a 35-yard run that would have been the longest play of the day for any Ravens player. Mitchell was in on just 10 snaps this week after seeing 16 in Week 11 with Justice Hill out, but was the only other Ravens running back not named Derrick Henry to see a touch in this one. The volume is unlikely to ever be there for Mitchell as long as Henry and Hill are both healthy, but he could have some value as a stash in deeper leagues. Fantasy managers can avoid him in Week 13 against the Bengals.

Mitchell entered the game early on the first drive and remained involved all day long. The diminutive speedster failed to find the end zone but notably stole snaps from RB Derrick Henry in the red zone and green zone. Mitchell was out-snapped by RB Rasheen Ali on passing downs, though. The team showed trust in Mitchell despite a costly mistake when he accidentally bricked a catchable pass up, over his head and into Browns LB Devin Bush’s hands for a pick-six. Rather than punish him, Mitchell was on the field for scoring position snaps on the following drive. His eight touches against the Browns are a season-high. Mitchell also returned two kickoffs for 58 yards. He should be rostered in 12-team formats as a high-upside stash, with standalone RB3/FLEX potential against the Jets next week.

Earlier this week, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said he hopes to further incorporate RB Keaton Mitchell into the game plan. He has an opportunity to do so here with Hill sidelined by a toe injury. Mitchell should be a decent bench stash down the stretch. Bateman is sidelined by an ankle injury, giving the speedy and unproven WR Devontez Walker a chance to contribute. Mitchell does not need to be in re-draft lineups this week, and Walker does not need to be rostered.