The San Francisco 49ers will lean heavily on the run this season to help second-year quarterback Trey Lance, according to Peter King of NBC Sports.
"I'd forecast Elijah Mitchell to be the stalwart here with Trey Sermon an active No. 2," King wrote. "Both will get major chances, and if Mitchell gets hot early and stays healthy, he’ll be a 1,000-yard back in this offense."
The 49ers tied for fifth in rushing attempts last year with Jimmy Garoppolo under center, but the team could use its running backs even more in 2022.
Mitchell was the biggest beneficiary of the emphasis on the ground game in 2021, essentially coming out of nowhere as a sixth-round pick to take over as the starter.