Our NFL rookie profile series continues with the analysis of 2023 NFL Draft Prospect Keaton Mitchell, RB from East Carolina. We will continue to provide you with these in-depth rookie profiles and a ton of other fantasy football rookie analyses right up through the NFL Draft. Stay tuned, and stay ahead of your league.
One of the cornerstones of a successful dynasty portfolio is a roster deep with RB talent - providing spot start opportunities, quick value spikes, and a contingency against injury risk. The 2023 rookie class offers an ample opportunity to add further RB depth to existing dynasty rosters. Adding RB depth can come in all shapes and sizes, with my preference for targeting players selected on day one or two (rounds one to three) or for late-round guys with pass-catching upside.
The latter is true of Keaton Mitchell, a late-round dart throw who has produced in the receiving game. What should the expectations be for Mitchell in dynasty? Let's take a look…
THE STATS
Credit: Sports Reference CFB
Mitchell is a three-year junior at East Carolina, amassing 33 games, averaging over 14 carries per game, and delivering two seasons with over 20 receptions.
As a runner, his output was excellent - averaging over 90 yards per game, 25 TDs over three seasons, and a pair of 1000+ yard seasons. His efficiency, workload, and output improved every year - encouraging signs for continued development.
As a receiver, he excelled, averaging 20 receptions a season and an improvement in catches year after year. Mitchell produced an 8.7% college target share - 70th percentile, as per Player Profiler. Finishing his college career with 9.7 yards per reception indicates an explosive nature.
Mitchell was outstanding overall, the key to the offense, highlighted by a 30.7% college dominator rating (71st percentile) - a metric consisting of the total percentage of a team's offensive yards and offensive TDs. Mitchell has had an excellent college career, with improvement in all areas, pass game usage, and solid as a TD scorer.
