5 best standout studs from 49ers Week 12 win vs. Vikings
By Peter Panacy
49ers Stud No. 1: Running Back Elijah Mitchell
While Deebo Samuel was again a major factor on the ground, the Niners sure were happy to get their starting running back, Elijah Mitchell, back into the fray after he missed the previous week with a finger injury.
Never mind the fact Mitchell recently had surgery on that finger with a pin embedded into the broken bone. All that mattered was Mitchell getting 133 rushing yards on 27 carries, averaging an impressive 4.9 yards per rush attempt to help push San Francisco’s overall output on the ground.
In doing so, Mitchell set a new franchise record for rookies with four games of 100-plus rushing yards in a season.
The pure yards weren’t all, though, as Mitchell was the beneficiary of the Azeez Al-Shaair interception, rushing in that touchdown from 2 yards out in addition to adding 35 yards receiving on five receptions.
All the while, breaking arm tackles and using his 4.3 40-yard speed.
Mitchell has easily been the 49ers’ No. 1 standout from their 2021 NFL Draft class this season, and that won’t change anytime soon as long as he stays healthy.