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D’Andre Swift goes 35th overall to the Detroit Lions, joining Matt Patricia’s run-first mentality. He should make an immediate impact as a receiving back but will share time with Kerryon Johnson, making this a tough spot for his fantasy upside.
Getting to play running back at Georgia means you’ve got more than your share of ability, but also means you are going to deal with more than your share of competition as well. But Swift still managed to lead the team in rushing his sophomore and junior years despite sharing time. For his career, Swift ran the ball 440 times for 2,885 yards (6.6 ypc) and 20 touchdowns, adding 73 receptions for 666 yards and five more touchdowns.
Scouting Report
Swift has all the attributes to make it in the NFL. He’s most suited for a zone blocking scheme, where he can use his one-cut ability the best. He can run inside with the best of them, finding the right crease and making strong moves in limited space, but also has the acceleration and quicks to cut to the outside.
Fantasy football impact
Rookie
Detroit wasn’t the best spot to land for his rookie fantasy value, as Kerryon Johnson is set as their lead back. Johnson’s injury troubles likely helped precipitate this pick, but if he’s healthy, there isn’t much that can be done to secure big touches his rookie season. He will likely take over as the receiving back and could have PPR value, but his upside is limited.
Long-term
Swift’s upside isn’t of an all-time great, but in the right spot he could be a strong fantasy play for his entire career. His lack of a huge workload in college helps and the fact he looks like he’ll be the first running back chosen means teams are going to want to get him on the field for their investment. We should always prioritize wide receivers over running backs in dynasty, but Swift is still a first-rounder in rookie drafts who should make an immediate impact.