Projecting production for Detroit Lions rookie RB D’Andre Swift

D’Andre Swift’s Fantasy Value

Should you be interested in drafting D’Andre Swift as a member of your fantasy team, use caution. He is going somewhere in the fifth-round to seventh-round depending on the format, according to Fantasy Football Calculator’s ADP (average draft position) tool.

The high side, late fifth-round, is in a 12-team, PPR (point per reception) league, where Swift’s hands will likely help his value quite a bit. If your league does not give points, even partial, for receptions, adjust Swift’s value down some. Check his current value prior to your draft, again.

Last year Miles Sanders fell to us in the eighth-round of a PPR league and we were happy to have him as our fourth running back. We subsequently traded for Jordan Howard, the presumed starter, to strengthen our team, too. Sanders’s value as a receiver seemed obvious, just as Swift’s hands are the best in this class of rookies.

We would view him as ideally a number three running back with upside. However, given his early-round price tag, you might target him as an RB2; if you do, you may want to draft his handcuff, Kerryon Johnson, who is going late in Round 9.

That’s a pretty modest cost to back yourself up if you consider Swift your starter. Another thing to consider is whether or not other people in your league are either Detroit Lions fans or Georgia Bulldogs fans, as allegiances to either could change the pick needed to secure him to an earlier pick. These values also fluctuate based on moods and small tidbits of information.

If you like a player, stick to your gut opinion. Have a plan and a backup (or two) for when you will target your guys. Be ready to adjust on the fly, we suggest doing a few mocks prior to your real draft to have a feel for what can happen in real-time.