D’Andre Swift takes solid spot in early 2022 fantasy football dynasty ranking

Many have lauded D’Andre Swift’s potential for next season, but his lofty spot on a fantasy football dynasty ranking may still surprise you.

After he posted over 1,000 yards from scrimmage in what amounted to basically 10 games during the 2021 season, plenty of people are high on Detroit Lions running back D’Andre Swift looking to the 2022 season.

If he had stayed healthy for all of last season, Swift would have put up some very nice all-around numbers as the Lions’ offense improved a good bit late in the season. But alas, it will only be seen as what might have been for the University of Georgia product.

Ian Hartitz of Pro Football Focus, because it’s never too early for such things, is out with his pre-free agency 2022 Dynasty Fantasy Football Rankings. The rankings are broken down by position.

D’Andre Swift occupies lofty spot in dynasty running back ranking

With age as a key component in dynasty fantasy football, and the attrition at the running back position, it’s no surprise Jonathan Taylor and Najee Harris are the top two running bacs in Hartitz’s February dynasty rankings. No. 3 Christian McCaffrey probably belongs in his spot, even coming off two injury-riddled seasons, and Javonte Williams at No. 4 is a nod to his potential if he’s the Denver Broncos’ clear-cut No. 1 back in short order.

But there at No. 5 is Swift. Hartitz put the Lions’ running back in with a group of players who could climb into the top tier of backs if made “the guy” by their teams–with Williams, Antonio Gibson, Joe Mixon and Saquon Barkley.

"Each of Williams, Swift, Gibson and Mixon could vie for the top tier of backs should their respective franchises ever decide to fully unleash them as the running back. The same is true for Barkley — there’s just more uncertainty here due to the possibility he takes his talents elsewhere in 2022 and beyond."

The Lions seemed ready to make Swift the bellcow last season (33 carries in Week 10, Dan Campbell’s first game as the play caller), then he suffered a shoulder injury on Thanksgiving Day and missed the next four games. It’s safe to say he’ll be a centerpiece of the offense in 2022, with injury as the only thing that would stand to hold him back.