D’Andre Swift lands as the safest Lion in fantasy football for a set of analysts

D’Andre Swift would land on any list of running backs with the most fantasy upside this year, but is he also the safest Detroit Lion for fantasy in 2022?

Based on his potential as a dual threat, and more than 1,000 yards from scrimmage in what amounted to 10-plus games of action last season, there’s plenty of optimism in fantasy football circles for Lions running back D’Andre Swift heading into the 2022 season.

The key for Swift will be health. When head coach Dan Campbell took over play calling last season, Swift had a career-high 33 carries for a career-high 130 yards in Week 10 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Then he followed with a new career-high 136 yards the following week against the Cleveland Browns. Then early in Week 12 (Thanksgiving Day), Swift suffered a shoulder injury that cost him the next four games.

Even with upgrades at wide receiver, Swift will be a focal point of the Lions’ offense this year. He appears to have responded to the idea he’s headed for a critical season in his career, having shown up to offseason work visibly more muscular.

Fantasy Football 2022: Is D’Andre Swift the safest Lion?

Fantasy Pros gathered four of their analysts, Andrew Erickson, Derek Brown, Pat Fitzmaurice and Joe Pisapia, to name the safest fantasy picks for 2022 on each NFL team.

Swift was the unanimous pick for the Lions. Here’s what Pisapia wrote.

"D’Andre Swift teased some lofty potential in 2021, and you know he’s a true bell cow back. The Lions have to get Swift plenty of action if the offense is going to make imporvivements year over year."

Swift is indeed lined up to one of the few true bell cow backs around the league. He’ll be operating behind one of the best offensive lines in the league, and he’s already one of best pass catchers at the position.

T.J. Hockenson would be a good pick as the safest Detroit Lion for fantasy football this year, especially given how thin tight end is. But there is risk with him too, given he was clearly the most reliable pass catcher on the team before being injured last season and now there’s more talent around.

The question with Swift is if he can stay healthy with a huge workload. So after using a pick around the first/second-round turn (or higher?) on him (RB9, pick 2.01 in 12-team full PPR right now, per Fantasy Football Calculator), handcuffing Jamaal Williams (RB50, pick 11.07) to Swift with a late-round pick will be on the radar in leagues with 12 or more teams.