D’Andre Swift Traded to Philadelphia: The Dynasty Fantasy Football Impact
The Detroit Lions have never been shy about adding running backs in the draft over the past two decades. In fact, dynasty managers have no problem remembering names like Mikel Leshoure, Jahvid Best, Kerryon Johnson, Kevin Smith, Kevin Jones, and many more. All those players have one thing in common – they all failed to fill the shoes of Barry Sanders. While that’s really impossible, none of them also have more than the 2,346 rushing yards of Smith, despite all of them being pegged as the long-term answer at the position. When the Lions took another running back in the form of Georgia dynamo D’Andre Swift, many thought the search was over. Instead, Swift struggled with injuries throughout his career, was never given a big workload, then saw the Lions shock the world and take Alabama running Jahmyr Gibbs at #12 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. After Swift and his representatives expressed their displeasure, he was traded on day three of the draft to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for what amounts to be a fourth round draft selection. The trade is a big one and has significant ramifications in dynasty leagues. Let’s reset the values of the players involved.
D’Andre Swift, RB PHI
This was just about the best possible outcome for Swift, who had seen his ADP taking a serious nose dive before the drafting of Gibbs. He’s on the last year of his rookie contract so he’ll be super motivated to perform well. In theory, he should form a solid committee with Rashaad Penny with Kenneth Gainwell and Boston Scott sprinkled in at times. However, Penny has a tendency to get hurt (the understatement of the day), so there’s a path to some serious work for Swift as well. Jalen Hurts is destined to siphon off a bunch of rushing touchdowns but Swift might be the answer they’ve been looking for in terms of a dynamic playmaker out of the backfield. After all, he has a whopping 156 catches the past three years as a part-time player. This isn’t a perfect situation but it’s much better than Detroit. His ADP freefall should stop now and start ticking up.
Rashaad Penny, RB PHI
After letting Miles Sanders sign with Carolina in the off-season, the Eagles worked quickly to add Penny, who is a dynamic running back in space. The problem is Penny is seemingly always injured and viewed as a “boom or bust” signing for the Eagles. If he can stay healthy, he and Swift could be electric. Should he get hurt, Swift could go nuclear. The trade of Swift doesn’t help Penny but realistically, his health is going to dictate his value next season as he’d be tough to keep off the field if he’s off the trainer’s table.
Other Philly Running Backs
It’s pretty tough to see much value in Kenneth Gainwell and Boston Scott. Both of them have ability but it’s tough to see a defined role for either at the moment. Gainwell has been good in spurts, as has Scott. However, it’s going to be tough to view them as much more than roster cloggers until we see how things play out after the season. At this point, Scott looks like the Udonis Haslem of the NFL as a player who just keeps hanging on.
Jahmyr Gibbs, RB DET
That’ll do it. The trade of Swift helps Gibbs immensely and he’ll now be the one forming the committee with David Montgomery. However, expect Gibbs to be used in a number of ways and stay on the field even when Montgomery is in the game. The trade of Swift likely puts Gibbs into the conversation as the #3 overall rookie pick after Bijan Robinson and Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
David Montgomery, RB DET
Montgomery would have had a decreased value should Swift had stayed. In the end, it basically stays the same as the only thing that has changed is a new running mate.
Other Detroit Running Backs
Craig Reynolds and Jermar Jefferson have each shown promise in the past, but it’s going to be tough to hold on to either of them unless Montgomery or Gibbs gets hurt.
Ken is on Twitter at DLF_KenK
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