D’Andre Swift: A PPR Fantasy Football Machine?
My OnlyFans list for running backs hasn’t come out yet (waiting on Dalvin Cook to sign), however, I can go ahead and warn you now that I’m very high on D’Andre Swift in 2023. The new Eagles running back is ranked way too low in fantasy and has the early look of a league winner. The early reports out of camp in are really encouraging too.
Swift just might be a monster in PPR scoring. I still contend that PPR drafts are for losers. If you are a loser and play in PPR style leagues, Swift might be a player you want to target.
NBC Sports Philadelphia put out some early observations from training camp. Number one on the list is about Swift. Check this cheese out.
“1. The biggest thing that’s jumped out the first three days of training camp is how much the Eagles are emphasizing throwing to the backs, mostly D’Andre Swift. This has been a dimension of the Eagles’ offense that’s been missing for a while now. Miles Sanders had a flukey 50-catch season as a rookie but became less and less of a factor in the receiving game the next few years. You have to go back to Darren Sproles in 2016 and really Shady from 2010 through 2014 to find a true two-way threat. But through three practices Swift has shown himself to be a very natural receiver. He leaped Friday to catch an off-target pass from Jalen Hurts, came down and showed great burst racing down the left sideline for big yards, and on Sunday he made a circus one-handed catch in traffic for a 25-yard gain on a wheel route from Hurts. He doesn’t fight the ball. He’s got soft hands and catches the ball smoothly. Imagine an offense with A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert adding a 50-catch running back? Swift is a capable runner – he’s got a 4.6 career average – but his big contribution here is going to be providing Hurts a safe underneath option on 3rd-and-5 or when the pocket breaks down or when teams blitz. Kenny Gainwell has looked very good catching the ball as well – he caught 23 of 29 targets last year – and we know Boston Scott can catch. The Eagles are even throwing to Rashaad Penny, who has 27 career receptions in five years. But so far the emphasis has been on Swift, and I know there’s only one ball to go around but I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s in the 50-to-60 catch range by the time all is said and done. With this o-line, the Eagles should be able to do damage in the screen game as well, something that’s been missing from this offense for a long time.”
Swift not only sounds like he’s going to be the guy with the Eagles, it also sounds like he’s going to catch a ton of balls. The former Georgia product had 156 receptions in three years with the Lions. He also averaged 5.5 yards per carry on the ground last year. Is 2,000 all-purpose yards out of the realm of possibility here? On this offense behind this offensive line?
I want all of your Swift fantasy stock. If you’re selling, I’m buying. I have Swift as a top five play at the position this year. Call me crazy, I don’t care. When it happens, please come back and make sure you let everyone know where you heard it first.
