The Lions and RB David Montgomery reached an agreement on a three-year, $18 million contract (with $11 million guaranteed) late on Tuesday evening. The long-time Bear will be moving across the NFC North and running behind a Lions offensive line that ranked 7th in Football Outsiders' adjusted line yards in 2022. Montgomery is more than capable of shouldering a sizeable workload as well, as he's handled 200+ carries in each of his four professional seasons to date. A logical conclusion to draw from this signing is that free agent RB Jamaal Williams is unlikely to return to the Lions at this point. We'll keep an eye out for news regarding where he lands. Where this situation gets dicey is how it potentially affects RB D'Andre Swift, who posted a career-low in touches (147) in 2022 after battling through yet another season of nagging injuries. Couple this Montgomery contract with a subpar injury history, and we may be looking at a significant dynasty value loss for a former NFL second round pick in Swift. He's already starting to slip down our dynasty RB rankings.
Lions HC Dan Campbell suggested from the Combine on Wednesday that the team is still trying to figure out how to best manage and deploy RB D'Andre Swift. "We thought we had a recipe going into the year, and it didn’t work out," Campbell said. “He got a little bit banged up and then by the end of the year he started to feel better and his production started to go up." Swift appeared in 14 games last year but was limited in the majority of them by ankle and shoulder injuries. "Let’s find another way to see if we can help him stay on the field, you know? I already know he’s doing that for himself, so we’ve got to do that on our end," Campbell added. "What can we do better by him? Can we? Because he’s too talented. He’s too talented to not have out there. He’s an explosive athlete.” It sure doesn't sound like the Lions plan on giving Swift a ton of touches in 2023. But if he can at least hang on to a significant passing-game role, he'll keep himself in the RB2 mix in PPR leagues.
Lions RB D'Andre Swift delivered a pair of TDs in Sunday's lopsided win over the Bears. He rushed 11 times for 78 yards, including a 17-yard TD early in the 2nd quarter. Swift added a 21-yards TD catch midway through the 3rd quarter, accounting for most of his 39 receiving yards on 4 catches (4 targets). The 15 touches marked Swift's 3rd most of the season. It was just his 2nd game with double-digit carries since the season opener. It was also Swifts 1st multiple-TD game since December 2020. He'll face a generous Green Bay RB defense in Week 18.
Lions RBs combined for just 22 rushing yards on 12 carries in Saturday's loss at Carolina. RB D'Andre Swift rushed 4 times for 12 yards and caught just 1 of his 5 targets for 13 more. Jamaal Williams posted 7-11 rushing and caught both of his targets for 3 yards. The whole Detroit offense gets a positive matchup back home with Chicago in Week 17, but the RBs won't be exciting plays.
Lions RB D'Andre Swift led the team in rushing yards for Sunday's win over the Jets, tallying 52 on 8 attempts (6.5 per rush). He trailed RB Jamaal Williams by 5 carries (13-33) and watched another 6 go to Justin Jackson (for 16 yards). Swift garnered 9 targets, a season high and 2nd most on the team. He caught 5 for a mere 23 yards (4.6 per reception). Only WR Amon-Ra St. Brown drew more looks. He caught 7 of his 10 for 76 yards.
Lions RB D'Andre Swift is not listed on the Week 15 injury report. Swift has averaged 14.5 carries, 4.5 targets and 143.0 total yards in 2 games when he wasn't on the injury report this season. He mustered just 5.1 carries, 4.5 targets and 42.8 total yards per game when on the injury report. We're not necessarily saying that Swift is about to go for 140+ total yards vs. the Jets this weekend -- but he's a more comfortable fantasy play if he can remain off the injury report.
Lions RBs produced little in Sunday's pass-driven victory over the Vikings. Jamaal Williams claimed 16 of 26 RB carries but managed only 37 yards. D'Andre Swift added just 39 total yards, carrying 6 times for 21 and catching 3 of 4 targets for 18. Justin Jackson claimed the group's only TD, scoring on the ground from 15 yards out. The group gets an even tougher matchup at the Jets in Week 15.
Lions RB D'Andre Swift (ankle) is not listed on the final Week 14 injury report. He was limited in Wednesday’s practice but a full-go on Thursday and Friday. Swift probably still isn’t at 100%, but he should be ready for a significant role in this weekend’s game vs. the Vikings.
Lions RB D'Andre Swift (ankle) was upgraded to full participation in Thursday's practice. That has him looking like a comfier Week 14 fantasy play, but we'll see how he's listed on tomorrow's final injury report.
Lions RB D'Andre Swift (ankle) was limited in Wednesday's practice. He was off the injury report last week for the first time since the opener -- and then went out and had his busiest and most productive game since Week 1. We'll see how the rest of the week goes for Swift. We're fully expecting him to play vs. the Vikings on Sunday, but he'll be a riskier fantasy play if he doesn't get in at least 1 full practice.
Lions RB D'Andre Swift saw a large increase in playing time in Sunday's victory over the Jaguars. He ran 14 times for 62 yards and a TD, adding 4 catches for 49 yards on 6 targets. Swift played more snaps than RB Jamaal Williams for the 1st time since Week 2, beating him by 3 carries and 5 targets. Williams still scored again, among 11 carries for 35 yards. His only target fell incomplete.
Lions RB D'Andre Swift is off this week's injury report for the 1st time since Week 1. He's been battling ankle and shoulder since the opener and been limited to 4.6 carries and 4.6 targets per game since returning in Week 8. It's certainly worth noting, though, that Swift was a full participant in practice both of the past 2 weeks. So we wouldn't take being removed from the injury report as a sign that his role is set to grow significantly. But we'll certainly be keeping an eye on it in Sunday's game vs. the Jaguars.
Lions RB Jamaal Williams delivered his league-leading 13th rushing TD of the season in Thursday's narrow loss to the Bills. He also handled 67% of Detroit RB carries, taking 18 for 66 yards (3.7 per rush). That marked his 4th straight game with 16+ attempts and 3rd consecutive game with a TD. Home matchups with the Jaguars and Vikings the next 2 weeks look decent for Williams' chances of continuing his useful output. RB D'Andre Swift got another measly 5 carries (for 19 yards) but ranked 2nd on the team with 8 targets (4 catches, 24 yards). The 13 opportunities are his largest total since Week 1. RB Justin Jackson added 4 carries for 4 yards and 1 catches for 15 among 2 targets.
Lions RB Jamaal Williams had a mediocre rushing day ... except for his 3 scores from inside the 5-yard line. Overall, Williams gained 64 yards on 17 attempts. D'Andre Swift remained limited, carrying just 5 times and seeing 3 targets. He did manage to score on the ground and caught all 3 of his targets but produced just 32 total yards. We'll keep watching for signals of his workload increasing. Justin Jackson also chimed in with a 9-66 rushing line and an 11-yard catch. Williams has been a TD-reliant fantasy play, but he's now up to 12 rushing scores for the season.
Lions RB D'Andre Swift (ankle, shoulder) put in a full week of practice and isn’t listed on the final injury report for Sunday’s game vs. the Giants. Be careful, though. Swift was in the same boat heading into Week 8 before tallying just 5 carries and 5 targets in a loss to Miami. He seemed to admit on Friday that he’s still not at 100%. Swift remains a shaky fantasy play until we see his volume grow.
Lions RB D'Andre Swift seemed to admit on Friday that he's still not at 100%. “Kind of pushing through right now, still dealing with stuff but at the end of the day it’s about winning, making sure I’m out there doing my job whenever my number’s called," Swift told ESPN. He added that his best football is “most definitely” ahead this year. But Swift remains a risky fantasy play until we see his snaps and touches climb.
Lions RB D'Andre Swift (ankle, shoulder) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice. It's an upgrade over his limited participation last Wednesday. Swift seems to be trending in the right direction but remains a risky fantasy play until we actually see him get ample volume on a Sunday.
Lions RB D'Andre Swift continued to see limited work in Sunday's narrow victory over the Bears. He carried just 6 times for 6 yards but scored a 9-yard TD to boost his fantasy day. (That means, of course, that his other 5 rushes combined to lose 3 yards.) Swift added just 1 reception among 3 targets in a game that found only 3 Lions catching multiple passes. RB Jamaal Williams led the backfield once again with 16 carries for 59 yards and a TD. Justin Jackson claimed the backfield's other 3 targets, catching 2 for 14 yards. Swift declined to speak with the media last week and was reportedly angry with his low level of usage. We'll see if HC Dan Campbell reveals any change to his plan heading into next Sunday's visit to the Giants.
Lions RB D'Andre Swift (ankle, shoulder) is not listed on the final Week 10 injury report. He was a full-go in Friday’s practice after being limited the previous 2 days. That’s an improvement over last week – but it’s worth remembering that Swift was a full participant in all 3 practices leading up to Week 8, before getting just 5 carries and 5 targets. It’s certainly possible that Swift’s volume grows this weekend vs. the Bears, but he remains a low-floor fantasy play.
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