De’Andre Swift was (and still is) a potential moneymaker and league-winner for your fantasy team this season, but he, unfortunately, sustained a concussion in practice while the Lions prepared for their Week 11 tilt with the Panthers. Now in concussion protocol, Swift was officially ruled out on Friday. The Wolf ranked him as the Week 11 RB4 coming off his blockbuster Week 10, so Swift owners will have to look elsewhere for legitimate running back production.
If you are in flex trouble, Adrian Peterson (29% rostered) and Kerryon Johnson (23% rostered) have a tasty matchup against the Panthers, and both could be in for a decent workload. Head Coach Matt Patricia and RBs coach Kyle Caskey said today that they’ll use a combination of the two, and that Kerryon is fresh following a slow few weeks.
The Wolf ranks AP and Kerryon RB27 and RB33 respectively, so those two options aren’t too shabby in a dry RB market.
If you don’t trust the Lions’ backups, check the wire for these other potential waiver wire options:
Kalen Ballage, LAC (70% rostered)
Gio Bernard, Cin (70% rostered)
Nyheim Hines, Ind (68% rostered)
Rex Burkhead, NE (42% rostered)
Salvon Ahmed, Mia (40% rostered)
Malcolm Brown, LAR (40% Rostered)
LaMichael Perine, NYJ (18% rostered)
Looking forward, hopefully, Swift is ready to return next week for a Thanksgiving matchup against Houston, who currently boast the 30th ranked run defense. Weeks 14 and 15, the Lions play Green Bay and Tennessee, ranked 31st and 24th respectively, which also bodes well for Swift owners.
I mean, last week the Football Team was ranked 12th against the run, and the rookie scorched them for 81 ground yards on 16 attempts (5.1 YPC) and added five receptions for 68 yards and a touchdown. If he can produce against average defenses and the game script stays RB-positive for the most part, there is no reason to believe that his production will change coming off injury.
Overall, to lose a top back this week is tough, but the future is bright for the rookie, and in turn bright for Swift owners heading into the fantasy playoffs.
