The Chicago Bears will face the Minnesota Vikings in Week 12. Here’s the latest fantasy football news and advice to help you with your lineups this week and moving forward, especially regarding RB D’Andre Swift.
Is D’Andre Swift Playing in Week 12?
Chicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift failed to practice on Wednesday due to a groin injury. This was a new issue for Swift, who wasn’t listed on the club’s injury report leading into last week’s game.
Fortunately, Swift returned for a limited practice on Thursday and a full session on Friday. While he’s technically listed as questionable, ending the week with a full practice signals that Swfit should be good to go for Week 12.
Indeed, Swift told reporters that he fully expects to play against the Lions on Sunday.
In the unlikely event that Swift sits in Week 12, second-year back Roschon Johnson — who’s already begun to see more work — would be in line to start for Chicago. Johnson’s snap rate crept to a season-high 42% in Week 11, while he handled 11 touches and scored a rushing touchdown.
Detroit is a poor matchup for whichever RB starts for Chicago. The Lions allow the fourth-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs, rank third in rushing success rate, and 11th in EPA per rush.
We’ll continue to monitor the Bears’ injury report. You can also visit and bookmark our NFL Injury Tracker and Fantasy News Tracker for the latest updates.
Should You Start or Sit D’Andre Swift in Week 12?
The Bears are struggling, and Roschon Johnson is getting the goal-line work, yet nothing can slow the production machine that is D’Andre Swift.
He cashed in a carry from 39 yards out last weekend, the type of splash play that has become commonplace for a running back who has produced 7.4% over expectation over his past five games despite the shortcomings of everyone around him. As productive as Swift has been (three top-20 finishes over his past four games), I can’t shake this feeling of uncertainty this week.
Remove that long touchdown last week and we are looking at a player with 45 carries for 142 yards in November (3.16 yards per carry). After the first two weeks this season where opposing defenses were trying to gauge what to think of Caleb Williams, Swift has run into a loaded box on 32.8% of his carries, a trend that the aggressive Vikings figure to extend.
Speaking of Minnesota, its crowding of the line of scrimmage has helped fuel the top-rated run defense by success rate. They’ve allowed just 1.4 RB runs of 10+ yards per game this season (tied for the third-fewest), and if the splash play is less likely to be landed by Swift, we are looking at an uphill battle with Chicago as a home underdog.
Swift’s touch floor makes him a starter in just about every season-long format, but I have no interest in plugging him into DFS lineups and wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to start two backs ahead of him (Brian Robinson Jr. and Rico Dowdle are the two I have ranked just ahead of him for Week 12).
Are you looking for start/sit advice for other players in your lineup? Read our Week 12 Fantasy Start-Sit Advice Cheat Sheet for every fantasy-relevant player in every game.
D’Andre Swift’s Fantasy Points Projection in Week 12
As of early Sunday morning, Swift is projected to score 14.5 fantasy points in PPR formats. This includes 12.3 rushing attempts for 54.1 yards and 0.4 touchdowns. It also includes 3.5 receptions for 26.2 yards and 0.1 touchdowns.
Check out the free PFN Fantasy Start-Sit Optimizer for the latest projections and advice for your lineups this week.
D’Andre Swift’s Fantasy Ranking
Our Weekly Consensus PPR Rankings are below — both positional and overall. They were last updated at 11:45 PM ET on Saturday, January 25.
Conference Championship RB PPR Rankings
1) Saquon Barkley | PHI (vs. WAS)
2) James Cook | BUF (at KC)
3) Brian Robinson Jr. | WAS (at PHI)
4) Isiah Pacheco | KC (vs. BUF)
5) Kareem Hunt | KC (vs. BUF)
6) Austin Ekeler | WAS (at PHI)
7) Ray Davis | BUF (at KC)
8) Ty Johnson | BUF (at KC)
9) Samaje Perine | KC (vs. BUF)
10) Kenneth Gainwell | PHI (vs. WAS)
11) Jeremy McNichols | WAS (at PHI)
12) Will Shipley | PHI (vs. WAS)
13) Carson Steele | KC (vs. BUF)
14) Reggie Gilliam | BUF (at KC)
15) Chris Rodriguez Jr. | WAS (at PHI)
