The question of is D’Andre Swift playing has been a common one for fantasy football managers throughout this season. We have not seen Swift healthy since the first week, and his shoulder injury has now plagued him over the last four weeks.
The hope was that coming off the Detroit Lions bye week, Swift would be closer to full health. However, he remained limited all week in practice and headed into Week 7 listed as questionable. Let’s take a look at whether Swift is expected to play this week and the fantasy implications of him either being on the field or not.
Update: D’Andre Swift is inactive for the Detroit Lions in Week 7.
Is D’Andre Swift Playing Today?
Late on Saturday evening, we found out from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that Swift is not expected to play in Week 7. There had appeared to be some optimism from Swift himself that he could be available this week. However, the fact he was unable to progress past being a limited participant in the fourth week of the shoulder injury always left the potential that he would be out.
As well as the shoulder injury, Swift is still dealing with the ankle sprain he picked up in Week 1. The Lions are in a tough spot because, at 1-4, their season is quickly slipping away. Therefore, they would want their star RB on the field but will not want to risk compromising his health across the rest of the season.
If, like the Lions, your fantasy season is slipping away, then Underdog Fantasy provides you an opportunity to make a fresh start every single week. New users can get a $100 deposit bonus as well as a free month of PFN Pass while also getting access to a superb range of fantasy games. Sign up now here!
Fantasy Implications of Swift’s Week 7 Status
You never want to be without a player of Swift’s quality, but his absence might actually be a good thing for fantasy managers longer term. The matchup this week is tough, coming against a Cowboys team that allows an average of 15.97 fantasy points to the position in half-PPR scoring.
A limited Swift in a matchup with the seventh-toughest defense for the position would be a tough call to start. Therefore, fantasy managers would have a tough decision, and the added risk of re-injury is Swift rushes back. With all that in mind, Swift sitting out this week in order to ensure he can return fully healthy in Week 8 is a better outcome for fantasy managers.
MORE: Week 7 Fantasy PPR Rankings
With Swift set to be out, that leaves Jamaal Williams as the lead back for the Lions once again. Through the first five games, Swift has six rushing touchdowns and 332 rushing yards from 77 carries. He has scored multiple rushing touchdowns in three of the five games and had more than 50 rushing yards in each of the last four games.
The matchup is not ideal, but Williams’ usage should be high, and he has dominated the goal line work among the Lions’ RBs. Expectations should be a little tempered against the Cowboys’ defense, but it will be hard to sit Williams. He sits in the bottom half of the RB2 territory in PFN’s Week 7 RB fantasy rankings.
The only other player who could be fantasy relevant without Swift is Craig Reynolds. In Week 5, Reynolds had 92 total yards on nine touches. That output may have earned him a little more work this week, but it is hard to trust. Therefore, Reynolds is really only consideration as a potential Flex option in 16-team leagues or deeper.