D'Andre Swift: Skilled but "soft"

[FantasyFreak]

The guy was someone I was looking forward to watching/drafting when he was a sophomore. We have a big enough track record now, it's time to re-evaluate his Dynasty ranking. He's got to move down, he's been talked about as a top 5 back, and he's not. The guy can't stay on the field, and then he has a game or two with significant touches, looks great, then comes up on the injury report, and misses time. He's now relegated to a few touches a game, after returning.

His positional coach has publicly called him out multiple times over the last year and a half, about the difference between being hurt and injured, and how he needs to play through more. He can't. He is super talented, but it appears he's just not built to be a signifcant touch back in the NFL. Not everybody is, and maybe it's not his fault, but it's clear to me, his ranking and value need to drop. The sample size is large enough at this point.

[Cameron Giles]

It's pretty interesting, because even though Swift is short (5'8-5'9), he's not a small guy. He's 215 and has a BMI in the 90 percentile that's comparable to Ray Rice and MJD. He never missed a game in college and had a pretty notable workload there.

I hesitate to say he's soft or isn't capable of playing through pain. I think coaches who are encouraging players to play through pain is a bad approach though and it's just going to lead to a worse injury. But it's clear he's had bad injury luck as a pro and can't stay on the field.

I don't know how much I would drop him though, because he's an RB1 when he plays and the injuries (groin strain, AC joint, concussion, ankle sprain, shoulder strain) don't seem to paint anything abnormal.

I think his price in the offseason will still probably be around 1.04-1.06, which is about what people paid when he came into the league.

[abloom]

Looking at his injury history (NFL) it looks like AC joint sprains, groin strains, and ankle injury. Nothing really jumps out to me as being soft. Those are daily significant injuries for rbs, and injuries that can get worse and aggregated fairly easily if you continue to play.

If the inhuries were more like bone bruises or other pain tolerance injuries I'd be more concerned.

[Pac_Eddy]

Some say "injury prone" isn't a thing, but I think it is. It's difficult to count, so it doesn't exist, right? Some guys just can't stay healthy enough to play.

Agree on the talent, that's clearly not his issue. I'd buy if the price is low enough, but I really doubt his owners will want to sell for what I'd pay.

[Mjvb5]

Is he soft for not playing through these injuries that can easily worsen and then be used against him at the negotiating table. Or is he smart for not playing through an injury that can worsen and then be used against him at the negotiating table.

[Pac_Eddy]

Is he soft for not playing through these injuries that can easily worsen and then be used against him at the negotiating table. Or is he smart for not playing through an injury that can worsen and then be used against him at the negotiating table.

I think all NFL players are fighting an injury during the season. If it's not going to stop them from practicing and playing in a game, it's not reported. Swift is handling it differently than the Lion's coaches like, and they don't trust him to have a lot of touches. That says something to me.

[Mike11]

It feels like they're bubble wrapping him a bit too much. If you're good enough to play then you shouldn't be at risk for re-injury if you have more than 10 touches. I'm still not out on Swift, this is a classic situation where if he gets 15 this week and he gets 15 the week after his value will skyrocket back up. Week 1 showed how good he can look, we need to see if the coaches continue with this approach.

I can tell you for a fact when he made that incredible grab to get down to the 2 yard line he didn't want to come out of the game whatsoever. In games Swift has played he hasn't scored under 6 points in .5 PPR even on his limited touches and snaps. Here are some RBs who have at least one 6 point or less game this year: Dalvin, Mixon, Fournette, Aaron Jones (3 times), Sanders, Najee. I know that's an extremely arbitrary threshold but when he plays he's phenomenal.

This is a classic buy situation to me. His owners are probably fed up and you can get him for a random mid 1st. He's still only 23, younger than Najee, CMC, Barkley, Mixon, Chubb, Dalvin, etc. I think the book is far from written.

[Space Cowboy]

Jamal Williams is almost equally as effective with an ADP of what, 80 spots lower? 100 spots?

[dynastyninja]

Detroit is run by a bunch of tough guys who would rather give the ball to an RB who fights to turn a 3 yard carry into 4-5 yards than an RB who can break a 50-yard carry at any moment (while also still getting 3-5 yards regularly).

Swift is clearly not the most durable player in the world (weird given he was pretty healthy in college), but they just don't seem to care to feed him.

Bad, old-school coaching in Detroit. There's a reason teams care more about strategy than macho-ness nowadays.

[Lumps]

Detroit is run by a bunch of tough guys who would rather give the ball to an RB who fights to turn a 3 yard carry into 4-5 yards than an RB who can break a 50-yard carry at any moment (while also still getting 3-5 yards regularly).

Swift is clearly not the most durable player in the world (weird given he was pretty healthy in college), but they just don't seem to care to feed him.

Bad, old-school coaching in Detroit. There's a reason teams care more about strategy than macho-ness nowadays.

Also, fighting themselves out of contention for Stroud/Young. Imagine a threatening QB with Swift.

[nathanq42]

I would be oft injured if I was a great talent on the Lions too... Why risk it for a team that you dont want to play for that doesnt have any future prospects?

[Cameron Giles]

Is he soft for not playing through these injuries that can easily worsen and then be used against him at the negotiating table. Or is he smart for not playing through an injury that can worsen and then be used against him at the negotiating table.

I think all NFL players are fighting an injury during the season. If it's not going to stop them from practicing and playing in a game, it's not reported. Swift is handling it differently than the Lion's coaches like, and they don't trust him to have a lot of touches. That says something to me.

Is Swift sitting out games for minor reasons that the typical NFL player could play through? Based on his injury history this doesn't seem to be the case.

[cazzie33]

Clearly the Lions coaching staff is sending a message. Jamaal is the attitude they want to reward to set a tone for the team. He can fumble a game away , come up short on crucial 3rd & 4th downs yet still get the rock next week in same situations.

Swift can be cookin' & they will take him out every time to "protect" him. Give me a break , game on the line he should be in . If indeed Swift is still that limited he shouldn't be dressed at all if you're really worried about injury. Doesn't appear he wants to come out and if he's not in shape enough to do more than he is he shouldn't be dressed because you are putting him @ risk

Now if it is Swift not wanting to practice or play more then I wouldn't give the sugar at goal line so he can get the glory either. That wouldn't send a good message to the locker room. Show me in practice and then you can get your turn. If you say you're not up to it during the week I'm not trusting you on Sunday nor do I want to. It would be different if you had a history of giving your all but Swifty doesn't, quite the contrary.

[Pac_Eddy]

Is he soft for not playing through these injuries that can easily worsen and then be used against him at the negotiating table. Or is he smart for not playing through an injury that can worsen and then be used against him at the negotiating table.

I think all NFL players are fighting an injury during the season. If it's not going to stop them from practicing and playing in a game, it's not reported. Swift is handling it differently than the Lion's coaches like, and they don't trust him to have a lot of touches. That says something to me.

Is Swift sitting out games for minor reasons that the typical NFL player could play through? Based on his injury history this doesn't seem to be the case.

I don't know. Maybe he's sitting out practices though. The Lions staff has kind of called him out for it, and he's not getting a ton of touches. Where there's smoke, there's fire IMO.

[Space Cowboy]

Yeah I've the announcers say the same thing during games. "Staff is pushing him to work through the nicks and bruises that will happen"