D’Andre Swift Signs with Chicago, Fantasy Impact

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D’Andre Swift is on the move. Per Ian Rapoport, Swift is expected to sign with the Chicago Bears on a three-year, $24.5 million pact. The deal includes $15.3 million in guaranteed money. Swift is coming off a career year with the Eagles, notching 229 carries for 1,049 yards and five rushing scores. He also added 39 catches for 214 yards and a score. 

In Chicago, Swift will join Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson in the backfield, with D’Onta Foreman expected to walk in free agency. This backfield was not the best for fantasy purposes in 2023, as Herbert, Johnson and Foreman formed a three-headed monster with very little week-to-week consistency.

Herbert ended up leading the team in carries, but his 132 rushing attempts ranked a lowly 40th among running backs. He also led the backfield in fantasy scoring, but only managed to muster a 43rd-place finish. 

Alas, this backfield doesn’t seem to be moving away from a committee approach. For Swift, that means he isn’t a good bet to even approach last season’s volume. Swift finished as RB19 on 268 touches last season. A sizeable reduction in his touches will essentially tank his fantasy value. Things could change if the Bears indicate a big workload for Swift, but the presence of Herbert and Johnson on this roster position Swift outside RB3 territory. Despite a decent pay day, Swift’s fantasy value is on the decline.

Swift’s departure from Philly thins out the Eagles running back room with both Boston Scott and Rashaad Penny also hitting the open market. That leaves just Kenneth Gainwell on the roster. Expect the Eagles to address the position via free agency and/or in the draft next month.