NEWSLETTER
I did *NOT* expect to see a graphic where Chicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift shares space with Austin Ekeler, Alvin Kamara, and Christian McCaffrey.
And neither did you. But don’t feel bad. It’s OK. This is a safe space and judgment free zone that allows us let’s be honest and real with each other.
But seriously, get a load of this graphic via @BearsMarquee:
That is the type of stat package that helps explain why the Bears targeted D’Andre Swift early in free agency and made signing him a priority.
I didn’t realize how productive D’Andre Swift has been as a pro
Here are D-Swift’s stats since 2020 compared to his peeers in the graphic:
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OK, so that McCaffrey-Ekeler-Kamara tier of running backs is on its own level. But still … perhaps we shouldn’t overlook Swift in this conversation since his numbers check the same boxes.
One major takeaway from the stats above is how much more productive the McCaffrey-Ekeler-Kamara trio has been in the same period of time. This isn’t to take anything away from Swift or what he has done on the gridiron. That type of production doesn’t grow on trees. But he is simply not in that upper crust of multi-facted running backs. And that is fine. After all, just because he isn’t in that stratosphere it doesn’t mean he can’t be productive for the Bears moving forward.
At this point, you might be wondering what can we expect from D’Andre Swift in 2024? These are the projections ESPN’s forecast spits out for the back in his first year with the Bears:
From a fantasy perspective, this puts Swift as RB23 at ESPN. That would land him between former Bears running back David Montgomery (RB22) and Arizona Cardinals ball carrier James Connor (RB24). It would also put him ahead of 2021 first-round pick Najee Harris (RB27), as well as fantasy darlings such as Tyjae Spears (RB29) and Raheem Mostert (RB35). I don’t usually put a ton of stock into fantasy projections, I find it interesting that D’Andre Swift’s fantasy value and the value he brings to the Bears are similar.
MORE: The Fantasy Football Impact of D’Andre Swift in Chicago
Swift is a dual-threat running back who doesn’t have to leave the field because of situational football. If the Bears need a pass-catcher out of the backfield, they can send D’Andre Swift into the uddle. And if the team needs to run the ball, Swift can do that, too.
One of my biggest beefs with Luke Getsy’s offense was with how personnel usage and deployment became so predictable that it helped defenses key in on what the play would be. For instance, Khalil Herbert’s deficiencies as a pass-blocker and receiver out of the backfield hinted at the Bears’ likelihood of running the ball last year. And when Roschon Johnson was in the game, the odds of the Bears passing the ball were higher.
This isn’t to say that those guys can’t be used in different phases of the game in 2024. But D’Andre Swift’s presence and deployment (if done properly) could make it difficult for defenses to guess what the Bears will do in a given situation.
In the end, I wish I could say with confidence that D’Andre Swift is going to put up the types of numbers that Ekeler, Kamara, and McCaffrey. But if you read through the stats breakdown above, then you’d know better than to expect that from Swift now that he is with the Bears. However, what I am willing ot say is that Swift can be the type of all-purpose back who can help the Bears offense score points in bunches this year. And in the grand scheme of things, this is what we should be rooting for when it comes to the newest member of the Bears backfield.
