D’Andre Swift could be in store for a Christian McCaffrey-type season in 2021. Before we get too into projections, lets take a look in the rearview at the rookie seasons for both running backs.

The Ultimate 2021 Dynasty Rookie Draft Guide

Swift Vs. McCaffrey Rookie years

christian-mccaffrey-week-16-rb-rankingsChristian McCaffrey totaled 435 rushing yards, 651 receiving yards on 80 catches and seven total touchdowns back in 2017. All this equated to a total of 225 fantasy points or 14 points per game in standard PPR scoring leagues. Good enough to finish as the RB10 that year.

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D’Andre Swift tallied 521 rushing yards and 357 receiving yards on 46 catches while adding 10 total touchdowns in his rookie season last year. This came out to a total of 187 fantasy points scored. But remember that Swift missed three games due to a mild concussion. He averaged 14.45 points per game, almost half a point more than McCaffrey. He finished as RB19.

Swift Vs. McCaffrey Athletic Profiles

Swift’s 88th-percentile BMI and 83rd-percentile 40 yard dash time earned him the pro comp of Miles Sanders according to PlayerProfiler. This makes sense given the fact that Sanders is essentially the same kind of RB that McCaffrey and Swift are. All three have exceptional receiving skills. All three are sub 6-0″ but weigh enough to be every-down ball carriers. However; Swift seems to have more of a nose for the end zone, much like McCaffrey, which is why I’m predicting a sophomore breakout season that rivals what CMC experienced in 2018.

McCaffrey ran the exact same 4.48 40 time that Swift did. His college target share was 16 percent dusting Swift’s 10 percent share. He also had an insane 50 percent college dominator rating as the do-it-all back for the Stanford Cardinal. There’s no question about it, McCaffrey was the better collegiate player resulting in him being the No. 8 overall pick by the Carolina Panthers in 2017. Swift fell to the second round in 2020.

Swift Vs. McCaffrey Year Two

McCaffrey exploded with over 1,000 yards rushing, 107 receptions for 867-yards and 13 total touchdowns in his second NFL season. He averaged 24.2 points per game and finished as the RB2 on the year. He has been a fantasy football darling ever since and cemented a top five ADP for the foreseeable future.

McCaffrey was not an every down back his rookie season as he competed with Jonathan Stewart for touches. Swift had the pesky future Hall of Famer, Adrian Peterson, to contend with last year. Peterson is out setting up Swift as the three-down back in year two.

McCaffrey had a limited Cam Newton dumping him the ball every time he got the chance. Swift now has a limited Jared Goff who notoriously relies on his RB teammates. McCaffrey was the only reliable offensive weapon on the team. Swift is definitely the most talented playmaker currently on the Lions, pre-draft.

Swift Vs. Other Year Two RBs

I’m currently taking D’Andre Swift over any second year running back not named Jonathan Taylor this season. He should be the focal point of an Anthony Lynn ran offensive scheme. Think of an every down version of Austin Ekeler with an ideal BMI that doesn’t have durability issues. That’s what you are getting in Swift.

He is possibly the closest player that we have got to the “next” McCaffrey. Granted CMC has only been in the league for four seasons. But that’s what makes fantasy football great. Trying to find the “next” guy. Acquiring a league winning player usually requires you to find him before he is a league-winner. This is your last chance to do that with Swift.

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