The Detroit Lions may have hit a home run with their 2nd round draft pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. D’Andre Swift has been growing every game and is turning into an elite back.

In his first game D’Andre Swift dropped what would have been the game winning TD pass. This caused a lot of people to have concerns about his hands and his over all mental state. Dropping a ball like that in your first NFL game could have sent Swift reeling. Instead he’s been able to bounce back and his last 2 games he has been elite for the Detroit Lions.

As it sits right now, Swift is the #3 Rookie RB. He sits behind Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Jonathan Taylor. CEH is going to be a Top 10 back, partly because of the system he is in. You can argue if you put Swift in the same system he would have similar numbers.

Taylor has had flashes but he also has been the featured back for the entire season. Marlon Mack went down week one, making Jonathan Taylor the #1 back in Indy. Even with the head start over Swift, Taylor only has about 18 more fantasy points this season.

D’Andre Swift, unlike Taylor and CEH, has had to wait his turn to be the featured back. The last 2 games we have seen his usage % go up to 38%. That ties him with Adrian Peterson. Now is the time to turn that 38% into at least 50%. If Swift were able to raise his touches by 12% he would be competing for the Top Rookie RB in the league.

The more the Detroit Lions involve him in the offense the better it is for all parties including Matt Stafford. Let’s hope the Swift train is just warming up. I’m ready to watch an elite back in Detroit.