NFL Rushing Leader Odds Point to D’Andre Swift Being in Major Timeshare in 2021
By Peter Dewey
Should Detroit Lions fans pump the brakes on the D’Andre Swift era?
Swift, the team’s second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, showed some serious promise as a runner and receiver as a rookie, but the University of Georgia product may not be in line for a breakout sophomore season.
WynnBET released its odds for the league’s leading rusher this season, and Swift is on the bottom half of the odds board at just +7500. Obviously he wasn’t going to be the top choice to lead the league in rushing (that honor goes to Derrick Henry), but it’s interesting to see Swift so far down the list.
This could signal that the Lions will employ a timeshare or go with the hot hand in the backfield this season.
Detroit had been rumored to be interested in free agent running back Todd Gurley, and the Lions signed Jamaal Williams in free agency to compete with swift.
Williams is a bigger back, which means Swift may not see as many early-down looks as fans would expect in 2021.
Still, Williams played a change-of-pace role with Aaron Jones in Green Bay the past few seasons and Jones was still among the league’s top rushers.
What may be even more concerning for Swift’s rushing outlook is the fact that the Lions are expected to trail in most of their games this season. Detroit has the shortest odds to be the last winless teamthis season at +250, and the Lions are massive 7.5-point underdogs in Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers.
Swift is immensely talented, as he averaged 4.6 yards per carry last year and 7.8 yards per reception, but it’s going to be hard for him to establish a rhythm as a runner if the Lions are always trailing.
Things could change if Jared Goff and company surprise people in 2021, but don’t expect Swift to be a one-man show in the backfield until he proves he is a superior option to Williams.