Roundtable: Post Free Agency Dynasty RB Fallers

Photo: Brace Hemmelgarn, USA Today Sports

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NFL free agency is a significant catalyst for dynasty value change. Our staff gathered to identify potential dynasty trade targets and players you could buy low or sell high. This section is about running backs with falling dynasty values.

D’Andre Swift, Detroit

Jason Wood - The veteran backs, including Ezekiel Elliott and Leonard Fournette, are worthy candidates, but those are easy choices because they're aging veterans who will have to take jobs on non-contenders as a committee back or possibly sign as a backup with contenders. Instead, I'll offer up D'Andre Swift. Swift has always been valued more on his potential than his performance. The Lions' aggressive move to give David Montgomery more than $10 million guaranteed to replace Jamaal Williams is a damning indication of what the organization thinks of Swift's ability to handle a larger role.

Dave Kluge - The Detroit Lions' agreement with David Montgomery hurts D’Andre Swift. Swift struggled to get significant volume last year and has much stiffer competition now. Montgomery has shown an elite ceiling in spurts throughout his career and now benefits from running behind a league-best offensive line. The team committed a 3-year, $16 million deal to Montgomery, and he projects to be the lead back. While there’s a conception that Montgomery is a between-the-tackles plodder, he also works well in the passing game. He’s a terrific pass-blocker and can make defenders miss in the open field. That skill-set overlap could spell trouble for Swift, whose value almost comes exclusive as a receiving threat.

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Matt Montgomery - D’Andre Swift was a dynasty fantasy darling just one off-season ago, but we saw a Lions offense that just didn’t utilize the young running back in a way dynasty managers could justify the lofty price they paid to either draft or acquire him. With Jamaal Williams leaving, there was a glimmer of hope that we would finally see him become the focal point of a rushing attack proven to score points, but now that the team has signed David Montgomery, we likely see more of a committee approach. The worst news is Montgomery likely gets the goal line snaps, giving us another year of start/sit questions.

Chad Parsons - Jamaal Williams left in free agency, and Detroit gave one of the best free agent contracts at the position in free agency to David Montgomery, a capable high-volume back. Swift looks to be on the short end of the touches again in 2023 and continues his Dynasty slide.

Alvin Kamara, New Orleans

Ben Cummins - Alvin Kamara’s value is currently in a free fall. His legal troubles have the status of his 2023 playing time currently up in the air, and the Saints just signed last season’s rushing touchdown leader, Jamaal Williams, to a three-year, $12 million contract. When he is on the field, Kamara will play at 28 this season (starting to get up there!) and be in a timeshare with another reliable running back.

Gary Davenport - Whose isn’t feels like it might be a shorter list. But Alvin Kamara of the Saints stands out as a back whose value took a sizable hit recently. It’s not just a matter of the signing of Jamaal Williams, although it’s not a stretch to imagine Williams assuming the between-the-tackles role that Mark Ingram used to have in New Orleans. But Kamara is also potentially staring at a personal conduct suspension after an offseason assault arrest, and next year marks the first time the Saints can realistically look to get out from under Kamara’s bloated contract. Kamara’s days as a fantasy stalwart appear numbered—and the number may not be that high.