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D'Andre Swift or RJ Harvey - who should I draft for 2025 fantasy football? Brandon's ADP duel and pick recommendations for running backs D'Andre Swift and RJ Harvey.
As we enter the prime drafting season of fantasy football, every pick can significantly impact your season’s trajectory. Mastering Average Draft Position (ADP) is a skill that can elevate you above the competition, especially when facing the challenge of two similarly ranked players. For the 2025 season, we shift our focus to running backs projected as RB2s—those reliable secondary options drafted in the early-to-middle rounds—who often present a tight ADP battle that demands careful navigation. This article, ADP Duel, delves into the strategic art of evaluating these players, offering insights into how to differentiate between talents like D'Andre Swift and RJ Harvey, whose ADPs hover in the 60th-to-70th overall range, to secure a reliable roster cornerstone as the 2025 fantasy football season draws ever closer.
These RB2 candidates share a common thread of potential upside on offenses that provide ample amounts of production if the usage meets an appropriate standard. Yet, their individual nuances can make or break your lineup. Factors such as workload distribution, offensive scheme fit, and injury history come into play, with players like Swift possibly thriving in the Jahmyr Gibbs role in Chicago’s new Ben Johnson offense, in hopes that the transition coming from Detroit will be smooth. The decision hinges on decoding their ADP to identify value, as a slight edge in usage or touchdown potential could propel one into RB1 territory. At the same time, a misstep might leave you scrambling for depth. This article will break down these dynamics, using real-world examples to guide your draft-day choices amidst the chaos of the 2025 campaign.
My ADP Duel will equip you with the tools to conquer these RB2 conundrums, turning indecision into decisive action as you navigate the draft board. We’ll analyze specific player matchups, leveraging ADP trends, expert projections, and 2025 outlooks to highlight who might outshine their ranking. By the end, you’ll have a clear strategy for tackling those pivotal moments when two RB2s are on the clock, ensuring you maximize value and build a roster primed for success as the fantasy season begins today. Prepare to sharpen your skills and transform ADP duels into draft-day victories!
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D'Andre Swift - RB, Chicago Bears
ADP: RB21, 65th Overall
Swift of the Chicago Bears is a compelling RB2 option at his current ADP, sitting around the 63rd-to-66th overall pick in 2025 fantasy football drafts, offering a mix of volume and potential upside that’s like a rollercoaster with a surprise twist.
In 2024, he played all 17 games for the first time in his five-year career, racking up 253 carries for 959 rushing yards and six touchdowns, plus 42 receptions for 386 receiving yards, averaging 12.6 PPR points per game (RB21). His standout moment came in Week 4 against the Rams with 16 carries for 93 yards and a touchdown (with seven receptions for 72 yards), proving he can handle a heavy workload despite a career-low 3.8 yards per carry—more a reflection of Chicago’s shaky line than his own grit.
With new head coach Ben Johnson, who previously coached Swift in Detroit, where he saw 70 targets in 2022, and an upgraded offensive line, Swift’s 2025 outlook hints at a rebound, making his mid-round ADP a calculated gamble worth taking for fantasy managers aiming to wait a few rounds before selecting their RB2 in drafts.
Some might raise an eyebrow at his 2024 inefficiency or the presence of Roschon Johnson and rookie Kyle Monangai as depth threats, but overlooking Swift is like ignoring a sturdy tool in your shed—short-sighted!
His 2024 snap share (10th among RBs at 66.9%) and opportunity share (7th at 75.9%) show he’s the lead back, and his 9.2 expected rushing touchdowns (per advanced metrics) suggest his six actual scores could jump with better red-zone luck under Johnson’s pass-heavy scheme.
Compared to peers like James Cook, who could see a regression based on the massive touchdown production last season (18 total), or Aaron Jones, who’s 30 and fading, Swift’s 26-year-old legs and 14th-ranked target total (42) give him a dual-threat edge—witness his five games with four or more receptions.
With a 2025 schedule featuring winnable matchups against the Cowboys and Saints, drafting Swift here is like betting on a seasoned runner finding his stride—chuckle at the doubters and watch him carry your roster to glory!
RJ Harvey - RB, Denver Broncos
ADP: RB22, 66th Overall
Harvey, the Denver Broncos’ surprising second-round gem from the 2025 NFL Draft, is an intriguing RB2 prospect at his current ADP, hovering around the 64th-to-67th overall pick in 2025 fantasy football drafts, offering a blend of rookie potential that’s like a wild card with a winning grin.
In his final college season at UCF in 2024, he exploded for 1,577 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns on 232 carries, averaging 6.8 yards per carry, while adding 20 receptions for 267 yards and three scores, totaling 1,844 scrimmage yards and 25 touchdowns.
His standout performance came against Arizona with 184 rushing yards and three TDs, showcasing the elusiveness and burst that earned him a 95.1 PFF rushing grade (91st percentile among prospects since 2017).
With Sean Payton’s pass-heavy scheme and a backfield featuring J.K. Dobbins but lacking a clear lead back, Harvey’s path to 200+ touches is wide open, making his mid-round ADP a quirky bargain but one that could pay off huge for fantasy managers in 2025.
There may be some questions raised by his 5’8”, 205-pound frame or the committee risk with Dobbins and Jaleel McLaughlin, but overlooking Harvey is like missing a punchline in a great joke—plain silly!
His college tape revealed a knack for forcing missed tackles (eighth among 161 backs with 100+ carries in 2024) and a 4.40-second 40-yard dash at the Combine, hinting at big-play potential despite a shaky 21.8 PFF pass-blocking grade.
Compared to Swift, who struggled with a 3.8 yards-per-carry average, or David Montgomery, who shares snaps, Harvey’s rookie upside shines, especially with Payton’s history of targeting running backs (fifth and first in RB target share the last two years).
His 2024 collegiate production and impressive showing at the NFL Combine suggest a ceiling, and with a soft schedule against the likes of the Bengals and Jaguars, drafting him here is like betting on a rookie ready to steal the show—let the doubters speak their words, as Harvey sprints to your fantasy lineup’s rescue!
Fantasy Football Verdict - Swift vs. Harvey
What we have in this ADP Duel is a true test between two players with a perceived upside.
With Swift, the idea is that you are targeting the majority of the possibly valuable Ben Johnson RB production that he will try to bring over from Detroit. Harvey is the shiny new toy that illuminates the eyes of the fantasy community each year when a rookie RB flashes potential during the offseason testing.
Both players will be splitting some time in their respective offenses. Swift is currently viewed as the lead back in an offense with a lot of hope behind it. Harvey could begin the season on the lesser side of a timeshare, but in a role that has proven over the years to be highly productive for fantasy.
This comes down to a true tough decision amid a draft. A lot of fantasy managers, in the heat of the battle, have a tough time wrapping their heads around and being comfortable with taking on a player that could start slow, over a veteran with a safer floor.
Yet, what I see between these two is players who could inevitably be heading in opposite directions down the stretch.
So, in conclusion, if I am on the clock and staring down this decision, give me the rookie RB who could ascend into the RB1 role in a Sean Payton offense, over the veteran that could be losing time to rookie Monangai as the season progresses.
Harvey, you are the winner of this ADP Duel!
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