7 months agoChicago Bears running back Khalil Herbert was hoping to become the club's lead rusher for the 2024 season. Instead, the Bears signed D'Andre Swift to a contract in free agency. It's understandable as Swift is coming off a career year, and Herbert has never totaled more than 731 rushing yards in a season. While Swift's surface-level stats look good, the underlying metrics paint a different picture. He finished 40th out of 49 eligible backs in Next Gen Stats Rush Yards Over Expectation (RYOE). Among running backs with at least 65 carries, Swift finished 36th in Pro Football Focus' (PFF) signature Elusive Rating and only ranked 39th in PFF's rushing grade. Herbert graded higher than Swift in every one of the above metrics. There is precedent for a team turning away from a back after signing him to a big contract. Just last year we saw the Carolina Panthers bench starter Miles Sanders in favor of Chuba Hubbard after they inked Sanders to a four-year, $25.4 million deal. If Swift struggles, or injuries plague him, don't be surprised if Herbert wrestles the starting job away. Consider him one of the top handcuffs available in drafts this year. RotoBaller's RB47 has proven he can play at a high level when called into action. He can be a major asset to fantasy managers in all leagues if the opportunity presents itself.--Dave Ventresca