The Mid-Round Workhorses: Why D'Andre Swift and James Conner are Your Mid-Round RB Heroes
The Mid-Round Workhorses: Why D'Andre Swift and James Conner are Your Mid-Round RB Heroes
In the high-stakes landscape of fantasy football, the "RB Dead Zone" has become a treacherous territory. It's a place where fantasy managers, having missed out on the elite tier, often make desperate reaches for running backs with uncertain roles and limited upside. But in 2025, this very territory "the middle rounds" is home to a pair of undervalued workhorses who can form the backbone of a championship roster: Chicago's D'Andre Swift and Arizona's James Conner.
By targeting this one-two punch, you can sidestep the dead zone's pitfalls and secure a couple of formidable running backs built on guaranteed volume, scoring potential, and underrated value. Let's dive into the data and make the case for why Swift and Conner are the mid-round heroes you need to be drafting.
The Revitalised Lead Back: D'Andre Swift's Chicago Renaissance
D'Andre Swift represents one of the most compelling upside plays in fantasy drafts. After a somewhat inefficient year by some metrics in 2024, he now finds himself in a near-perfect situation to deliver a career year. His reunion with Head Coach Ben Johnson, his former offensive coordinator in Detroit, places him in a system where he previously thrived as both a runner and a receiver.
What makes Swift a mid-round steal is the factors of talent, system, and situation. The Bears have heavily invested in their offensive line, transforming it into a potentially dominant unit. For a player like Swift, who excels in space, improved blocking is a massive catalyst. Furthermore, he enters the season as the undisputed lead back, a role that promises the high-volume workload essential for RB1 production.
Consider the numbers. In his last season under Ben Johnson, back in 2022, Swift averaged an efficient 5.5 yards per carry and caught 48 passes. Projections for 2025 see him handling over 220 carries and 45 receptions, putting him on a clear path to exceed 1,400 total yards. With a current Expert Consensus Ranking (ECR) in the late fourth round, you are drafting a locked-in lead back with top-12 potential at an RB2 price. He offers a safe floor with the explosive ceiling that will win you a lot of weeks.
The Underrated Bell-Cow: James Conner, Arizona's Goal-Line Back
Year after year, James Conner is one of the most consistently undervalued assets in fantasy football. While others chase flashier names, the more prepared managers recognise Conner for what he is: a true three-down bell-cow running back who dominates touches and, most importantly, scores touchdowns. In an era of running back committees, Conner's role in the Cardinals' offense is a fantasy goldmine.
When healthy, Conner's usage is top-tier. In the 13 games he played last season, he handled an insane 79.8% of the Cardinals' running back carries and a route participation rate over 50%. He turned that volume into 1,040 rushing yards and was a battering ram at the goal line, plunging in for 7 touchdowns.
The narrative is that he is injury prone tends to push him down draft boards, creating huge value. With an ECR sitting at around the sixth round, you are acquiring the Cardinals' primary goal-line back and offensive workhorse at a discount price. Projections for 2025 have him slated for another 1,000-plus total yards and 8-10 touchdowns. He is the definition of a high-floor fantasy asset. While others in this range offer uncertainty, Conner provides a near-guarantee of 15-20 touches per game when he's on the fit and on the field.
Method Behind The Madness
Drafting both D'Andre Swift and James Conner in the middle rounds is a masterstroke that solidifies your running back position with two distinct, yet complementary, skill sets.
✓ Swift provides the dynamic, dual-threat upside. He brings big-play ability and a high ceiling in the passing game, making him a perfect weapon in PPR formats.
✓ Conner delivers the reliable, touchdown-dependent floor. His guaranteed volume and goal-line work provide a steady sprinkling of fantasy points you can count on.
This strategy allows you to use your premium early-round picks on elite wide receivers or a top tight end, knowing you can construct a powerful and reliable running back duo later in the draft. While your league mates are navigating the RB dead zone with risky, committee-based backs, you will have secured two starters with a clear path to a top-15 finish. Forget the risk, embrace the value and let Swift and Conner carry you to a fantasy championship.
Luke Renton