Ought to You Begin D’Andre Swift or Kenneth Gainwell in Fantasy Soccer Week 3?

Heading into Week 1, we had no concept how the Philadelphia Eagles would deploy their working backs. It wound up being the Kenneth Gainwell present. Heading into Week 2, we had no concept how the Eagles would deploy their working backs with Gainwell out.

It wound up being the D’Andre Swift present. Heading into Week 3 — you get the purpose. So, ought to fantasy soccer managers begin Swift or Gainwell in Week 3 lineups?

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D’Andre Swift’s Fantasy Outlook This Week

In case you began Swift in Week 1, you most likely had a foul time. Swift performed simply 29% of the snaps and had precisely one carry and one reception. He was an entire afterthought behind clear starter and lead again Kenneth Gainwell.

With Gainwell out in Week 2, should you began Swift, you had a grand ole time. He went from irrelevant to bellcow, carrying the ball a whopping 28 instances for 175 yards and a landing.

Now, Gainwell is absolutely recovered from his rib harm and set to play in Week 3. We’re as soon as once more left questioning how this backfield will play out.

Kenneth Gainwell’s Fantasy Outlook This Week

All the preseason studies in regards to the Eagles trusting Gainwell as their lead again have been confirmed true in Week 1. Gainwell performed 62% of the snaps and dealt with 18 touches towards Swift’s two.

Heading into Week 2, there was little doubt the cut up would look related — till Gainwell was compelled to overlook the competition attributable to a rib harm.

MORE: Week 3 Fantasy Soccer Cheat Sheet

Now, Gainwell returns for Week 3, however Swift has made his presence felt. There’s merely no approach that head coach Nick Sirianni can put the Swift genie again within the bottle … at the very least not fully.

In fact, there’s additionally no approach Swift will see 28 carries once more. That makes this backfield extraordinarily tough to determine.

We have been hoping to have solutions by now. As an alternative, we solely have extra questions.

Which of the Eagles RBs Ought to You Begin?

In a press convention earlier this week, Sirianni revealed his plans for his working backs.

“If he’s bought the recent hand on Monday evening, we’ll maintain rolling with him. We really feel actually good in regards to the work he places in to verify his physique is true. …. You’re working the ball like that, give it to him 35 instances. It’s laborious not to try this.” — Nick Sirianni on D’Andre Swift

— Dave Zangaro (@DZangaroNBCS) September 21, 2023

Clearly, Sirianni agrees that after what Swift did towards the Minnesota Vikings, he can’t simply maintain him on the sidelines totally.

With that stated, Gainwell is not going to be handled like Rashaad Penny and even Boston Scott. He’s going to play.

I imagine Sirianni when he says this can be a hot-hand state of affairs. Sadly, that’s a nightmare for fantasy managers as a result of we do not know who the recent hand shall be. We additionally don’t know who will get the primary crack at establishing the recent hand.

Given Swift’s efficiency final week, my guess is will probably be him. If he rips off a few strong beneficial properties early, we may see him roll.

Nevertheless, even when Swift has the whole first drive to himself and performs nicely, Gainwell will seemingly get a shot on the second drive. Or vice versa.

Then there’s the added situation of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers having a strong run protection. They restricted Alexander Mattison to 11 carries for 34 yards in Week 1. In Week 2, Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson had a bit extra success, although, combining to show eight carries into 67 yards.

The Eagles are clearly the higher staff. The specter of Jalen Hurts working, plus their prolific passing sport, ought to create working lanes for each backs.

The higher begin will seemingly come down to 2 issues:

• Who (if anybody) scores a landing?
• Who will get the passing down function?

Relating to the landing, that’s anybody’s guess. Swift may’ve scored three final week, but when any again will get downed on the 1-yard line, it’s the Hurts tush-push play each time.

Relating to the passing down function, my guess is that goes to Gainwell. I say that primarily based on Week 1, plus the truth that earlier than Scott was concussed, he was in that function forward of Swift on Thursday evening.

Swift solely even caught three passes for six yards as a result of ultimately the Eagles have been down to simply Swift and Penny … and they’re prepared to do absolutely anything to keep away from placing Penny on the sphere.

So, which one is one of the best begin? We’re proper again at sq. one with this backfield. There isn’t a clear reply.

If I had each Swift and Gainwell, I’d don’t have any downside beginning each if lineup dimension allowed for it.

If I needed to begin one, as a lot as you’d like me to present you a solution, and as a lot as I’d like to have the ability to offer you one, I merely have no idea.

MORE: 2023 Dynasty RB Rankings

Fantasy managers with simply considered one of them on their roster can most likely begin whichever one they’ve. We’ve Swift fairly far forward of Gainwell in our PFN Consensus Rankings, however weekly rankings are risky and situation-specific. Simply because a participant is ranked forward of one other doesn’t imply the hole is giant.

That is an evolving state of affairs. Whether or not you select to begin one, each, or wait and see, there’s nothing unsuitable with that call.