The fantasy football landscape shifts each week, bringing fresh opportunities and unexpected challenges that separate the prepared from the pretenders. Savvy managers know that last week’s performance tells only part of the story, and diving deeper into the underlying metrics reveals the accurate picture.
This week presents some intriguing decisions. Here’s insight about key Philadelphia Eagles players heading into their matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to help you craft a winning lineup.
Jalen Hurts, QB
We got the complete package from Jalen Hurts on Sunday, and that was good to see.
Passing Splits
- First 10 quarters this season: 38/53 for 270 yards and 0 TD
- Second half on Sunday: 17/24 for 209 pass yards and three TDs
It was nice to get a reminder that, when pressed, Hurts can still get it done through the air. The problem for his pass catchers is that this team is on a dynastic run, and playing from behind isn’t exactly a common occurrence.
We will let the A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith managers worry about that. Regarding Hurts, most of the outcomes are positive. If Philadelphia is up big, it’s because he fueled some success on the ground, and if not, he’ll punish opponents through the air.
There is destined to be a Saquon Barkley game at some point, but you take the good with the bad. I don’t see the Bucs slowing down Hurts (at least one rushing score in 11 of his past 12 healthy regular-season games) this weekend, and that means you’re set up for another high-floor performance at the very least.
Saquon Barkley, RB
This isn’t what we signed up for from our first-round pick after a gnarly historic campaign.
- 3.3 yards per carry
- 0 touches gaining 17+ yards
Is it possible we were worried about the wrong things this summer?
Philadelphia isn’t handling star back Saquon Barkley with kid gloves (18+ carries and 2+ catches in all the contests), but the explosion hasn’t been there yet. I’m not worried.
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Last week was a goofy game script-wise, and Week 2 came against a very strong Chiefs defense. I’m encouraged by the involvement in the pass game (12 targets) and am plenty comfortable in tying my ship to a player like this that ranks fifth at the position in red zone touches.
Our free Trade Analyzer won’t ding him much, but if there is a panic-stricken 0-3 manager with Barkley, why not offer 85 cents on the dollar and see where the conversation goes?
A.J. Brown, WR
A.J. Brown reminded us all of what he is capable of last weekend against the Rams, turning his 10 targets into 109 yards and a touchdown, where he just appeared to be unguardable. That’s who he is, and that’s why we get so angry when he sees nine targets for 35 yards through the first two weeks.
That’s the yin and yang, though. The Eagles weren’t playing their desired script, and that was what fueled the big game from their WR1. If they, the Super Bowl champions who have won 19 of their past 20 games, dictate tempo, Brown’s stock is volatile in our game.
I tend to shy away from players like this. NFL teams don’t care about fantasy, but when their desires for a particular player align with ours, I usually invest. In a perfect world, I think the Eagles want an 80/20 rush/pass split, and that naturally would put all of their pass catchers in a tough spot.
But you can’t sell now. You can’t sell a fringe WR1 after one big week. The Bucs could push the Eagles this week, and that could result in consecutive big games for Brown. Then you pounce.
After this week, Philadelphia could very well control four straight games entering their Week 9 bye. If there is going to be a window to sell, it starts Sunday afternoon on the heels of two big games and vibes riding high after the slow start.
I wouldn’t force such a trade; we are still talking about a physically imposing player capable of taking over any game at a moment’s notice, but I’m planting the seed.
DeVonta Smith, WR
As someone in DeVonta Smith’s general size range, I’m always impressed with what he can do in contested situations. Against the Chiefs in Week 2, we saw him make a splash play in traffic, and over the weekend against the Rams, he beat press-man coverage for a four-yard score to give Philadelphia the lead.
The risks with him are the same as they are with any member of this passing game: volume. That’s not an issue that will be solved unless the Eagles start falling behind in games, but with a single-digit aDOT for the first time in three seasons, I trust Smith as my WR3 every week, knowing that he’ll be efficient with the looks he does get.
Dallas Goedert, TE
The one-week absence caused by a knee injury seemed to worry fantasy managers (Dallas Goedert was a recurring name mentioned in our Start/Sit Optimizer this past week) more than the Eagles. And both were right.
Philadelphia asked him to be on the field for 90.5% of their offensive snaps in their comeback win over the Rams on Sunday, but they didn’t throw him the ball once in the first half.
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His longest touchdown since 2021 saved the day in the third quarter, but that was his only reception of the afternoon, a bit of a concern considering that this was the rare instance where the Eagles had to open up their offense.
This should be a competitive game; those are the only instances in which I am interested in Goedert. He’s ranked just outside of my top 12 at the position this week, but the margins from TE8-TE18 are thin, and if you roster him as your only tight end, I’d stick with him this week.
After this week, the Eagles get the Broncos, Vikings, and the Giants twice before their Week 9 bye. Suppose you told me that Goedert found the end zone this weekend and that his value is as high as it’ll get all season. In that case, I’d believe you: I’m starting him this week and hoping to get out of the Goedert business in this low-volume passing game after consecutive viable performances.
