The Philadelphia Eagles struggled to move the ball through the air without star WR A.J. Brown in Week 2.
Brown missed Philadelphia’s home opener against the Atlanta Falcons due to a hamstring injury. While many hoped Brown would return in Week 3, that might not be the case.
Here is the latest on Brown’s injury and his status ahead of a Week 3 matchup with the New Orleans Saints.
Will A.J. Brown Play in Week 3 vs. the Saints?
The Eagles officially released the first injury report for Week 3 on Wednesday, although it was an estimation due to Philadelphia holding a walkthrough.
Brown was listed as did not participate due to his hamstring injury. If he is unable to play against the scorching-hot Saints, the Eagles could be in trouble.
Since arriving in Philadelphia in 2022, Brown has missed just two games for the Eagles. In those two games, Philadelphia averaged just 15 points per game.
Eagles listed WR A.J. Brown — who told @saltersl that he expected to miss a couple of games due to his hamstring injury — as a did not practice today.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 18, 2024
The Eagles have lost both games that Brown was unable to play in since his arrival. It’s clear that Brown is a key cog for Philadelphia’s offense to succeed.
In Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers, Brown showcased his game-breaking ability. Brown hauled in five receptions for 119 yards and a 67-yard touchdown.
Since 2022, Eagles QB Jalen Hurts has thrived when targeting Brown. Hurts’ passer rating when targeting Brown is an impressive 106.2, according to TruMedia.
If Brown continues to miss time in 2024, Philadelphia’s offense could take a significant step back.
Who are the Other Fantasy Options to Consider on Eagles?
When Brown was ruled out for Week 2, many expected Dallas Goedert and Jahan Dotson to take a significant step forward.
While DeVonta Smith stepped up, Goedert and Dotson failed to live up to expectations. As both players totaled just four receptions for 44 yards combined.
It was certainly a disappointing performance given the opportunities that presented themselves with Brown unavailable.
One player that surprised in Week 2 was former undrafted WR Britain Covey.
Covey was Philadelphia’s most efficient WR against the Falcons, as he hauled in all six of his targets for 23 yards. Although Covey didn’t gain a ton of yards, it was clear that Hurts trusted him in Week 2.
Despite Covey’s success, it’s hard to imagine that he’ll be a viable fantasy option in Week 3 and beyond. Covey could offer some upside in a deep, full-PPR league if you are really desperate.
Smith appears to be the only passing target in Philadelphia with legitimate fantasy potential while Brown is out. He is clearly Hurts’ top target and should produce WR1-worthy numbers moving forward.