Philadelphia’s dynamic receiving duo delivered a harsh reality check to fantasy managers in Week 1, as DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown combined for fewer than 10 PPR points despite the Eagles’ commanding 34-17 victory over Dallas.
Both players, drafted confidently within the first five rounds of most fantasy leagues, according to PFSN’s Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator, reminded everyone why Philadelphia’s aerial attack can be maddeningly inconsistent.
The Eagles’ Ground-Heavy Philosophy
Philadelphia’s offensive identity revolves around wearing down opponents through relentless rushing and suffocating defense, often making their talented receivers statistical afterthoughts in blowout victories. The Eagles became the first team since the 2020 Baltimore Ravens to achieve something remarkable yet concerning for fantasy purposes: nine games scoring 24-plus points while failing to reach 240 passing yards.
This approach worked perfectly against Dallas, where Jalen Hurts attempted just 20 passes while the ground game dominated. The team’s lone explosive passing play came courtesy of Jahan Dotson, whose 51-yard touchdown reception accounted for 33.6% of Hurts’ total passing yards. That single strike represented Philadelphia’s only completion of 10-plus yards through the air, highlighting how condensed their passing attack became once they established control.
Brown managed just four catches for 67 yards, while Smith caught three passes for 21 yards against a Cowboys secondary that struggled mightily throughout the evening. Their combined output felt particularly frustrating given the lopsided nature of the contest and the weapons surrounding Hurts.
Historical Context Provides Comfort
Fantasy managers shouldn’t panic despite the underwhelming debut from Philadelphia’s receiving corps. Both players faced similar struggles last season while maintaining elite fantasy production. Brown endured three games with fewer than 45 receiving yards in 2023, yet still finished as a top-15 fantasy receiver with consistent per-game production.
AJ BROWN 67 YARD TOUCHDOWN
pic.twitter.com/WXFK5zZkng— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) September 7, 2024
Smith experienced an even more dramatic stretch of inconsistency, recording three games within a month where he caught three or fewer passes. One of those disappointing performances came in Dallas against these same Cowboys defenders, making his Week 1 struggles feel eerily familiar.
The silver lining lies in Philadelphia’s schedule and game script potential moving forward. While the Eagles prefer establishing their ground game early, closer contests will naturally increase passing volume and create more opportunities for both receivers to deliver the explosive performances that made them coveted fantasy assets.
Both Smith and Brown remain must-start fantasy options despite their rocky beginning, as their talent level and target share within Philadelphia’s offense make them too valuable to bench based on one game script-dependent performance. Sometimes the best fantasy plays require weathering the storm of Philadelphia’s methodical approach to find the weekly explosions that follow.