Fantasy Football Team Previews 2020: Philadelphia Eagles

Must Own = Top 120

Value = 121-170

Deep Sleeper = 171 or later

All ADP data courtesy of Fantasy Pros

Must Own:

Miles Sanders, RB (ADP: 21): Sanders became a bell cow back last season when Jordan Howard went down, and the Eagles were pleased enough to not bring Howard back. While Philadelphia has had a committee for years, they invested a second round pick in Sanders last year, and he rewarded them. He has a full complement of RB skills – 818 rushing yards on 5.1 yards per attempt, 50 receptions, 509 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns – and a lack of serious competition in his backfield. Sanders was a little light on the rushing touchdowns (three), but that could change based upon even more usage in 2020. Right now he is the 11th RB off the board, and I definitely see no issue with that ADP. In fact, I think he can still provide value, even though he has a lofty draft position.

Zach Ertz, TE (ADP: 38): Ertz has become a “boring” guy at the position, but in my opinion there’s nothing boring about 106 or more targets for five straight seasons. He does not have the explosiveness of the TEs fantasy owners are drafting in front of him, but he is going to be an absolute target monster in 2020 because the Eagles’ receiver situation is murkier than a mud pit. While you should expect him to catch in the neighborhood of 75-80 passes and about six to eight touchdowns, it’s very possible he reverts to 2018 form when he caught 116 passes for 1,163 yards. There’s simply a dearth of quality receiving targets right now for Carson Wentz, and Ertz is as reliable an option as they come. If he was available at No. 38 in my draft, I’m thrilled, and I’m picking him up there.

Carson Wentz, QB (ADP: 89): Wentz is still being drafted as a QB1 as we all try to recapture his magical 2017 season when he threw 33 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and nearly amassed 3,300 yards in only 13 games. In the two seasons since, Wentz has been good, but hasn’t found that 7.5% touchdown rate form, likely because for most people that’s a wildly unsustainable figure. The truth is that Wentz is good, but that elite fantasy monster was probably a mirage. It doesn’t help that Alshon Jeffery is likely to start the season on the PUP, and his best wide receiver looks like it’s 36-year-old DeSean Jackson. I don’t buy Wentz’s upside as much as others do, and with this receiving corps borderline decimated before Week 1, I think his floor is lower than many think. I’m staying away at this ADP.

Value:

Alshon Jeffery, WR (ADP: 133): Jeffery is undoubtedly a solid WR, but he’s never ever healthy. Moreover, he’s probably missing a minimum of six weeks to start the season. Should Jeffery be ready for Week 1, this will be a value purely because he’ll see a ton of targets. But realistically, he won’t be healthy and if you’re forced to draft early, I wouldn’t bother having him on my list of potential picks. You won’t be able to hold his roster spot for that long.

Dallas Goedert, TE (ADP: 142): Goedert is very talented, and represents a big threat to Zach Ertz’s fantasy value because of his red zone ability. Goedert has scored nine touchdowns in his career on 91 receptions. Some may predict a breakout this year due to the Eagles’ receiver woes, but as long as Ertz is sharing the field with him Goedert is going to be second fiddle. Interestingly enough, PFF graded Goedert as the superior player, so if you buy their grades and the Eagles’ coaching staff reacting to that data, Goedert is a decent investment at this point of the draft. I think there are other TEs in this range that have the job to themselves, so I’m probably not grabbing him, but I cannot question the ceiling.

Jalen Reagor, WR (ADP: 151): Reagor, a rookie taken in the first round, is not a prospect I love. He is fast as hell, but his college numbers at TCU are underwhelming, and he’s very undersized to be a volume-heavy No. 1 option. Reagor caught 71 passes for 1,061 yards and nine touchdowns, but I don’t like that he regressed across the board as a junior to 43 catches, 611 yards and five touchdowns. Yes, TCU had their issues, but that’s too huge a dip in production for me to fall head over heels for him. His skill set is similar to DeSean Jackson’s, and there was some talk that he’d primarily be learning to take over Jackson’s role in the offense, and potentially not having a major rookie impact. With this WR corps missing Jeffery and Marquise Goodwin, who opted out due to COVID-19, Reagor is going to have to step up. I’m somewhat optimistic about him in full-PPR leagues, because he might lead the Eagles in targets, but overall I’m lukewarm. This ADP is harmless, so draft him if you’re a believer. I’m not.

DeSean Jackson, WR (ADP: 153): Jackson is the next receiver off the board and I’m much more interested in having him on my team in 2020. D-Jax has averaged 16+ yards per reception in six of his last seven seasons, and even though he’ll be 34 this year, was averaging almost 18 yards per reception last year before he got hurt. Jackson is not consistent due to the nature of his targets, but on a yearly basis he delivers the goods when he’s on the field. Health is a constant issue – he hasn’t made it through 16 games in six seasons – but the ADP reflects that. It’s fantasy malpractice to draft Jalen Reagor ahead of him when they are such similar players, and Reagor was brought in to essentially serve as Jackson’s apprentice. Jackson will be one of the biggest values in fantasy this year, and even if he gets hurt early again, you’ve invested a pick outside the Top 150.

Boston Scott, RB (ADP: 170): Scott was admirable last season as a fill-in, and will be solid again if he gets the opportunity. Unfortunately, I can’t be as high as I am on Miles Sanders and also like Scott’s fantasy prospects. It’s all in the game right? Scott’s a good player whose value is limited to deeper, full-PPR formats and even there he’s at best a FLEX unless the Eagles make it a point to involve him.

Deep Sleepers:

Jalen Hurts, QB (ADP: 270): Hurts was a bizarre pick in Round 2, as the Eagles have Wentz firmly entrenched as the starter. Hurts is a very raw prospect as an all-around quarterback, but his numbers at both Alabama and Oklahoma are gaudy. He threw for 3,851 yards and 32 touchdowns last year, and while I fully understand the offense at Oklahoma and style of play in the Big 12 are major factors, it’s impressive nonetheless. Further, he was a beast on the ground piling up 1,298 yards and 20 touchdowns on more than 230 rushing attempts. Wentz is not the most durable QB, and if the reins are turned over to Hurts, there is serious potential for a fantasy stud. Obviously, he’s not to be drafted, but if he becomes the starter for any extended period, he’ll be worth a few FAAB sheckles.

JJ Arcega-Whiteside, WR (ADP: 324): Arcega-Whiteside can’t be counted out, even if he had next to no impact as a rookie. He only caught 10 passes and one touchdown, but he could very well be slotting into the role Jeffery was expected to play this year. As a reminder, Jeffery drew 120 targets in 2017, his last full season. Arcega-Whiteside is unlikely to make such a dramatic leap in targets, but at his size he can turn many of them into touchdowns. As stated above, the primary targets for Wentz here are tight ends, and the top receivers are smallish deep threats. There’s a clear need for what Arcea-Whiteside, in theory, brings to the table. Monitor him in the early going and pounce if he starts hot.