The NFL season is always a grind and having healthy players goes a long way to winning that coveted title in fantasy, as it does in real life. Selecting players who provide a value higher than their average draft position will too.
The following five Eagles players have a current ADP (average draft position) with the talent to exceed your expected return on investment. These players could propel you toward hoisting your fantasy league trophy in 2024. The ADP rankings are compiled via a consensus, based on three fantasy sites using the PPR format. The players needed a 12-game minimum to qualify.
Jalen Hurts
In 2023 Hurts averaged 21.9 ppg which was 2nd most for a QB, behind Josh Allen.
So far in 2024, he is the 26th overall player being selected, and the 2nd QB drafted overall.
As a runner, he was 1st overall amongst QBs with 157 carries, 1st in red zone carries with 44, and 1st in rushing TDs with 15. He totaled 605 rushing yards on the season.
Jalen should see significant improvement in the passing game with new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore taking the reigns. Hurts was 11th in passing attempts in 2023 with 538. He was also 7th in the league in deep ball attempts with 68, and he is throwing them to perfection early in camp.
Despite the coaching changes, and the difficulty that learning a new scheme brings, this is an upgrade for Jalen Hurts. Last year’s stagnant offensive playcalling needed a change and Jalen has the opportunity and talent to play as well as he did during his NFL MVP-worthy season in 2022
My Projected Fantasy Value
4,166 passing yards, 31 TDs, and 9 int
571 rushing yards and 8 TDs
A.J. Brown
A.J. averaged 17 ppg, good for 8th most amongst WRs despite only managing one 100-yard game and 2 TDs over the last 8 weeks of the season. He was on a historic pace to start the year and if he can maintain that pace and extrapolate that over an entire season, he could be the number one receiver in fantasy at season’s end. He is a high-volume receiver who has averaged over 150 targets per season since joining the Eagles.
Brown is currently being drafted as the 9th overall player and the 6th WR off the board.
In 2023 A.J. was 5th in receiving yards with 1,456 yards and the 8th WR in targets with 158.
My Projected Fantasy Value
1,722 receiving yards and 11 TDs
Saquon Barkley
Saquon averaged 15.9 points per game, which ranked 9th amongst RBs. He managed that with an inferior line and team.
This year he is being drafted 12th overall and is the 5th RB taken.
Barkley is the three-down back that Philadelphia has sorely missed. He will be running behind one of the best O-lines in football which will help increase his production. Saquon finished 37th in missed tackles per attempt in 2023 but should get a lot more yards before opponents have their hands on him in Philadelphia which should build momentum, creating more yards and broken tackles.
Saquon will also be a threat via the air. He and Kellen Moore should introduce new plays in the route tree. Last year he was the 5th overall RB involved in receiving targets with a 15.3% share of the Giants passing plays while running 255 routes.
My Projected Fantasy Value
1,231 rushing yards and 10 TDs
408 receiving yards and 3 TDs
DeVonta Smith
Smith averaged 14.2 ppg which ranked 21st amongst all NFL wideouts. His 112 targets were 23rd and he finished the season 16th overall with 81 receptions and 1,066 yards good for 20th. He is currently being drafted 43rd overall and is the 23rd WR selected. He very well could be the steal of the draft.
DeVonta was a victim of bad playcalling and very little innovation to scheme him open last season. When going against man coverage, Smitty was 7th in fantasy points per target.
DeVonta should put up similar numbers to his 2022 season.
My Projected Fantasy Value
1,177 receiving yards and 10 TDs
Jake Elliott
Elliott averaged 9.2 ppg, 6th for all kickers, and totaled 156 points. In 2023 Jake made a career-best 93.8% of his field goal attempts.
The kicker position is a very underrated key to victory in fantasy leagues. On a good week, they can provide as many points as anyone on the roster outside of QB. Jake is one of the best in the business and could be a better late-round value than a 3rd RB or 4th WR. Some teams wait until the last couple of picks in the draft to select a kicker, choosing Elliott a couple of spots higher could prove to be the difference in winning a game on those close weeks.
My projected fantasy value
177 points, 3rd most in the league
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AP Photo/Chris Szagola
