The new NFL season is just around the corner and Fantasy Football drafts are taking place at a rapid rate. Whether you’re 3 keeper leagues deep or drafting with your buddies over the weekend, here are 5 Eagles you need to consider drafting.
4: Will Shipley
I know what you’re thinking, and no, you shouldn’t be looking to start Will Shipley on a weekly basis. However, he does have a lot of upside as a potential RB2 behind Saquon Barkley and a ruthless offensive front.
Kenny Gainwell’s contract is expiring. The Eagles are tied long-term to Shipley and would likely favor him over Gainwell as they did Gainwell over Sanders before his eventual departure. The Clemson product has also shined in preseason, turning plenty of heads while sprinting to claim the RB2 spot.
How valuable is a second-string running back to Saquon Barkley? It’s hard to say. In New York, Saquon was very much the only one capable of rushing the rock, averaging 17.3 carries per game in 2023 while Matt Breida averaged just 3.2 But in Dallas, Kellen Moore had a real tendency to balance his rushing attack and rotate backs more frequently.
Even if Shipley only receives 5-8 looks per game, that’s a lot of value for a player who is going to be available in the final round of most fantasy drafts, or even as a free agent pickup once the season begins. It’s good to have depth that will contribute to your team in a pinch, and Shipley’s versatility should give you that.
3: Eagles Defense
The Eagles’ defense is a very different unit to what it was last year. But even in the trenches built by Jonathan Gannon and amplified by Sean Desai, the team still put up 43 sacks and had 4 games of 10+ fantasy points. They finished the season ranking outside of the top-20 in terms of fantasy, but a lot has changed since then.
Vic Fangio now heads a unit stacked with young talent. 3 former first-round picks lie on the defensive line and two bright young DB prospects fortify the secondary. The linebacker position has been revamped and a 3-4 might just take the burden off a position that has long struggled in Philadelphia.
If there is ever a time to buy one of the few Eagles fantasy options that has this much upside, it’s when the value is going to be lower than most other top-10 defenses in the league – a benchmark that the Birds should return to in 2024.
2: Jalen Hurts
How can you not love Jalen Hurts as a fantasy option? The Eagles’ quarterback not only has one of the best offenses in the NFL to spread the ball around to, but he’s a lethal rushing option who just cannot be stopped with the dreaded ‘tush-push’. That play alone is worth its weight in Gold, with Hurts scoring 15 rushing touchdowns last season and ending the year as Fantasy’s 2nd-highest overall scoring QB.
With Saquon Barkley now at his side and a new offense to promote his strengths, his production should only soar, making him a must-have in your lineups this year.
*Bonus points if you can pull off the Hurts & Saquon stack.
1: Saquon Barkley
The best option for Eagles fans to hone in on this year is Saquon Barkley. Running backs are a premium in Fantasy and although Barkley never hit his ceiling behind a miserable Giants’ offensive front, he still put together 962 yards last year. Considering his was behind the 30th ranked New York run-blocking unit, I’d say that’s pretty good.
Now imagine what he can do behind Philadelphia’s group of maulers and with help from an offensive coordinator who loves getting his backs involved in the passing attack.
This could well be the year fans have been waiting for from Saquon Barkley since he first stepped foot in the NFL, making him a must-have on your fantasy teams this year.
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
