The final installment of The Undroppables NFC East offseason breakdown, covering the Philadelphia Eagles, is here! We’ve saved the “best” for last. The best is in large air quotes because we all know Dallas is better! 😀
The Eagles are the one organization that remained constant in 2020 with an offseason that didn’t see complete turnover from the inside. However, they set a goal to establish themselves with weapons to support Carson Wentz, while also making sure they make changes to the 18th ranked defense according to PFF.com. The first thing the Eagles set out to do was to upgrade a secondary that ranked 23rd in PFF Coverage grade. Enter Darius Slay in a trade with Detroit. Of corners with at least 400 coverage snaps, Slay ranked 24th in opposing quarterbacks NFL Pass Rating when targeted. He was tied for 5th in interceptions and only gave up three TDs on the season despite being targeted the 12th most (84). The Eagles also signed Nickel Robey-Coleman, who added comparable coverage numbers with an NFL Pass Rating when targeted only 84.2. Robey-Coleman was targeted fewer times than Slay despite playing more snaps in coverage. The Eagles also added to a run-defense that already ranks inside the top 10 by signing former Steeler Javon Hargrave.
Offensively, the Eagles made some questionable decisions. They decided not to sign a WR in free agency and drafted a QB in the 2nd-round of the NFL Draft. However, the team did make sure to get Wentz a few new toys with the drafting of speedster Jalen Reagor and trading for Marquis Goodwin. They also did not to address the offensive line that is getting older and often injured. Philly lost pro-bowl guard Brandon Brooks for the season following a torn Achilles during an off-season workout session. They also resign pro-bowl tackle, Jason Peters, to a one-year deal. Peters will likely move to right guard in his 17th season after playing left tackle for most of his career.
Quarterbacks
The Quarterbacks room in the Eagles training facility will continue to be led by Carson Wentz. Wentz is an absolute monster and will continue to control the huddle for the Eagles for at least a few more years. Wentz has some significant injury concerns, and it forced the Eagles to make a move to draft Heisman finalist Jalen Hurts in the 2nd round. Hurts comes to the Eagles with dominant numbers in college. He played in two national championship games and reached the College Football Playoff with Oklahoma in his only year in Norman. Hurts brings a dynamic skill level of both arm talent and the ability to move on the ground. He was the fastest QB in this years combine running a sub 4.6 40-yard dash and finished 2nd in the Heisman voting behind #1 overall pick Joe Burrow.
I'll say this again and stand by it: Carson Wentz has done more with less than any QB in the NFL right now. https://t.co/hX56zIFE8i
— Andrew Mackens (@AndrewMackens) August 14, 2020
Despite the Tony Romo-esque career, Wentz is arguably one of the best QBs in the NFL. If not for a torn ACL, Wentz was the hands-down winner of the MVP award and likely the Super Bowl-winning QB in 2018, not Nick Foles. Wentz was dominant last season with a ham sandwich and a bag of chips as receiving options. Other than Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert, most of the players catching passes for the Eagles came off practice squads. Only one receiver played all 16 games last year, and that was J.J. Arcega-Whiteside. Down the stretch, JJAW and former college QB Greg Ward were the only receivers to play more than three games. Despite the lack of weapons around him, Wentz finished the 7th best fantasy QB in 2019 from weeks 11 – 17. In that time frame he threw for 6th most yards (1,979) and the 7th most touchdowns (12). In 2020, seven QBs are being drafted before Carson Wentz. Of those seven, only two of them scored more fantasy points down the stretch than Wentz. With new weapons and an off-season for the existing threats to get healthy, Wentz should continue his hot finish to 2019.
Running Backs
Miles Sanders may no longer be competing with Jordan Howard for goal-line work, but he certainly isn’t going to have it easy with Boston Scott still running around. Miles Sanders had a tremendous second half of the year in 2019, finishing as RB12 in PPR fantasy scoring. Sanders gained nearly 700 all-purpose yards after week ten and scored four times good for 120.6 fantasy points. Sanders also saw his touches rise from 97 in the first nine games of the season to 131 in the final eight weeks. Making defenders miss was key to Sanders’ success evading the 13th most tackles with the 5th best juke rate. In the last seven games of the season, Sanders averaged 14.7 carries per game, up from his year-long average of only 11.2. Although it seemed at times that Boston Scott wouldn’t go away, the numbers don’t add up. Over the same stretch, Scott amassed just 45 touches with only 238 yards and one touchdown.
Meanwhile, Sanders had the leagues 8th most red zone carries, 4th most TDs from inside the 5-yard line. If you are one of those players who believe in the narrative, Miles Sanders is set to explode in his sophomore season. With RB1 upside, Sanders could finish top-5 at his position in 2020, while Boston Scott is likely to play the Darren Sproles role in this offense.
Wide Receivers
The Eagles have never really put any resources into providing WR weapons for their QBs. Since 2010, only four Eagles receivers have finished inside the top-24 fantasy WRs. Only one of those – Jeremy Maclin – ever reached the top-10. Last year was no different, with the top two receiving options being aged veterans. Alshon Jeffery has played 16 games in a season just once in the previous five seasons.
On the other hand, DeSean Jackson has played 16 games in a season only once in his entire 12-year career. Both would end up being injured and miss at least six games with Jackson missing 13. The Eagles would draft JJAW and sign Greg Ward to the practice squad, and while only one of them played 16 games (JJAW), it wasn’t until Greg Ward officially made the team’s main roster that things began to change for Philly. Ward was a stud down the stretch making big plays and helping the Eagles secure the NFC East title. The Eagles receiving core is mostly untouched in 2020. However, the team finally put some draft capital in the position by taking Jalen Reagor in the first round. The selection of Reagor would mark the fourth time since 2000 the Eagles have selected a receiver in the first round. Unfortunately for them, the previous three options didn’t pan out. However, Reagor has some insane ball skills that should provide value to both your fantasy team and the Eagles organization.
Tight Ends
The one position group offensively that has been a significant focus for the Eagles organization has been Tight End. That started in 2013 when the organization selected Zach Ertz in the 2nd round. It continued in 2018 when the Eagles selected Dallas Goedert in the 2nd round of that draft. In 2019, both Goedert and Ertz finished in the top 10 of fantasy scoring for TEs. In Goedert’s rookie season, they both finished top-20. The Eagles offense uses their TEs like receivers, which is why they haven’t needed a pure #1 wide reciever. Ertz has gradually risen the fantasy rankings since entering the league in 2013. In his rookie season, he finished as TE23. Since then, he has been top-13 in each year and improving to top-5 over the last three seasons. As long as Ertz is healthy and Wentz remains the QB you can expect this kind of production.
There is a pure connection between the two – very similar to Tony Romo and Jason Witten. Despite finishing 4th in TE PPR scoring last year, Ertz is in line for positive regression in 2020. For the first time since 2014, Ertz had a catch% less than 70% in 2019. With the lack of work and comfort for new receiver, Jalen Reagor due to this very abnormal offseason, Wentz and his TE connection should get even better in 2020. If Ertz can get back over that 70% catch rate, we could be looking at even more catches, yards, and touchdowns. With a current TE4 ADP that only equates to free value if he does.
Make sure to check out more of Justin’s NFC East Breakdowns, including the Cowboys, Giants, and Washington Football Team, only at The Undroppables.
