Fantasy Football Implications For Philadelphia Eagles QB, D/ST and K
Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
This final installment will look at the remaining fantasy football options on the Philadelphia Eagles. It will cover the quarterback, defense/special teams and kicker for the team; helping determine whether any (or all) should be on your fantasy big boards as draft days are closely approaching.
In regards to the quarterbacks, only the starter has any value, so looking at the backups fantasy implications is somewhat pointless. As for the Philadelphia Eagles defense/special teams and kicker, many fantasy players only keep one of each, so those “players” must produce consistent points.
Foles is coming off a remarkable season where he finished with the best touchdown-to-interception ratio in the history of the NFL (27/2). His first season under Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly’s offense saw a comfort level after given the opportunity to take over for Michael Vick on a full-time basis. Though he lost his top receiving target in now Washington Redskins wide receiver DeSean Jackson this off season, the team is still loaded with options at every offensive position.
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If Foles can continue his formula of efficiency in 2014, he will rise up the quarterback ranks. With the Eagles uptempo pace, he should have plenty to opportunities to make plays on short and intermediate routes, which are low risk for turnovers. The more he has the ball in his hands the better, as Philadelphia Eagles running back LeSean McCoy may be the catalyst for the offense, but Foles will be the tone setter. He should only continue to develop in his third season in the NFL and with a full off season as the man in charge of Kelly’ offense.
As a fantasy option, he is already considered to have top 10 value at the position. But he may become an absolute steal in the middle rounds of a fantasy draft if able to replicate his 2013 numbers over a sixteen week season. Expect Foles to continue to grow into a fantasy football elite quarterback, especially with the Eagles strong running game taking pressure off him in the pocket.
Projection: 4,2367 yards, 37 touchdowns, 6 interceptions
Defense/Special Teams
The Philadelphia Eagles defense finished as one of the worst in the league in 2013, as a young unit in the first season of a scheme and alignment change. Teams were given plenty of opportunities to rack up yards through the air, as the cornerbacks and safeties struggled for most of the season. Part of that could be an a testament to the disappearance of pass rush from the front seven, who lacked proper scheme fits at the outside linebacker and nose tackle positions.
Hopes are with the additions of cornerbacks Nolan Carroll and Jaylen Watkins and safeties Malcolm Jenkins and Ed Reynolds can slow the sieve that was the back end for the Philadelphia Eagles. While selecting outside linebacker Marcus Smith in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, along with familiarity with the blitz assignments by the returning group should increase production on the defensive side of the ball.
Going into a draft, the Philadelphia Eagles defense is certainly not a worthy selection, but could be a waiver wire pick up if they begin to create more sacks and turnovers over the course of the season.
Alex Henery/Carey Spear
It seems to be an open competition heading into Training Camp for the Philadelphia Eagles at the kicker position. While the incumbent Henery has put up decent numbers for the team the past several seasons, he has not been the clutch option the organization had hoped for when they drafted him to replace long-time kicker David Akers. He has always disappointed with kicks from greater distances as he only converted one kick over 50 yards in 2013 and only two for his career.
Rookie Carey Spear is an intriguing option for the Philadelphia Eagles, as he is aptly nicknamed “Murderleg” for his kick strength. He completed both of his 50+ yards tries for Vanderbilt, while also being a team captain in senior season.
In a fantasy perspective, with the Eagles offense operating at such a high quality, whoever the kicker may be, their should be plenty of opportunities for points. The most consistent option will win the job and will be equal to any kicker selected in the final round.