How Philadelphia Eagles will remain NFC East’s best rushing team

The Philadelphia Eagles’ rivals can’t stay healthy either, but if they can, watch out.

In 2020, the Philadelphia Eagles’ rivals all had injury concerns of their own. The Dallas Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott, Washington’s Antonio Gibson, and New York Giants star Saquon Barkley all had injuries of their own.

Elliott had a nagging calf injury during the late part of the 2020 season after, unfortunately contracting COVID-19 last summer. He would go on to post career-lows in rushing yards (979) and yards per attempt (4.0) in 2020. He only posted two one-hundred-yard games. Unfortunately, one of them was against the Eagles.

Elliott should bounce back this year, maybe, as his load will be a little lighter with the return of his quarterback, Dak Prescott, but the former Ohio State running back could get back to his 1,000-yard ways, especially since he has a formidable backup in Tony Pollard to spell him.

That brings us to Washington’s Antonio Gibson, who surprised a lot of people in his rookie season, racking up 795 yards. If not for injury, he probably would have notched 1,000 yards or something close to it. Still, expect the rookie to be Washington’s workhorse in 2021.

Saquon Barkley hasn’t played a full season of football since his rookie season. In his first two seasons, he hit 1,000 yards, and if he can be that player again in 2021, New York’s rushing attack will be dangerous. The Giants’ second guy on the depth chart is Wayne Gallman, who, along with Daniel Jones will collect a lot of rushing yards.

Philly with the additions they’ve made, namely rookie Kenneth Gainwell, should be able to hold the competition at bay, but their rivals will be in great shape too if they stay healthy.