Hi everyone, I will be breaking down moves the Eagles have made in the offseason, their draft needs, and finally tie in how all of this affects fantasy football. Here is my 2020 NFL Draft Analysis: Eagles.
The 2020 offseason has been quite eventful for the Eagles, as they did make a trade to get former Detroit CB, Darius Slay. In 2019, Philadelphia suffered a tremendous amount of injuries. Despite all of the injuries, the Eagles managed to win the NFC East but lost to the Seahawks in the Wildcard game. The Eagles defense was shaky at times last season, as they gave up an average of 21.9 points per game. Darius Slay will certainly help the Philly’s secondary, but more LBs and WRs are needed in the City of Brotherly Love.
Traded/Released by Organization:
OT Jason Peters
CB Ronald Darby
Acquired/Signed by Organization:
CB Darius Slay
Draft Day Needs:
The Eagles have lots of options to look into on draft day. The Eagles WRs are injury prone, older, and a new, young WR could go a long way. The LB position for the Eagles is also thin and could use an upgrade. The Eagles have the 21st pick in this year’s draft, so they could trade that pick to maybe acquire an established WR or LB. This year’s draft class is very deep at the WR position, so maybe this is the year to invest in a young receiver. Here are some guys the Eagles should be interested in:
Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU
Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State
Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama
Fantasy Implications:
The Eagles have some fantasy stars on their team. Carson Wentz, Miles Sanders, and Zach Ertz are all players that fantasy owners would love to have on their team. The Eagles have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, which gives Wentz more time to throw the football and Sanders more room to run. If the Eagles draft a WR, then I would think about drafting him in deeper leagues because of the injury history of Jeffery and Jackson. The Eagles have playmakers on their team, who can help fantasy owners win a championship.
Quarterback:
Philadelphia’s franchise quarterback was able to stay healthy in the 2019-2020 season, but his receivers were banged up all year. Carson Wentz led the Eagles to a 9-7 record, which was enough to win the NFC East. Despite having few receivers to throw to, Carson put together a very respectable 2019-2020 campaign. Wentz threw for 4,039 yards, 27 TDs, and only seven INTs. If the Eagles decide to take a WR in this year’s draft, Wentz will have another offensive target to sling the ball to. Carson Wentz is a very talented QB, and with a little help on the offensive side of the ball, Wentz is destined for a great 2020-2021 season.
Running Back:
Miles Sanders had a dominant rookie season in the NFL. Sanders carried the rock 179 times for 818 yards and three TDs. Along with his great rushing numbers, Sanders was a force in the passing game. Miles caught 50 passes for 509 yards and three TDs. Sanders reminds me of Le’Veon Bell. Bell is an effective runner, who also possesses soft hands. The Eagles also have the best offensive line in the NFL, so that helps Sanders’s fantasy value. Miles Sanders is set to have another explosive year in the NFL and is a solid RB2.
Wide Reciever:
The Eagles have decent WRs in Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson. However, both Jeffery and Jackson are older and injury-prone. Both have fantasy value because if they can stay healthy because they both are decent and experienced wideouts. Both Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson deserve spots on a fantasy roster but don’t expect either of them to play all 16 games.
Tight End:
Zach Ertz is a dominant TE in the NFL. He is a top-three TE, who every fantasy owner should keep an eye out for. When drafting Ertz, you know that you will get a reliable TE, who will get a high number of receptions, and of course, is a huge red-zone target. Zach Ertz will have lots of fantasy value no matter what jersey he is wearing because of his elite talent.
Conclusion:
The Eagles have a good amount of solid fantasy players on their team. If the Eagles decided to upgrade the offense with a WR, then Carson Wentz’s value increases. Philadelphia could take a defensive player first round, which would make their D/ST intriguing because of the additions of Slay, Hargrave, and the potential draft pick.
If you want to check out more articles that are similar to this one, I wrote a draft analysis on the Giants and Redskins.
Be sure to check out Chris Pinto’s draft analysis on the AFC South, and Kye Potter’s draft analysis on the AFC North
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