Philadelphia vs. Washington should be one of the most entertaining games of the week in terms of fantasy. There are several stars that are staples in most lineups, while the drama surrounding the teams (see Carson Wentz) will add an exciting factor. Let’s take a look at what you can expect from the Birds’ playmakers, and who you should avoid.
Continue To Roll With Jalen Hurts As QB1
There’s utterly no good reason not to roll with Jalen Hurts as your fantasy QB1 (unless you like losing, I guess). He’s the NFL leader in total offense (709 yards), the leader in yards/pass attempt (9.1), and he has 57.74 PPR points thus far.
He’s showing no signs of slowing down, and against a Washington defense that’s allowed five touchdowns, a 95.9 rating, and 49 fantasy points to opposing QBs this season, the matchup is utterly mouthwatering. Add in the Wentz drama, and that’s sure to add fuel to the massive fire that is Hurts.
I’m envisioning a two passing touchdown/one rushing touchdown day from him. Start him with confidence, and don’t think twice about it.
Start A.J. Brown, Use Smith As A WR3/WR4
A.J. Brown continues to be a beast, putting up a 38.7% share in air yards against the Vikings last week, per FantasyPros. It’s clear he’s the main star of the show, and Hurts will continue to rely on him frequently. Don’t worry about how he fits into the lineup, just make sure he’s in there.
DeVonta Smith is still a tougher fit. Last week’s game showed the Eagles want to involve Smith as much as possible, with Smith gathering a team-leading seven receptions for 80 yards. But with Brown’s clear share, it’s tough to say if Smith will see opportunities like that as often, especially with Dallas Goedert and Quez Watkins continuing to be formidable passing options.
I do think Smith will have another solid fantasy outing, especially if he can nab a touchdown. But at the same time, I wouldn’t force Smith into your lineup if there’s a better option you can roll at WR2 or FLEX.
Miles Sanders Should Be A Decent FLEX/RB2
Miles Sanders continues to be productive, albeit limited at times. Through two games, he’s put up 176 rushing yards in 30 attempts, equaling 30.1 PPR fantasy points.
Against the Commanders, there’s a lot to be excited about. Similar to their struggles with quarterbacks, Washington has given up 119 yards on 17 attempts against opponent RBs, making them one of the worst run-defenses in the NFL.
Be warned: there continue to be negatives, mainly in the form of his non-existent work in the receiving game (5 receptions, 15 receiving yards) and the ever-revolving door of who’s getting goal-line carries. Additionally, Washington has only given up a single rushing touchdown.
Both of those downsides will make boom outings tougher to forecast on any given game day, but if he’s able to put together a 60-yard game and a touchdown against Washington, your fantasy team should be in good shape.
Stay Away From Eagles D/ST
Yes, the defense looked outstanding against Washington last week, allowing just a cool seven points to go along with three interceptions. Unfortunately for everyone, they can’t play Kirk Cousins every week.
It remains to be seen how the red-hot Wentz, currently second in the league in passing yards (650) will turn out the rest of the season. For right now though, he’s a dangerous opponent, especially with a potential revenge game looming.
Add in weapons like Antonio Gibson, Curtis Samuel, and Scary Terry McLaurin, and this game could look a lot more like Week 1’s shootout against Detroit. I’d wait for a safer matchup before throwing the Eagles’ D/ST back in the lineup, unless you’re desperately looking for a streamer.
