Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, October 22nd, 8:20 PM ET
Location: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA
Betting Odds: PHI -2, O/U 51.5 via OddsShark
Network: NBC
Writer: Nick Beaudoin (I don’t have Twitter)
Miami Dolphins
Quarterback
Tua Tagovailoa (Start, QB1)
Those who faded Tua Tagovailoa this season must be having serious regrets, as the Dolphins record-setting offense continues to steamroll opponents at will. Tua enters the week as QB3 on the season (QB4 in PPG), and is a must-start QB1 in what will likely be the game of the week. Not that it really matters at this point, but game script favors Tua and the passing game, as the Dolphins come in as +2 point underdogs, and the Eagles with their extremely banged-up secondary currently sit Bottom 6 in PPG to opposing fantasy QBs. There are a lot of Eagles defenders’ practice reports worth monitoring, but no matter who is out there, you should be starting Tua with a team-implied point total of 26 this week.
Running Backs
Raheem Mostert (Start, Low-RB1), Jeff Wilson, Jr. (Sit, FLEX), Salvon Ahmed (Sit), De’Von Achane (IR), Chris Brooks (Out)
Raheem Mostert is the RB2 on the season behind only Christian McCaffrey, just like we all predicted. At age 31, Mostert looks as explosive as ever, and has been almost unstoppable in this offense. I don’t want to take away from his performance this season, but it is worth noting that the Dolphins have played just one rushing defense ranked in the Top 15 (Buffalo), which was Mostert’s worst game, by far. Their other five games have included Denver (32nd), Carolina (31st), NYG (29th), along with the Chargers and Patriots, who also rank in the bottom half of the league. This week, expectations may need to be tempered slightly more as he takes on a stout Philadelphia defensive line, ranking second in PPG to opposing RBs. It will be interesting to see Mike McDaniel‘s game plan, as we’ve seen the Dolphins abandon the run before in favor of a short passing game. With that said, Mostert has also been involved in the receiving game, and has been too explosive in this offense to fade. You’re starting Mostert as an RB1 until he gives you a reason not to.
The remainder of the Dolphins’ RB room is in rough shape with De’Von Achane on IR and Chris Brooks carted off the field last week with an ankle injury. Jeff Wilson, Jr. was reportedly ready to play last week, practiced in full on Wednesday, and has now been given an extra week of rest. We can safely expect his return against the Eagles. Without knowing what his usage will look like, Wilson is a risky option with a low-floor and high-ceiling option, especially if he can reclaim the goal line work.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Tyreek Hill (Start, WR1), Jaylen Waddle (Start, WR2), Cedrick Wilson (Sit), Braxton Berrios (Sit), Durham Smythe (Sit), Chase Claypool (Sit)
Tyreek Hill has been an absolute stud this season, coming into the week (again) as the WR1 overall. Whether he’s lined up against CBs Josh Jobe, Bradley Robe, or James Bradberry, Tyreek is a mismatch against a depleted secondary that is giving up the fourth-most PPG to fantasy wide receivers. The Eagles were already decimated by injury, but it’s worth noting that cornerbacks Bradley Roby, Eli Ricks, and safety Reed Blankenship were all forced from last week’s game due to injury, and are all listed as DNPs on Wednesday. They currently have one healthy safety on their roster, and will fight an uphill battle against one of the league’s most high-powered offenses.
Jaylen Waddle has scored in the past two games but is still playing second-fiddle to Tyreek in this offense. PFF also ranks Waddle’s matchups as highly favorable, and if the Dolphins expect to focus on the passing game (which I believe they will), then we should see another solid outing for Waddle. Waddle has WR1 upside this week and is a must-start in what is shaping up to be a DFS dream game.
Cedrick Wilson and Braxton Berrios still seem to be competing for the WR3 role on this offense, playing 43 percent and 42 percent of snaps respectively, but neither has separated themselves or can be trusted from a fantasy standpoint. Durham Smythe is playing at a higher snap percentage than anyone on the Dolphins roster outside of Tua. However, his role is useless for fantasy purposes, as he has produced 123 scoreless, meaningless yards on the season. There is a chance that WR/TE/Vending Machine (whatever that means) Chase Claypool makes his debut this week, but it remains to be seen how McDaniels will deploy him.
Tyreek Hill calls new teammate Chase Claypool a "vending machine" and a "heckuva teammate"
We're confused. https://t.co/ae6sOY0aq4
— Bears Talk (@NBCSBears) October 12, 2023
Philadelphia Eagles
Quarterbacks
Jalen Hurts (Start, QB1)
I’m taking a bold stance here and recommending you start Jalen Hurts this week. Sarcasm aside, he enters the week as QB2 on the season (just ahead of Tua), and with the second-highest team-implied point total (26.5), you should be counting on another big performance. The Dolphins are Bottom 10 in PPG to opposing QBs and will likely be without their top two corners: Xavien Howard (groin) was a DNP on Wednesday, and Jalen Ramsey (knee) was limited on Wednesday in his first practice off of IR. The team has already stated that Ramsey will not play against the Eagles on Sunday.
Running Backs
D’Andre Swift (Start, RB1), Kenneth Gainwell (Sit), Boston Scott (Sit)
Despite barely playing in Week 1, D’Andre Swift enters the week as RB11 on the season, taking on a three-down role for the Eagles and looking fully healthy while doing so. Swift, averaging 18.2 touches/game, put his versatility on display last week and succeeded through the air instead of the ground by recording eight receptions on 10 targets for 40 yards and one touchdown. Swift has five straight weeks as a top-15 RB, and there is no reason to think otherwise against a Miami defense ranked 18th against fantasy RBs.
Kenneth Gainwell is a solid player but is not the elite option that Swift is. He has played 45 percent of snaps on the season, but his role appears to be diminishing; he mustered only three touches for 17 yards last week. Gainwell is a solid handcuff if anything were to happen to Swift, but he can be left on your bench in the meantime. Meanwhile, we’re all waiting for Boston Scott to transform into his typical vulture-monster-self, but fortunately, it hasn’t happened yet, and I’m not banking on it this week, either.
Wide Receivers / Tight Ends
A.J. Brown (Start, WR1), DeVonta Smith (Start, WR2), Quez Watkins (IR), Olamide Zaccheaus (Sit), Julio Jones (Sit), Dallas Goedert (Start, Low-TE1)
A. J. Brown has been absolutely dominant as of late, and there is no sign of that stopping this week. Miami is right in the middle of the pack in regards to PPG allowed to opposing WRs, but will be in for a long night as they try to stop this offense without their top two cornerbacks. A. J. Brown is a WR1 until further notice.
Before we begin, DeVonta Smith was added to Wednesday’s injury report as a DNP with a hamstring injury, so this will definitely be worth monitoring throughout the week. Until substantial beat reports convince me otherwise, I’m still in on Smith, and if your league-mates are nervous after two poor performances, I’d recommend buying him low. Smith was the 10th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and the WR9 overall last season, even with AJ Brown there to limit his ceiling. He has admittedly had a few rough games (and uncharacteristic drops), but that sort of talent doesn’t disappear overnight. Assuming he plays, I expect Smith to get right this week in a shootout with Miami’s injury-plagued secondary. If he doesn’t, Dallas Goedert will be the beneficiary; more on him below.
Quez Watkins has been placed on IR, opening the door for Olamide Zaccheaus and newly-signed veteran Julio Jones. Zacchaeus was the immediate fill-in last week, playing 81 percent of snaps, but only managed one reception (two targets) for five yards. We’ll have to wait and see who will be the WR3 down the stretch, but they can all be left on your bench for now.
Dallas Goedert has not been the historically safe player we’ve become used to, but he will be a solid TE1 option this week against the Dolphins, ranking 21st in PPG to opposing tight ends. Goedert (groin) was also limited on Wednesday’s practice, but all signs point toward him playing this week. Although it hasn’t turned into fantasy gold, Goedert has still quietly received eight and nine targets in the past two games. That sort of volume on this offense is extremely promising, and we can only expect it to increase if Devonta Smith is unable to go. Goedert is a locked-and-loaded TE1 this week.
– Nick Beaudoin