Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, October 29th, 2023, 1:00 PM ET
Location: FedEx Field, Landover, Maryland
Betting Odds: WAS +5.5, 47 O/U total via oddshark.com
Network: Fox
Writer: Dustin Ludke (@TheDunit13 on Twitter)
Philadelphia Eagles
Quarterbacks
Jalen Hurts (Start, QB1)
Jalen Hurts is putting his name in week in and week out for league MVP. He is coming off a primetime performance against his college teammate Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins and looks to add to his MVP resume against the Washington Commanders. It’s hard to bench Hurts, especially against a team that is not only giving up the second most to quarterbacks but also a team that Hurts played in Week 4. A game in which he posted 319 passing yards for two touchdowns. He also added nine rushes for 34 yards. You are starting Hurts and expecting him in the QB1 range.
Running Backs
D’Andre Swift (Start, RB2), Kenneth Gainwell (Sit, Flex)
Trading a 4th round pick for D’Andre Swift has been paying dividends for the Eagles this year, as Swift has been a workhorse back since Week 2. He has over 15 carries in four out of those six weeks and over 50 yards in all but one of them. He has been on the field for at least 50% of the team’s snaps and there isn’t anyone else there pushing him for carries. Kenneth Gainwell has only seen double-digit opportunities once since Week 2. The Commanders are giving up the 14th fewest points to running backs so not a great matchup for Swift in general, but the game script probably leans towards the Eagles having an early lead and trying to control the clock with the run game which is where Swift has made his mark. He is also involved in the passing game, so I’m willing to roll Swift out as a solid RB2. He loses some steam due to Hurts being the goal line back but he is still getting involved. You can’t trust Gainwell even though I’m still holding him on my bench as a stash.
Wide Receivers/ Tight Ends
A.J. Brown (Start, WR1), DeVonta Smith (Sit, Flex) Dallas Goedert (Start, TE2)
A.J. Brown is a must-start. He’s logged 100+ receiving yards in each of his last five games, and in his last game against the Commanders he saw 13 targets, brought in nine receptions for 175 yards, and two touchdowns. Start him as a WR1, even with the tough matchup against Kendall Fuller, who is ranked as the 7th best cover corner. Brown has been doing it and will continue to do it.
DeVonta Smith on the other hand has not been doing it. Past two games he has barely reached the Flex range. He will probably see Benjamin St-Juste who ranks as the 26th best corner. Smith had a good game last time these two teams tussled, but that was because he saw rookie Emmanuel Forbes who let him catch two passes for 46 yards. Forbes is only a situational player now so I don’t see Smith being more than a flex play. With no one on bye, I’m benching him this week.
I do want to get Dallas Goedert into my lineup this week. He is on fire right now. He has been in the TE1 range two out of the last three weeks and the other he was just outside. The Commanders are giving up the 11th most points to the tight end position so I like Goedert to continue his hot streak. Slide him in as a high-end TE2.
And no, you aren’t starting Julio Jones no matter how badly you want to.
Washington Commanders
Quarterbacks
Sam Howell (Sit, QB2)
The future of the Washington Commanders looks bright. Sam Howell has had games where he has struggled but also games where he looks like a solid leader under center. He is coming off a tough week where the Commanders lost to their divisional rival New York Giants and now are facing another divisional foe in the Philadelphia Eagles. Howell struggled against this Eagles defense back in Week 4. He only managed to throw for one touchdown and 290 yards on 41 passing attempts. Injuries have plagued the Eagles causing them to give up the 10th most points to quarterbacks. The Eagles did just make a splash by trading for All-Pro defensive back Kevin Byard from the Tennessee Titans. It’s a move most Philly fans have been hoping for as Super Bowl is still the end goal. It’s not the best matchup for Howell as he will be facing a re-invigorated pass rush that can play more aggressively now, knowing that they have more depth in the secondary. Sit Howell this week.
Running Backs
Brian Robinson Jr. (Start, RB2) Antonio Gibson (Sit, Flex)
If you own a piece of this Commander’s rushing game you are probably scratching your head with it this week. Brian Robinson has been a decent play with his volume and Antonio Gibson has been getting enough work in the passing game to keep him in the flex range most weeks. We now have rookie Chris Rodriguez seeing opportunities on limited snaps. So what will Week 8 be? Well, first the Eagles are giving up the fewest points to running backs. So it’s a bad matchup across the board. Brian Robinson is still being used on the majority of snaps. He leads the pack at around 50% most weeks. Gibson rarely hits the 40% mark and Rodriguez has yet to surpass 20%. Given the tough matchup, I’m willing to start Robinson in a flex spot. He should see plenty of volume early and be involved in the passing game when they get behind. Gibson probably get into the flex range in PPR leagues, but I’m not confident with him in my lineup on a week where no one else is on bye. Rodriguez is an interesting waiver add but not starting right now.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Terry McLaurin (Start, WR3), Curtis Samuel (Start, WR2), Jahan Dotson (Sit, Flex), Logan Thomas (Start, TE2)
The Eagles are currently giving up the 4th most points to wide receivers but that could be changing. The Eagles finally got back corner Darius Slay and just added the aforementioned Kevin Byard. It’s a boost to the secondary that probably means not good things for Terry McLaurin this week. It’s a shame because McLaurin has been playing on over 85% of the snaps, and in the last matchup saw 10 targets. I think the Eagles work to shut him down this week and force the Commanders to find another way to beat them. I’m willing to put McLaurin in the WR3 range but it’s shakey.
Outside of McLaurin, we have been waiting to see who will step up. Jahan Dotson has barely been a flex play unless he scores, while Curtis Samuel has stepped up and become the true number two on the team. He had a really good game in the previous matchup between these two teams with 18 fantasy points and I expect something similar this time. Even getting James Bradberry in coverage, Samuel should be able to get enough volume and production to reach WR2 numbers. Bradberry ranks as the 62nd-best cover corner. I think the safety help will lean towards McLaurin’s side and open up space for Samuel. He is the type of player that the Commanders want to get the ball to since he can create in open space.
Tight end Logan Thomas had an okay bounce-back week after disappointing fantasy managers in Week 6. The Eagles are middle of the road in terms of points surrendered to tight ends so it’s a decent matchup for Thomas. He should be a fine, if unsexy, option to put into your lineup in PPR leagues due to the likely volume he should receive.
I can’t anymore with these intrusive ads. Very poor placement.