Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, January 2nd, at 1:00 PM ET
Location: FedExField, Landover, Maryland
Betting Odds: WAS +4, 46 over/under total via Oddsshark
Network: Fox
Philadelphia Eagles
Quarterback
Jalen Hurts (Start, QB1)
If you are looking for a pure passing quarterback you better start looking elsewhere. Jalen Hurts has just been so so this year in terms of passing stats. He has 6 games with multiple passing touchdowns but also has 5 games with no passing touchdowns. Combine that with his 9 interceptions on the year and it’s not someone you are super excited about. He does get a great matchup this week against the Washing Football Team who CBS has ranked last in giving up points to the quarterback. On top of that Hurts rushing abilities have given him big fantasy days. It’s no secret that a rushing quarterback is almost a cheat code for fantasy and Hurts may be one of the best at it. He has 10 rushing touchdowns which came in 5 games but in the other games, he has averaged 14 carries per game over the season. The Football Team is better against the run than it is the pass but just two weeks ago Hurts was able to put up 8 carries for 38 yards and 2 scores on top of his 1 passing touchdown. It was one of his best fantasy performances of the year.
Running Backs
Miles Sanders (Out), Boston Scott (Sit, Flex), Jordan Howard (Start, Flex)
With Miles Sanders out with a hand injury and going on IR, it looks like Boston Scott will be getting the lion’s share of the carries in week 17. Veteran Jordan Howard will also be in the mix. It’s a messy backfield that has a tougher matchup. CBS has them ranked 13th against the run. I think Howard is worth a flex start this week. He played well on his 35% of snaps and got work in the passing game which Scott did not. It’s a risk in the fantasy championships but one I’m willing to take if needed. I think there are probably better options available.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Devonta Smith (Start, Flex), Jalen Reagor (Sit), Quez Watkins (Sit, Flex), Dallas Goedert (Start, TE1)
The Washington Football team is pretty bad against the pass and that would normally mean a good week was instore for rookie sensation DeVonta Smith. The problem is he gets covered by Pro Football Focus’s 12th best coverage corner in Kendall Fuller. You don’t have to look too far to see that in week 15 Smith was held to 3 receptions on 5 targets for 40 yards. Hardly the production you want to see out of a normally top 15 wide receiver. You would also think that given how poorly the other corners in Washington are rated that players like Jalen Reagor and Quez Watkins would be able to have great days. Week 15 showed otherwise. It seems they are all limited because of Jalen Hurts. Watkins is playing more snaps than Raegor and is averaging more yards per target so he is a low-end flex play if you need it. Dallas Goedert has been a very good tight end most games this year and should continue to soak up targets in this passing game.
Washington Football Team
Quarterback
Taylor Heinicke (Sit, high end QB2)
Taylor Heinicke has been a turnover machine this year. He has 14 interceptions on the year and only 20 touchdowns. He doesn’t have the greatest weapons around him which haven’t helped. The Eagles have a middle-of-the-road pass defense and Heinicke missed the week 15 matchup. Given his propensity to throw interceptions you cant start him for fantasy. He will kill you in your fantasy championships.
Running Backs
Antonio Gibson (Start, RB2), J.D. McKissic (Out), Jaret Patterson (Sit, Flex)
It is finally the Antonio Gibson show in D.C. It is what fantasy owners have been wanting to see all year. J.D. McKissic is out on IR and Gibson has been the main guy. He hasn’t gotten a ton of work despite all of that. He only has 31 carries over the past 3 weeks. He has had 13 targets over that span which gives him plenty of upside as a running back. In the week 15 matchup against the Eagles, Gibson managed to score on the ground and had 7 targets. It’s an okay matchup for him and with Heinickie not playing that great Gibson should be the focal point of the offense. Jaret Patterson has gotten work recently including some red zone carries. Gibson does have an injury history so Patterson could see more work as the Football team is still in the playoff hunt and may rest Gibson if they get a lead, in order to save him for the postseason or a week 17 do or die type game.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Terry McLaurin (Start, WR3), DeAndre Carter (Sit), Curtis Samuel (Sit), Adam Humphries (Sit), Logan Thomas (OUT), Rickey Seals-Jones (Sit, Flex)
It’s been a very disappointing season for Terry McLaurin. That trend will continue this week against Darius Slay and the Eagle’s defense. In week 15 Slay, who is ranked 3rd by PFF, held McLaurin to 2 catches for 51 yards. The yardage isn’t bad but the volume is not great. 6-year Vet Adam Humphries hasn’t done much outside of a fluke touchdown here and there. He is keeping pace with McLaurin most weeks in targets but hasn’t done much with it. DeAndre Carter’s snaps dropped for the 4th week in a row and played on only 22% of the team’s Week 16 snaps. Rookie Dyami Brown had most of his week 16 stats come on one big catch. Curtis Samuel was inactive for week 16 and may not play the rest of the year. Even if he does he hasn’t been effective since coming over from the Panthers. Rickey Seals-Jones was all but invisible in week 16 but did see 7 targets in the Week 15 matchup. We could see a repeat of that in this rematch of divisional rivals. It’s just a tough matchup and poor QB play for the pass catchers.
– Dustin Ludke (Dunit13dl on Reddit)
Curious if you take weather into account (GB vs. Minnesota)?