Dynasty Capsule: Philadelphia Eagles

Jeff Haverlack

As part of the premium content package, we’re again unveiling dynasty capsules for every team in the NFL leading up to free agency and the NFL Draft. This year, we’re also going to do a follow-up on all the teams after all the free agency and NFL Draft movement to assess the impact of any players teams have gained or lost. Since these capsules are always done as a simple snapshot in time, we figured that was the best way to tackle the off-season and provide ultimate value for our subscribers. All in all, we’ll have close to 500 player profiles found in these capsules over the off-season.

No team is in disarray more than the Eagles.  With long time coach Andy Reid out of the picture and college coach Chip Kelly (along with his high-octane offense) now tagged to turn around the franchise, is there hope to be had in the City of Brotherly Love?

Quarterbacks

Michael Vick

michael_vick3One more year and Michael Vick uses another one of his nine lives.  It had to take just the right sequence of events for him to return to the Eagles when, before Kelly’s arrival, there was simply no chance.  As it stands, because of coach Kelly’s reliance on mobility and dynamic ability in his offense, Vick will get at least one year to help turn around the franchise.

In 2012, Vick’s ten game stint only produced 12 passing touchdowns and a single rushing touchdown.  Combine that with six missed games, ten interceptions and a total of 11 fumbles and you’ve got a spot reserved in the fantasy doghouse.  His 58.1% completion percentage was his lowest in three years and his 78.1 quarterback rating was his worst since 2006.  Recall that he was out of the league for 2007 and 2008.  Fantasy owners have been waiting for any sign the 2010 version of Vick would somehow arrive back on the scene.

Looking forward into 2013, he’ll be a complete mystery and there’s little way he’ll take on more value than that of a QB2 in fantasy to start the season.  As previously mentioned, Chip Kelly does run a high speed offense and Vick is going to have plenty of opportunities to create on the run.  While he’s rarely been able to successfully combine prototypical and mobile  quarterback traits, this new offense should maximize his potential to do just that. With an emphasis on speed, quick outs and the occasional deep pass along with the green light to break from the pocket when the opportunity present itself, Vick should have at least a chance of recapturing some of his early-career production.  For fantasy owners looking for a cheap option for a high-reward player, Michael Vick may just fit the bill.  For those with a top ten quarterback already, there’s little reason to take the risk.

Nick Foles

Taking over the reins in late November, Foles did show flashes of potential at times, but not enough to suggest he was the answer for 2013 and beyond.  He did manage to complete more than 60% (60.8%) of his passes, but could only manage six touchdowns to five interceptions.  Moreover, a quick glance at his 6.41 average yards per completion shows he wasn’t more successful at getting the ball down the field than Michael Vick (6.73).

Until the arrival of Chip Kelly, Foles appeared to be the odds-on favorite for the starter’s role in 2013.  But the firing of Andy Reid and the upcoming installment of a fast paced offense clearly works against Foles’ skill set.  There was rumor that Reid would come calling from his new home in Kansas City but in the end, Reid chose to add Alex Smith from the 49ers, meaning Foles will likely ride the bench for 2013.  Beyond 2013 is anyone’s guess, but Foles’ mismatched style makes for a poor fit and his best value in fantasy will be found via the eventuality of a trade.  He’s off the radar for now.

Dennis Dixon

Dixon isn’t likely more than a camp body, but as a quarterback who is familiar with Kelly’s offense from his days at Oregon, it’s not out of the question he gets a chance in the preseason to show that familiarity of a system is as important as pure talent.  Dixon has only attempted 59 passes as a professional and he won’t be rostered in fantasy unless numerous events were to occur.

Running Backs

LeSean McCoy

McCoy played his fewest games (12) as a pro in 2012 and fantasy owners were left holding the bag as he could only muster 840 yards and two touchdowns on the season.  He did chip in with 54 receptions and another three touchdowns via the passing game, but as a top five selection in new dynasty drafts, those numbers aren’t going to cut it.  At age 25 when 2013 kicks off, McCoy is young enough to reclaim is preseason 2012 ranking but dynasty owners will undoubtedly value him at a higher level than acquiring owners will be willing to pay.

Working in McCoy’s favor is the arrival of Chip Kelly.  He’s seemingly a perfect fit for Coach Kelly’s offense which requires a speed, hands and power skill-set that McCoy does possess.  The late season production of backfield running mate Bryce Brown is certain to reduce McCoy’s carries to a small degree (especially in shorter yardage situations), but it’s conceivable they’ll be sharing the backfield more often than has been the case in the past.  Look for Coach Kelly to experiment with the formula and adjust accordingly.  Regardless of the end result in 2013, heading into the season, expect to see a heavy dose of the running game.  McCoy’s value should be on the rise.

Bryce Brown

Brown significantly helped his fantasy status with a two week performance beginning in week twelve.  Over those two weeks, Brown amassed 347 yards rushing and four touchdowns, while adding eight receptions for 25 yards.  LeSean McCoy owners were caught cussing a blue streak while waiver wires lit up in the hopes that Brown had somehow not yet been rostered.  DLF readers understood long before week 12 that Brown was the handcuff to own over Dion Lewis.

After week 13 (and no doubt after countless fantasy trades), Brown returned back to earth and could only amass 76 rushing yards and 23 receiving yards over the remaining four games.  This isn’t to say the bloom is off the rose however.  At 22 years of age when 2013 gets underway, Brown has plenty of seasons ahead of him and the size to be an every-down back in the NFL.  He’s the clear handcuff to McCoy and is a free agent in 2016.

Dion Lewis

Lewis is best used as a third down back, but surprisingly has only three receptions in two years.  He displays enough power to be productive behind McCoy, but isn’t the pass blocker that McCoy is.   And with the emergence of Bryce Brown in 2012, Lewis’ touches decreased.  In all likelihood, he will be on the roster bubble in a fight for the third running back position.  There’s not enough enough intrigue or ability here to roster him in fantasy at this point.

Chris Polk

After a relatively noteworthy collegiate career at Washington, Polk fell during the 2012 draft on concerns about a shoulder injury and he’s never regained his value.  Instead, the undrafted rookie signed in Philadelphia, hurt his ankle in practice and never saw a carry.  There’s been discussion about moving him to fullback, but with Chip Kelly now in town and with him familiar with Polk as an intra-divisional running back, there may be some hope looking forward.  Watch the preseason and camp battle with Dion Lewis to see how it plays out.  His youth combined with his size may warrant an extremely deep sleeper status in deeper leagues.

Wide Receivers

Jeremy Maclin

It was a disappointing year across the board for the Eagles’ wide receivers, Maclin included.  Surprisingly, Maclin has never topped 1,000 yards in any season as a professional, but expectations were high in 2012.  Instead, Maclin reeled in 65 receptions for 835 and six touchdowns – all stats about on-par with historical performance.  Now in Chip Kelly’s fast-paced offense and fully healthy, expectations for Maclin are again higher than his past performances to date.

There’s not a lot of mystery to Maclin.  If he can stay healthy (which has been a problem in the past), he’s primed for a breakout season and production to a WR2 level in fantasy.  At his current level, he’s best served as a high-end WR3 or every-week flex option.  A Chip Kelly offense tends to spread the ball around, so there is potential for Maclin’s touches to be reduced, but we aren’t betting on that to occur.

DeSean Jackson

The mercurial Jackson may be on the rise in 2013.  After his worst season as a professional, all indications were he could be on his way out as an Eagle.  But much like all the players above him here, the arrival of Chip Kelly breathes new life into Jackson as a deep threat and short-area-quickness player.  Kelly excels at getting the ball to his quick-twitch athletes in space, allowing their dynamic to chew up yardage.  Jackson is arguably in line for the biggest role increase of any Eagle in 2013.  We won’t be surprised if Jackson nearly doubles his 2012 total of 45 receptions, but a safer bet is 75.  In either case, this level of production will be a boon for his fantasy owners.

He’s not a free agent until 2017.

Jason Avant

The veteran Avant has flirted with fantasy rosters as an emergency player on occasion.  In 2012, he still pulled down 53 receptions for 648 yards, but failed to score even a single touchdown.  As has been his role, Avant is a move-the-chains receiver that makes his living across the middle and on quick outs as a receiver with reliable hands.  He’s a bottom of the roster player in deeper PPR leagues only but, in most cases, it will make sense to have a younger player with upside over Avant and his reliable hands.

Riley Cooper

Cooper continues to emerge, if only at a slow pace.  In 2012, he set career highs by catching 23 balls for 248 yards and three touchdowns.  There’s little way to know how Cooper will be used in Chip Kelly’s offense, but as a big receiver, there’s opportunity to be had.  He’s only 25 years of age and has some level of upside, at least enough as a late round flier in case of injury to Maclin or Jackson above him on the depth chart.

Damaris Johnson

Kelly excels with the use of smaller speed dynamic backs like Johnson.  He’s far enough down the depth chart to not be rostered in fantasy, but has enough quick-twitch ability to offer upside should the right circumstances present themselves.  He doesn’t possess the size to suggest ongoing and consistent performance but we’ll keep an eye peeled as to how he’s used in the preseason.

Greg Salas

Salas did manage 27 receptions while with the St. Louis Rams in 2011, but has all but faded away.  He’ll fight for the last receiver position on the roster and likely will be a camp casualty.

Marvin McNutt

He’s fighting for the last receiver position on the roster and has good size and decent hands. We’d like to see him get meaningful snaps in the preseason, but he may be headed for the practice squad.

Tight Ends

Brent Celek

He’s continually under-appreciated in fantasy, but did under-perform in 2012.  He’s been a consistent threat from 2009 and his 57 receptions last year are only good enough for a TE2 role in fantasy.  Most disappointing was the fact Celek could only muster a single touchdown in 2012, well short of his average.  In an offense run by Chip Kelly, there’s potential for a tight end like Celek to produce to greater levels.  Kelly likes athletic tight ends and will move them around to create opportunity, especially as an outlet receiver.

Brent Celek is at an inflection point in his career at 28 years of age and with a new Head Coach and while he isn’t a free agent until 2017, 2012’s performance is going to make or break his future as an Eagle.

Evan Moore

We’ve liked Moore from his days in Cleveland and think his upside well exceeds his past production.  He’ll have a chance in Philadelphia should Celek under-perform or fall to injury.  Also at 28 years of age, Moore isn’t likely to rise above his current status in fantasy, but he’s a name to watch should the opportunity present itself.

jeff haverlack