Summer Sleeper: Philadelphia Eagles
Editor’s Note: We pushed this article up the schedule a bit with the news of Jeremy Maclin potentially suffering a serious leg injury in practice today. You can surely bet players like Riley Cooper and our sleeper here will see their short term values rise.
With training camps opening all around the NFL, we continue our annual series focusing on a few sleepers from all 32 teams in the NFL.
These sleepers all have varying levels of “sleeperness,” but all merit a little more talking about here in the Premium Content section. Some of these players are deep dynasty sleepers who could merit a spot on your bench in a deep league, while others are players who may contribute a little faster than the deep prospects, but deserve more attention than they may be getting. By definition, a sleeper could mean something a little different to everyone, but we’re simply doing the best job we can to unearth one player from each team who fits the category in some way, shape or form.
We’ll never insult you with a comprehensive list of “sleepers” that includes such names as Lamar Miller, Chris Ivory or Danny Amendola. You’re all too good for that.
While many of these players will undoubtedly fizzle, there’s more value in looking more closely at these deeper prospects and players. We invite you to keep an open mind and either or re-assess your value on those who may be rostered in your league or consider adding a few of these deeper prospects we focus on this Summer who are free agents in your league – after all, some are destined to pan out, too.
Feel free to add your own comments about our choice for the designated sleeper, or nominate one of your own!
From a fantasy football perspective, has there ever been more of an enigma than the Philadelphia Eagles are right now? New head coach without an NFL track record, check. An ostensibly wide open quarterback competition between three players, check. A stockpile of talent at virtually every offensive position without any clear indication about how they’ll be utilized, check. One of the few facts upon which we can rely in order to make some valid assumptions is that head coach Chip Kelly is a great offensive mind. He’s creative and forward thinking, refusing to adhere to the limitations of archaic designs and strategies. For that reason alone, I see a gold mine of value in the Eagles’ offensive players when I compare their current ADP data with their overall statistical potential. I understand how fear of the unknown can breed hesitation in a situation like this but if there was ever a great opportunity to cash in on a few buy-low prospects, this is it. For my money, I’m all in on the Eagles offense this year, before the market value for some of their players becomes sky-high at this time next year or sooner. There were at least six or seven players I felt were worth mentioning below but I picked the two who intrigue me most in order to avoid dilution.
Arrelious Benn, WR PHI
Age: 24 (9/8/88)
If you asked any casual NFL fan to name the team Arrelious Benn plays for, very few would answer correctly that he is a wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles. If you asked the most hardcore NFL fans you know which player, between Benn and fellow Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, is more likely to be on the Philadelphia Eagles opening day roster in 2014, every single one of them would probably say Maclin. The reason you come to a website such as DynastyLeagueFootball.com is to learn that the correct answer is actually Benn, the former early second round pick in the 2010 NFL draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers whose trade to the Eagles back in March barely registered a blip on the radar.
Forget for a minute the 24-year old Benn’s measurables (6’-2”, 220 lbs, 4.42 40 yard dash) are right in line with star NFL wide receivers such as Dez Bryant and Julio Jones because trying to draw conclusions based on those comparisons would be silly. Instead, let’s focus on what we know about Chip Kelly and the type of player he might be looking for at the wide receiver position.
For starters, we know Kelly likes to run the ball. In order to run the ball most effectively, he needs wide receivers willing to sacrifice their bodies by blocking defensive backs and outside linebackers downfield. Coming out of high school, Benn was a five-star recruit who played linebacker, safety and on special teams. If he’s proven anything in the NFL thus far in his career, it’s that he’s a very physical player who excels in run blocking, a trait which should very quickly endear him to his new coach.
Kelly also likes players who can contribute in a variety of ways, especially on those special teams. To Benn’s credit, he was a standout returner at the University of Illinois – this is the type of versatility that made him the 39th overall pick in the draft in the first place and which will help him secure a spot on an NFL roster. For the record, Jeremy Maclin is the more talented player overall and definitely the more lucrative player to own between the two for dynasty purposes. I’m simply suggesting that Benn, who is available on the waiver wire in most leagues, is worth a hard look if you’re wanting to stash a high-upside guy who most people aren’t even thinking about at this point in time.
James Casey, TE PHI
Age: 28 (9/22/84)
The popular narrative since the Eagles hired Chip Kelly has been that he’ll try to run his Oregon “blur” offense in the NFL. That might end up being true, I have no idea. However, based on recent trends of NFL offenses and the free agent acquisition of tight end James Casey (as well as the high draft pick spent on Zach Ertz), I feel confident in expressing my opinion the Philadelphia offense will more closely resemble the record setting, two tight end offense displayed by the 2012 New England Patriots. If you watch how the Houston Texans utilized Casey, as a “move” tight end in the same vein that the Patriots utilized Aaron Hernandez, you might start to see where I’m coming from. If the highlight reel doesn’t satisfy you, perhaps this breakdown by Birds 24/7 will help clarify things a bit. Make no mistake about it, Casey is going to be on the field quite a bit and in a variety of circumstances. If the highlights and breakdown weren’t enough, perhaps Coach Kelly’s recent comments will suffice:
(Casey is) very important. We pride ourselves on versatility and being able to put different personnel packages out on the field at the same time. Having a guy who can play multiple positions makes a lot of difficult decisions for the defense in terms of how you’re going to defend them. So we’re trying to utilize that and James. The more times we get a practice opportunity with them, the more times we get a chance to see what he does best and play to his strengths.
According to our July ADP data, James Casey is being selected at #257 overall – the 36th tight end off the board. That’s lower than seven players who have never played a down in the NFL (including one who wasn’t even drafted; Zach Sudfeld), a couple of players coming off of major injuries (Fred Davis and Heath Miller), a couple of players whose ceiling is about as high as Casey’s floor (Delanie Walker and Lance Kendricks), and a couple of guys who might never even become starters and are wildcards at best (Ladarius Green and Adrien Robinson). Bottom line here is if Casey is available on the waiver wire (a strong possibility in shallow leagues) or via trade for any of the guys listed above, I would strongly encourage you to try and obtain him now while his market value is still a fantastic bargain.
Feel like discussing more of the Eagles sleepers I have in mind? Feel free to hit me up on Twitter @jefeberan
