Camp Notes, Volume One: Philadelphia Eagles

Curtis Patrick Posted On July 26, 2017

Dynasty fantasy football is our beloved stripped-down approximation of the NFL. We are the head coaches and general managers of our teams, choosing who stays or goes, and who plays or sits. NFL Training Camps are perhaps the best opportunity we have on the dynasty calendar to project how useful our assets will be in the coming season, particularly when it comes to managing the bottom third of our roster. The better you know the rosters of every NFL team, the more prepared you’ll be to execute the corresponding dynasty moves when camp news drops. I’m mining all the beat reports, team websites and post-practice press conferences to bring you a comprehensive overview of what’s going on this summer in all 32 training camps.

Philadelphia Eagles

Our first stop on the 2017 DLF Training Camp Tour is with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles are a team in the midst of a rebuild, having hired a new Head Coach and having drafted a franchise quarterback last season. The team goal appears to be to trying to compete while growing, which makes sense in the seemingly always up-for-grabs NFC East.

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The Eagles ranked sixth in the NFL in passing attempts in 2016 and Carson Wentz set an NFL rookie record with 379 completions. Despite the volume, the team tied for 28^th in passing touchdowns (16) – this prompted an investment in passing game weapons in the off-season. The team brough in a bona fide alpha wide receiver in Alshon Jeffery and a field stretcher in Torrey Smith. The team had only six completions of greater than 40 yards last season (T-26 in NFL) and just 39 completions of greater than 20 yards. I expect less passing volume, but greatly increased fantasy scoring efficiency thanks to more big plays and more touchdowns in 2017. The team managed a respectable run game, ranking tenth in rushing attempts and eleventh in rushing yards despite never having a bell-cow running back. LeGarrette Blount was signed in free agency to add some stability on first and second downs.

Below is a rundown of all players I project to have dynasty relevance in 2017 in a typical 12-team league with 24-man rosters (288 players rostered).

eaglesranks

What’s most striking about the roster rundown is how many Eagles running backs the community is invested in; five were drafted in the July DLF 20-round startup mock draft. Another takeaway is the current lack of elite dynasty assets on this roster. In a vacuum, the DLF Ranking Team would only start Alshon Jeffery (WR2) and Jordan Matthews (WR3) in a fictional lineup. Wentz (QB2) becomes a starter in 2QB and superflex leagues.

It’s early in camp; rookies reported on July 24^th and have completed two days of practice. Veterans will report on July 26^th.

The two most talked about rookies on day one and two of Eagles camp were wide receivers Mack Hollins (fourth round) and Shelton Gibson (fifth round). Hollins earned glowing reports from local beat writers on day one for his physicality after making several contested catches near the sideline and in the red zone. Hollins scored one touchdown on a deep post on day two and just missed a second. DLF’s Mo Brewington called Hollins an interesting dynasty stash last month and speculated his special teams ability would make him a lock for the final 53. I checked a handful of various media outlets; Hollins is the one name that showed up multiple times in every report through two days. Hollins is ranked as the WR22 among rookies by the DLF team.

Gibson reportedly struggled, dropping multiple passes in individual drills and team drills. Adam Caplan is already speculating that Gibson is a longshot to make the roster. If Hollins continues to shine, I tend to agree. There is probably only room for one of them on the roster unless the team decides to cut Nelson Agholor. Agholor has been a disappointment so far in his career, but it’s difficult to envision them cutting ties just two season after spending a first round pick on him. The Eagles have strong veteran wide receiver depth following an active 2017 free agency. There is still time for Gibson to turn it around though.

Corey Clement met the team’s weight goal of 215 pounds after reporting to rookie camp overweight this spring at 227. Clement weighed 220 at the NFL combine and ran the 40-yard dash 4.68 seconds. It will be interesting to see whether he looks a step faster after shedding some weight. As Bruce Matson noted earlier this offseason, Clement has the tools to be productive with a strong offensive line, and the Eagles have one of the league’s best units. Clement is ranked as the RB22 among rookies by the DLF team.

Donnel Pumphrey was reportedly moved all over the formation in day two of practice. DLF’s Mike Valverde predicted this type of usage for Pumphrey in the NFL in his pre-draft assessment. When considered in tandem, the skills of Clement and Pumphrey are highly complementary; perhaps the team envisions a timeshare scenario for the two as early as 2018.

Projected Cuts: Ryan Mathews

Projected ADP Risers

Players Who Will Rise 1 or more rounds in startup ADP by the end of the 2017 Season: Carson Wentz, Donnel Pumphrey, Corey Clement, Jordan Matthews, Mack Hollins

Projected ADP Fallers

Players Who Will Fall 1 or more rounds in startup ADP by the end of the 2017 Season: Zach Ertz

Waiver Wire Watch List (players with ADP >240): Corey Clement, Mack Hollins

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