2020 Dynasty Capsule: Philadelphia Eagles

Levi Chappell

Every year, we give our premium content members a team-by-team, player-by-player look at the prior NFL season. The coverage will be in-depth, but because the Dynasty Capsule series begins immediately after the season, we won’t use it to discuss free agency or the draft. Come see us in early May once Mr. Irrelevant is off the board for another 32-article series giving you the same detailed discussion you’ll see below.

Buckle up dynasty fans, because you’re about to be reminded why our motto is, “There is no off-season.”

QUARTERBACK

Carson Wentz (ADP 114, QB8)

Age: 27

Wentz has experienced some ups and downs over his short career. A number two overall pick behind Jared Goff, Wentz got off to a rough start as a rookie. But as a sophomore, his play took off like a bat out of hell. He was catapulted into the MVP consideration as a 25 year old, until he suffered a season-ending injury. Since then, he has never quite regained the form of his 2017 season.

In 2019, he was able to stay healthy and posted a solid stat line of 4,039 yards, 27 TDs, seven INTs, and completed 64% of his passes… all while leading the Eagles to the playoffs. After his sophomore year, the dynasty community as a whole was expecting Wentz to be the next big thing, and that hasn’t quite come to fruition. But he has been solid over the last two years, and will look to continue having success moving forward. It is worth noting that he posted a solid 2019 season while almost his entire wide receiver group was injured.

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Wentz won’t be leaving Philadelphia anytime soon. He signed a large deal with the Eagles who will pay him $128 million over the next four years. Wentz is my current QB6, and I expect him to utilize the “healthy” weapons he has in his offense and post another solid year in 2020.

Nate Sudfeld (N/A)

Age: 26

It made a lot of sense for the Eagles to bring him back to sit behind Wentz. Wentz is far from the model of health, so if you own Wentz in a deep superflex or two-QB league, you may want to stash Sudfeld on the bench.

RUNNING BACK

Miles Sanders (ADP 20.67, RB9)

Age: 22

Sanders struggled to hit the ground running like many owners had hoped. He was utilized a good amount in his rookie year, but struggled to grasp the speed of the game. He was effective in the passing game, but struggled to find holes and churn out yards in the ground attack.

He was given double-digit carries in each of his first four games, but averaged less than four yards per carry. It may have been tough to find his rhythm though with Jordan Howard taking most of the early-down work. After Howard got injured towards the end of the year, Sanders really found his stride.

He showcased that he can be a three-down back, and his stock has been soaring ever since. He finished the season with over 1,300 total yards, 50 catches, and six TDs. Super impressive numbers for a rookie.

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As you can tell from his ADP chart, he has been on a steady rise, and now sits in the RB1 territory. He is set to take over the backfield and prove his fantasy dominance.

Boston Scott (ADP 178.5, RB54)

Age: 24

Scott came out of nowhere for the Eagles and showed that he can be a playmaker when given the chance. They didn’t have to rely on him heavily since most of the early-down work went to Howard and Sanders, and the passing down work went to Sanders as well. But the Eagles were able to use Scott as a gadget weapon and exploit defenses.

Scott’s most impressive performance came in the last week of the regular season, when the Eagles needed his help to wrap up the division and host a playoff game. He churned out 138 total yards and found his way into the end zone on three separate occasions.

The Eagles may address the running back position with a cheap option in free agency, or in the later rounds of the draft. But I think they may be comfortable with Sanders and Scott leading the charge.

WIDE RECEIVER

JJ Arcega-Whiteside (ADP 168.67, WR75)

The fact that JJAW is the highest-drafted wide receiver on the Eagles may tell you what you need to know about a position of need.

I was as high on JJAW as anyone before the season started. I thought he possessed all the physical tools of an NFL WR, thought he had sneaky athleticism, and thought he would eventually make himself into the rotation. He did end up in the rotation, but only because the Eagles’ top three WRs were injured.

He was given every opportunity to succeed and take hold of that job, and he didn’t do much with it. At this point, I am still exercising patience, and still think he could be good. But it was disappointing, to say the least.

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With all things considered, he may be a good “buy” candidate right now because his value keeps slipping.

Alshon Jeffery (ADP 181.83, WR79)

Age: 30

From 2017 to 2019, Jeffery’s value slowly declined with injury after injury, and less productive season after less productive season. Now, towards the end of 2019, his stock has plummeted. After another injury-plagued season, and the lowest catch and yardage totals since his rookie year, the 30 year old has lost almost all fantasy value.

He is still under contract with the Eagles for another two years, and in 2020 his cap hit will be over $15 million and a whopping dead cap of $26 million. In 2021, he will be scheduled to make $18.5 million… needless to say, the Eagles are stuck with him for at least another year or so.

While it is a terrible contract, Jeffery isn’t a terrible WR when healthy. I am sure the Eagles and Wentz will be praying for Jeffery’s knees (which I’m pretty sure are held together by string cheese).

DeSean Jackson (ADP 227.17, WR98)

Age: 33

In week one of the 2019 season, Jackson caught eight passes for 154 yards and two TDs… then got injured. He saw game action once more, and re-injured himself. 2019 was a season of “what could have been” for DJax.

Jackson is also under contract with the Eagles for another two years, giving the Eagles one of the most expensive and injury-prone receiving groups in the league. There is some value to be had with Jackson being in the 200+ region for ADP. But do not expect 16 games.

Greg Ward (ADP N/A)

Ward stepped up in 2019 once all other receivers had gone down due to injury. He especially came on strong towards the end of the season, helping the Eagles win the division. He had 17 catches for 175 yards and added a TD over weeks 15-17. He will most likely add depth for the Eagles in 2020, with a shot at competing for a starting spot.

TIGHT END

Zach Ertz (ADP 66, TE4)

Age: 29

Ertz started out the 2019 season slowly but really picked it up towards the backend of the season. Just about anything was going to feel like a letdown from 2018, where he posted an insane 116-1,163-8 line. He ended the 2019 season with 88-916-6, good for the TE4 finish.

Even after another solid season from Ertz, his value has dipped in recent months. I believe it is two main factors for the decline… the first being that the “ol’ dirty thirty” is right around the corner for him and many dynasty owners are wary of that age for players. The other factor is how useful and impactful Dallas Goedert was for the Eagles in 2019. Ertz was not relied on quite as heavily because Goedert was able to lighten the load.

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Ertz still has two years left on his deal with the Eagles, but there is a potential out in his contract after 2020 that would leave the Eagles with just $7.7 million in dead cap for 2021, instead of his $12.5 million cap hit.

Regardless to say, Ertz’s place on the Eagles is safe right now, and he is still a good option to have if you are in win-now mode. But I suspect his value will slowly decrease over time.

Dallas Goedert (ADP 90.67, TE11)

Goedert had a good sophomore season, and at times flashed the potential that led the Eagles to select him in the second round of the NFL draft. He was relied upon much more from an offensive standpoint in 2019.

The wide receivers were decimated by injuries and the Eagles ran more two tight ends sets because of it, and Goedert was able to show what he can do. He finished the year with 58 catches for 607 yards and five TDs.

Simply put, I think he is a special talent at the position, and it would not surprise me if the Eagles traded or cut Ertz after the 2020 season to make way for Goedert (while saving money in the process).

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Wentz and Goedert showed great chemistry and I would expect Goedert to climb the tight end ranks even more after the 2020 season as well.

levi chappell