Category: Fantasy Football

Doug Pederson is non-committal on Lane Johnson’s status for game vs. the Ravens

Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson could be a game-time decision for the game vs. the Ravens

The Philadelphia Eagles are keeping Lane Johnson’s status for Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens close to the vest and he’ll likely be a game-time decision. Johnson has been dealing with ankle issues since the offseason and the Eagles could be faced with resting him over the next few weeks.

On Friday, head coach Doug Pederson was non-committal on Johnson’s availability.

If Johnson can’t go, Jack Driscoll will get the second start of his young NFL career.

Eagles CB Darius Slay to play vs. the Baltimore Ravens after clearing the concussion protocol

Darius Slay to play vs. the Ravens after clearing concussion protocol

The Eagles will have their best cover guy available for Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens when head coach Doug Pederson confirmed that Darius Slay had cleared the concussion protocol.

Slay left Sunday’s game against the Steelers with a head injury and was placed in the concussion protocol on Monday.

Slay will likely shadow Ravens second-year star, Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown.

Will Parks set to make his season debut with the Eagles badly needing an answer for Ravens TE Mark Andrews

James Palmer of the NFL Network is reporting that Will Parks is cleared and ready to make his Eagles debut

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In Sunday’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Eagles’ biggest Achilles-heel was the play of their linebackers, specifically Nate Gerry, who once again was a liability in coverage.

On Sunday rookie Chase Claypool took advantage of Gerry’s lack of foot speed for a touchdown late in the game. Gerry and Alex Singleton allowed seven catches for 78 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the loss, and it’s been a growing problem since the Week 2 loss at home to the Los Angeles Rams.

Per PFF, Gerry is allowing a 154.6 passer rating to opposing quarterbacks, while opposing receivers have caught all 23 passes with Gerry in coverage for 267 yards and four touchdowns in just five games.

There have been calls to bench Gerry, but the best remedy for the Eagles will come in the form of a healthy Will Parks. Parks had his 21-day practice window activated recently and according to James Palmer of NFL.com, the versatile safety will make his season debut on Sunday.

A key player who can flourish in the slot or at linebacker in nickel or dime situations, Parks had 134 tackles, four interceptions, 13 pass deflections, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery in four seasons with the Broncos.

Parks is big enough to play a hybrid linebacker while providing adequate size at the safety position as well.

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Lions Wire Fantasy Football Weekly: 2020 Week 6 preview

Who to start and sit around the NFL and in the Lions-Jaguars game

Have you ever looked at your fantasy football league standings and wondered how some teams have such a good record early in the season? The Detroit Lions are looking up at others in the NFC North and feel the same way. Both for your fantasy team and the Lions, please remember that it is early with lots of football still to play.

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The toughest loss to accept in fantasy football is that one where it comes down to the final game of the week and your opponent has a player or two still yet to play, and they score just enough to beat you. This past week — with games on Monday and Tuesday — that factor was really in play. Many probably felt that heartbreak of a last-second loss in fantasy football, which is another feeling the Lions can relate with.

Let’s do, as many NFL head coaches often say, and put the past behind us. Onto the next week, Week 6.

There are lots of interesting matchups, waiver wire pickups to help with those injuries, and a Lions game in Jacksonville to put the spotlight on. We will do all of that and more in this week’s Fantasy Football Weekly.

Lions at Jaguars fantasy focus

A quality fantasy football offense often has a top-notch quarterback, a few dynamic wide receivers, a pass-catching tight end, and multiple complementary running backs. That represents the Lions much more than the Jacksonville Jaguars roster these days.

The Jaguars resemble a fantasy football team constructed via the waiver wire. They feature Gardner Minshew at quarterback, who was a very late draft pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Their receiving corps is filled with a bunch of names you won’t see anywhere near the top of the fantasy charts.

They do have Tyler Eifert at tight end. Yes, the same Tyler Eifert who blew up one year in fantasy football with 13 touchdowns, but that year was all the way back in 2015. The Jaguars cut Leonard Fournette before the season started and replaced him with an unknown, undrafted running back James Robinson out of Illinois State. This team the Lions are facing is filled with all the guys no one else wanted. That is what makes them so dangerous.

There are so many ways this game could go. The Lions could put up great fantasy statistics based on their talent and the number of points the Jaguars defense has given up on average so far this year (36.8 PPG). The Jaguars could show why they are underrated and run the ball all over the Lions defense, which has greatly struggled to stop the run. The final scenario is that it could just be a very ugly game across the board for both teams with poor play on both sides of the ball. For fantasy purposes, put in your fantasy players on both teams. It feels like points will be scored in this one regardless.

Start/Sit

Start
Ben Roethlisberger (QB Steelers)
Chase Edmunds (RB Cardinals)
Laviska Shenault (WR Jaguars)
T.J. Hockenson (TE Lions)

Sit
Matt Ryan (QB Falcons)
Jerick McKinnon (RB 49ers)
Brandin Cooks (WR Texans)
Tyler Higbee (TE Rams)

Top-3 projected players by position

Quarterbacks
Kyler Murray, Cardinals
Josh Allen, Bills
Lamar Jackson, Ravens

Running Backs
Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys
Derrick Henry, Titans
Mike Davis, Panthers

Wide Receivers
DeAndre Hopkins, Cardinals
Devante Adams, Packers
Adam Thielen, Vikings

Tight Ends
Travis Kelce, Chiefs
Mark Andrews, Ravens
George Kittle, 49ers

Team Defenses
Colts
Ravens
Dolphins

Kickers
Jason Sanders, Dolphins
Stephen Gostowski, Titans
Harrison Butker, Chiefs

Waiver wire options

Andy Dalton (QB Cowboys)
Derek Carr (QB Raiders)
Alexander Mattison (RB Vikings)
Justin Jackson (RB Chargers)
Chase Claypool (WR Steelers)
Travis Fulgham (WR Eagles)
Trey Burton (TE Colts)
Drew Sample (TE Bengals)

Intriguing games and players in Week 6

(Week 5 Bye Weeks: Seahawks, Saints, Chargers, Raiders) 

Baltimore at Philadelphia, Sunday 1:00 PM, EST

  • BAL: J.K. Dobbins (RB), Marquise Brown (WR)
  • PHI: Zach Ertz (TE), Miles Sanders (RB)

Cleveland at Pittsburgh, Sunday 1:00 PM, EST

  • CLE:  Odell Beckham, Jr (WR), David Njoku (TE)
  • PIT: JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR), James Washington (WR)

Green Bay at Tampa Bay, Sunday 4:25 PM, EST

  • GB: Marquez Valdez-Scantling (WR), Aaron Rodgers (QB)
  • TB: Cameron Brate (TE), Tom Brady (QB)

LA Rams at San Francisco, Sunday 8:20 PM, EST

  • LAR: Cooper Kupp (WR), Cam Akers (RB)
  • SF: George Kittle (TE), Deebo Samuel (WR)

Kansas City at Buffalo, Monday 5:00 PM, EST

  • KC: Patrick Mahomes (QB), Mecole Hardman (WR)
  • BUF: Stefon Diggs (WR), Zach Moss (RB)

Arizona at Dallas, Monday 8:15 PM, EST

  • AZ: Kyler Murray (QB), Kenyon Drake (RB)
  • DAL: Amari Cooper (WR), Ezekiel Elliott (RB)

Bottom Line

Could you imagine a fantasy football season where you start out with a big lead early on every week only to lose that lead throughout your matchup and ultimately get beat by your opponent at the very end?

Those losses week after week where you were ahead to start only to lose in the end would be crushing. Seeing losses like that pile up is demoralizing for any fantasy owner and the key is to try to stop the trend any way possible.

This is the situation facing the Lions and many fantasy owners out there right now. Those late losses seem to hurt more than others, but there is still lots of time left to turn the season around.

Try to go undefeated this week instead of focusing on one of those tough losses in the past. Winning each week and trying to put your best effort out there is the best strategy for your fantasy team and also for the Detroit Lions.

Philadelphia Eagles sign DB Grayland Arnold to the practice squad

Grayland Arnold signs to the Eagles practice squad

The Philadelphia Eagles waived two guys this week and were able to get one back after the team re-signed Grayland Arnold to their 16 man practice squad.

The Eagles waived 7th round pick Casey Toohill as well, and he was immediately claimed by the Washington Football Team.

Eagles Injury Report: Darius Slay among 9 players to sit out practice, Alshon Jeffery among 4 listed as limited

Darius Slay sits out Eagles practice with a concussion

The Philadelphia Eagles released their initial injury report for Sunday’s showdown with the Baltimore Ravens and 9 Birds sat out practice for various reasons.

LB Shaun Bradley (illness), G Jamon Brown (illness), DT Fletcher Cox (not injury related – personal), S Marcus Epps (rib), T Lane Johnson (ankle), DT Hassan Ridgeway (illness), LB Duke Riley (rib), CB Darius Slay (concussion), S K’Von Wallace (neck) all sat out practice.

WR DeSean Jackson (hamstring), WR Alshon Jeffery (foot), CB Avonte Maddox (ankle), TE Richard Rodgers (neck) were all limited participants while Jason Kelce got in a full practice.

Eagles QB Carson Wentz calls Travis Fulgham a ‘big-time’ player

Carson Wentz calls Travis Fulgham a ‘big-time’ player

Carson Wentz has found himself a wideout that he’s comfortable fitting the ball to in tight places and Eagles fans across the country are beyond giddy over the pairing. Fulgham has gone from a guy cut three times in the month of September, to a player on the brink of stardom after a breakout performance against the Steelers.

On Wednesday, Wentz was asked about the Fulgham and didn’t pull any punches when he referred to the former Old Dominion wide receiver as a “big-time” player who isn’t a “fluke”.

Fulgham gives Wentz a sure-handed, big, possession type receiver that the Eagles desperately need and it’ll be on Doug Pederson and Press Taylor to integrate him into a system where he can coexist positively with DeSean Jackson, Jalen Reagor, Greg Ward, and Alshon Jeffery.

Doug Pederson has an interesting response on how he’ll manage the Eagles WR rotation

Doug Pederson has an interesting response on how he’ll manage the Eagles WR rotation

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The Philadelphia Eagles have been ravaged by injury at the wide receiver position over the past two years and with two of the biggest stars set to return, Doug Pederson could have some major personnel issues to work through.

Philadelphia has seen some impressive play from rookies Jalen Reagor and John Hightower, but the emergence of Travis Fulgham could force Pederson and Howie Roseman to face a huge decision in spite of big contracts for Jeffery and Jackson.

On Wednesday, Pederson was asked by Brandon Lee Gowton about the looming decisions at wide receiver amid Fulgham’s emergence as a go-to player on the roster. His response was interesting.

“It’s a difficult thing. One, we’ve got to make sure that the player in question is healthy, right? And that’s just why we practice during the week, we let them practice today and we see how they feel tomorrow on Thursday and then we see how they feel on Friday and then we can make a decision for game day.”

“But at the same time, it is hard to say ‘Hey, okay Travis, we’re going to push you to the side because here comes a couple of [veteran] guys.’ We’ve got to get all our guys integrated back into practice this week. And at the end of the day, we’ve got to select the four or five guys we feel give us the best opportunity on game day. And some of it could be based purely on the matchup.”

“Obviously, Travis has made a case to continue to play and play at a high level.”

Pederson made it seem as if Fulgham will continue to have a major role in the offense because receivers line up in various roles in the Eagles’ offense, and they could be listed as an X or Z receiver that’s utilized in different positions.

Jeffery and Jackson will both be needed if the Eagles have any hopes of making a postseason run, but Fulgham’s production shouldn’t be minimized because the two big named vets have returned with huge salaries.

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5 reasons why the Eagles should roll with the young guys until after the Week 9 bye

With Lane Johnson, DeSean Jackson, and Alshon Jeffery dealing with injuries, the Eagles should play their young guys for the next four weeks.

The Philadelphia Eagles have been snake-bitten by soft tissue injuries again this season, but unlike the 2019 campaign, the NFC East provides the Birds with an opportune time to get healthy, while getting their young guys some much needed playing time against big-time competition.

On Tuesday, NFL.com’s Mike Garafalo reported that Lane Johnson’s second opinion on his ankle provided the Eagles with no real-time solution except rest and rehabilitation.

The Eagles currently have on injured reserve or out, Andre Dillard, T.J. Edwards, Rudy Ford, Dallas Goedert, Josh Perkins, Jason Peters, Isaac Seumalo, and Trevor Williams all out for an extended period of time.

With the news about Johnson and the Eagles unsure about the status of Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson, we’ve provided 5 reasons for why Philadelphia should continue with the makeshift lineup until after the Week 9 bye.

***

1. Things can’t get any worse

It’s not funny, but with the Eagles missing the majority of their lineup since Week 1, continuing with the status quo won’t hurt and it could end up benefiting the Eagles in the long run.    The Eagles have made critical mistakes with veterans on the field if this truly is a rebuild, there’s no better time than now to start.

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Philadelphia Eagles open 21-day practice window for versatile safety Will Parks

Philadelphia Eagles open 21-day practice window for versatile safety Will Parks

The Philadelphia Eagles are set to get one of their more versatile and important defensive weapons back with the news that Will Parks had his 21-day practice window activated.

Parks, a Philadelphia native and former Germantown High star, signed with the Eagles as a free agent after four years in Denver. Parks registered 134 tackles, four tackles for loss, four interceptions, 13 pass breakups, and a sack in 62 regular-season games with the Broncos.

Parks can line up at both cornerback and safety and could take Nate Gerry’s spot in the dime and big nickel packages.