WTS: Carson Wentz, Pederson Are Award Candidates
Photo by: Jeff Fusco.
Here are some of the best Eagles links from around the web as Philadelphia prepares to take on the Detroit Lions in this week’s edition of What They’re Saying:
Carson Wentz and Doug Pederson are top-five candidates for year-end awards at the quarter mark of the season, opines Cameron DaSilva of FoxSports.com.
Offensive Rookie Of the Year: 2. Carson Wentz, QB, Philadelphia Eagles
There’s no way to overstate Wentz’s play, particularly when considering the short notice he was given to prepare as the Eagles’ starter. He has 769 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions encompassed by his 103.8 passer rating. Wentzylvania is taking over the NFC East, and the Wentz Wagon is quickly filling up.Coach of the Year: 3. Doug Pederson, Philadelphia Eagles
In his first season as a head coach, Doug Pederson has casually won all three of his games with a rookie at quarterback. Furthermore, the defense is among the best in football and he’s gotten fans to quickly forget about the Chip Kelly era.
ESPN In$ider’s Mike Sando takes a look at the positives and negatives of Carson Wentz after three games.
Hot: Wentz has zero turnovers through his first 202 regular-season snaps. His fellow rookie Dak Prescott is the only other NFL quarterback with at least 200 snaps and no turnovers.
Not: It’s tough to find fault with Wentz statistically, but he has taken three of his four sacks on third down, and that has contributed to his 31.6 Total QBR on third down.
Games against the Vikings in Week 7 and the Cowboys in Week 8 are big games to watch before the midway point of the season, according to Chris Burke and Dieter Kurtenbach for FoxSports.com.
CHRIS BURKE: Eagles at Cowboys, Week 8. If the two teams maintain their current trajectories, this will have massive implications within the NFC playoff picture. This also is the week Dallas reportedly is targeting for Tony Romo’s return from injury, which could lead to a difficult decision depending on how the Cowboys’ next two games unfold. If we’re lucky, Carson Wentz vs. Dak Prescott will be the next great head-to-head QB rivalry.
DIETER KURTENBACH: Vikings at Eagles, Week 7. The Vikings have the best defense in the NFL (by my estimation) and a question-mark offense. While I bought in on the Eagles’ defense in the preseason, Carson Wentz’s spectacular play makes them a legitimate Super Bowl contender — that’s a shocking development. I’m fascinated to see how these two teams that have started the season with success but still have major question marks — leaving something to prove — match up because it could well be an NFC title game preview.
The Eagles remain at No. 6 in NFL.com’s Elliot Harrison’s Power Rankings.
One of only two teams with last weekend off — bye week light. But I wouldn’t be surprised if the Eagles players REALLY didn’t want the down time. This group was rolling, having just decimated a top-flight team in Week 3, with both the offense and defense firing on all cylinders. (Well, Ryan Mathews has been up and down, but you can’t have it all.) So where does Philadelphia go from here? Well, at Detroit, at Washington, then home vs. Minnesota. Take two of those three, and this team is absolutely for real. By the time the Eagles square off with the Vikes’ talented defense, there will be plenty of tape on Carson Wentz.
With Zach Ertz returning from injury, get rid of Brent Celek on your fantasy team, writes Tim McManus of ESPN.com.
Sell: Tight end Brent Celek
The veteran had three catches for 61 yards in a big win over the Steelers in Week 3. Zach Ertz, however, is expected back in the lineup against the Lions this week, after sitting out the past two games with a displaced rib. Ertz, not Celek, is likely to get the bulk of the tight end targets moving forward for the Eagles.
Three Eagles are viable waiver wire pickups, opines Alex Gelhar of NFL.com.
Darren Sproles, RB, Philadelphia Eagles – 21.9 percent owned
Sproles is coming off his bye week and into a matchup with the Detroit Lions. Depending on which Lions offense shows up (the powerhouse unit in Weeks 1-3 or the lame duck from Week 4), this could turn into a Sproles-heavy game script. He’ll be a risky start, but if his volume in the passing game remains elevated (team-high six targets in Week 3) he’ll at least offer a safe-ish floor in PPR formats. Grab him while he’s under the radar, as Philadelphia seems inclined to use a backfield committee, even once Ryan Mathews gets back to full health.
Nelson Agholor, WR, Philadelphia Eagles – 34.3 percent owned
Agholor isn’t seeing a ton of volume so far in 2016 (averages five targets per game) and has only found the end zone once, but Week 5 could be a chance for him to produce solid fantasy totals. On the season, he’s played 46.3 percent of his snaps lined up on the left side of the field, which would allow him to avoid Detroit’s top corner Darius Slay for a fair amount of the game. Without Ezekiel Ansah to help rush the passer, the Lions secondary was just picked apart by Brian Hoyer to the tune of 28-of-36 passing, 302 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions. If the Eagles can provide Carson Wentz with similar safety in the pocket, he should be able to do work against this unit as well. Agholor looks like a nice sleeper play as a WR3 or flex this week and is available in plenty of leagues.
Carson Wentz, QB, Philadelphia Eagles – 19.6 percent owned
The beginning of Wentz’s NFL career has gone better than even the most optimistic expectations, as he’s completed 64.7 percent of his passes for 769 yards with five touchdowns and zero interceptions. Heading into Week 4 he was the QB11 averaging 17.62 fantasy points per game. Heading into Detroit in Week 5, Wentz could be a top streaming option among quarterbacks facing a pass defense that has allowed 963 passing yards and eight touchdowns over the last three weeks (to Marcus Mariota, Aaron Rodgers and Brian Hoyer). If Wentz simply maintains the competent level of play he’s displayed thus far, he’ll be able to post solid totals for fantasy.
With a late first-round pick, the Eagles are picking Notre Dame offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey, according to CBSSports.com’s Rob Rang’s mock draft.
31. Philadelphia Eagles (from Minnesota Vikings)
Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame: The Eagles gave up their first-round pick to move up for Carson Wentz, then recouped a first-rounder by dealing Sam Bradford and clearing the way for Wentz. Philadelphia needs to protect that investment and LT Jason Peters is 34. McGlinchey, 6-7 and 310 pounds, impressed at right tackle opposite 2016 first round pick Ronnie Stanley last year and has a chance to boost his grade this fall on the left side as his replacement.
Even after a fast start in 2016, there are still weak spots the team needs to fill in the 2017 NFL Draft, pens Lance Zierlein of NFL.com.
30. Philadelphia Eagles (from Minnesota Vikings)
2016 record: 3-0 (.571)
Top needs: CB, OL, RB
Analysis: The Eagles dealt away a first-rounder to acquire the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 draft, and got a first-rounder in the Sam Bradford deal before the season. Cornerback should be an area in which Philly is looking for an upgrade. The Eagles have an aging center, aging left tackle and average guard play. Finding a quality RB1 might not be difficult in the 2017 draft given the potential for depth at the position.