Fantasy Football 2014: Philadelphia Eagles RB Rundown
The Eagles offense was straight money for fantasy football owners last year in their first year under head coach Chip Kelly. Kelly turned up the intensity and the speed of the Phily offense which at times looked ready to revolutionize the entire NFL with their up-tempo attack focused on getting playmakers the ball in places where they could make big plays.
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That offensive philosophy benefited the Eagles running backs who get plenty of touches in space and are allowed to create plenty of points for their fantasy owners. In the first of our RB rundown series, we’ll look at each of the Eagles backfield options from a fantasy perspective.
The ranking included is based on my overall RB rankings which should give you a good idea of where to target the Eagles RB’s in your fantasy football drafts.
Philadelphia Eagles. LeSean McCoy. 1. player. 54. McCoy’s open field abilities and his locked-in role in the Eagles attack earned him the top spot in my RB rankings, and I would draft him with the top overall pick in almost every format. He’s an integral part of the passing game making him even more valuable in PPR leagues, and should continue to blossom this season in Kelly’s offense. The only potential frustration for owners will be that the workload will be spread around a bit, but McCoy is definitely the go-to back for the Eagles and a truly elite fantasy option. I give him the nod over Adrian Peterson and Jamaal Charles only because I believe in the Eagles attack much more than the Chiefs or Vikings.. RB
RB. Philadelphia Eagles. Darren Sproles. 31. player. 54. Sproles is an intriguing off-season addition for the Eagles coming off a down year in New Orleans. If Sproles can be who he was two years ago, he’s a perfect fit for Kelly’s system and could easily return to fantasy relevance. His ability to line up at WR and make a ton of catches (over 70 each of the last three seasons) enhances his value in PPR leagues and makes him one of the first non-starters off the board. He’s a high-risk pick since he is 31 years old and his role is relatively undefined with his new team. I would look to add Sproles as a fourth RB in ten-team leagues, but try to go with lower risk options as the rest of your backups.
Polk is just one injury to McCoy away from instant fantasy usability. However Sproles is used, he won’t be the next workhorse back up if McCoy goes down meaning Polk is waiting in the wings for a Bryce Brown type opportunity. Polk should get a few touches every game as a change of pace for McCoy and is an intriguing option towards the end of drafts as a roster filler. If you get McCoy, Polk is a very useful handcuff late and a name to know if he ends up on your league’s waiver wire.. RB. Philadelphia Eagles. Chris Polk. 64. player. 54
54. Tucker was the primary back in the Eagles preseason opener with Polk sidelined and Sproles and McCoy playing only sparingly. He did get a pair of touchdowns and show some burst, but he also lost a fumble and left with an injury. If McCoy gets injured, Tucker could figure into a backfield share, but he’s not someone who will b rostered in most leagues coming out of the draft. Tucker was an undrafted free agent out of TCU who didn’t get any touches last season in his rookie year with the Eagles.. RB. Philadelphia Eagles. Matthew Tucker. NR. player
This post is part of a series detailing the backfield situation for each NFL team from a fantasy football perspective. Check out my top 80 rankings and click here for the full series.