11/21/2020
Sound the Trumpet. Slim Pickings if You Are Stuck with Eagles.
Judging from the comments in the media this week, the Philadelphia Eagles are still stuck in pre-season mode. There was talk of “timing” and “chemistry” and “lack of cohesion” and “lack of experience.”
Yeah, missing spring workouts, a real summer camp and injuries have made life difficult for the Birds. But still, they have played--or, at least shown up for-- nine games and they were coming off a bye week before last week’s historical ineptitude against the Giants.
How inept? Zero, nada, zilch first downs on 11 third-down attempts.
Until they come out and admit what everyone can see--the Eagles SUCK--no one is going to turn this thing around. Certainly not HC/OC Doug Pederson, DC Jim Schwartz or QB Carson Wentz. And at least three Eagles are on the COVID list.
Where does that leave the owners of Eagles this week versus Cleveland?
The over/under seems high at 47, given that the Browns scored 10 points last week--although the weather had something to do with that--and a “high-scoring” game for the Birds is mid-20’s.
Don’t start Wentz unless you don’t have anyone better. ESPN ranks him 12th this week (one behind Tom Brady!) which seems high. Cleveland’s Baker Mayfield is 21st which seems low. He has a better QB rating than Wentz and the Eagles have only three interceptions this season--tied for Dallas at the very bottom of the list.
TE Zach Ertz is supposed to be back this week. Yawn. The Eagles tight end and screen games have been non-factors this season. Claiming TE Dallas Goedert is the “next Ertz” is false advertising. So far. Still, ESPN has him ranked PPR-9 this week, just ahead of Cleveland TE Austin Hooper. Goedert has not even been the next TE Richard Rogers--who might be a better starter on your fantasy team.
RB Miles Sanders is always a great pick--if his coach will give him the damn ball. PPR-5 this week.
Browns RB Nick Chubb is PPR-9 and RB Kareem Hunt is PPR-12. Both of them should look good against the Eagles’ bend-and-break run defense. The Eagles are giving up 133 yds./game on the ground. Don’t play the Eagles D.
You won’t find an Eagles receiver until PPR-33, where WR Travis Fulgham is listed. His targets suffered last week with Jalen Reagor and Alshon Jeffrey back in the line-up but mostly non-factors.
If you are just betting the game, take the Browns at -3. The Eagles are 0-5-1 in their last six AFC-opponent games.
