The matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and Inexperienced Bay Packers might be a signaling of recent floor which the NFL is breaking, within the Week 1 slate of the 2024 season. This would be the first ever NFL sport happening in South America, with Sao Paulo, Brazil enjoying host on Friday, September 6.
As for the sport itself, will probably be a showdown between two NFC playoff individuals from a yr in the past, each of whom completed within the prime half of the league in complete offense (the Eagles being eighth and the Packers eleventh).
The return of soccer additionally marks the return of fantasy soccer. Let’s dissect among the main individuals on this sport from a fantasy soccer perspective. All fantasy related gamers might be grouped, by place, into three classes:
Sturdy begins – Your “set and neglect” gamers who ought to be in your beginning lineups it doesn’t matter what.
Weak begins – Gamers you’ll be able to set in your lineups, however whom you’ll be able to contemplate switching out if a greater choice is offered.
Sits – Gamers whom it is best to contemplate not beginning this week.
Quarterbacks
Jalen Hurts (Philadelphia Eagles) – Sturdy Begin
Philadelphia’s sign caller has blossomed into a completely elite fantasy choice over the previous couple of years, ending as the general QB3 in 2022 and because the total QB2 behind solely Josh Allen in 2023.
Whereas his passing numbers aren’t within the higher echelon of his friends (he has but to achieve 4,000 passing yards in a season), Hurts has achieved at the least 600 speeding yards and double digit speeding touchdowns yearly since taking on as the total time starter in 2021. This consists of 15 speeding scores final yr, which tied him with Allen for many amongst QBs. The speeding upside makes Hurts utterly matchup proof.
Jordan Love (Inexperienced Bay Packers) – Sturdy Begin
Talking of blossoming, Jordan Love had a spectacular first yr as Inexperienced Bay’s starter with a prime 5 fantasy end in 2023, ending second within the league in passing touchdowns. The Eagles allowed the one most fantasy factors to opposing quarterbacks final yr (all opposing fantasy factors rankings on this article will solely embody weeks 1-17, as the vast majority of fantasy leagues don’t play in Week 18), making Love an absolute smash play to start this season.
Working Backs
Saquon Barkley (Philadelphia Eagles) – Sturdy Begin
The one two occasions in his six years within the NFL wherein Barkley didn’t end within the prime 10 in fantasy factors per sport amongst operating backs in all scoring codecs was when he tore his ACL in 2020 and in 2021, when he was not but at 100% following the harm. Now, he steps into the most effective offense of his profession, and goes from operating behind one of many worst offensive traces within the NFL in New York to arguably the most effective OL within the league. Even when the “tush push” steals some purpose line touchdowns from him, Barkley is more likely to be simply as matchup proof as his quarterback this season.
Josh Jacobs (Inexperienced Bay Packers) – Sturdy Begin
Jacobs is one other 2024 free agent signing who will go from working in one of many worst offenses (and one of many worst OL items) in soccer to top-of-the-line. It is probably not the simplest go spherical for Jacobs in his first sport along with his new workforce, as a result of whereas the Eagles’ protection resembled swiss cheese in opposition to quarterbacks final yr, they have been the seventh stingiest unit within the league in opposition to opposing RBs by way of fantasy factors allowed.
Nonetheless, Jacobs might be a bell cow in Jordan Love’s backfield, with no one on the depth chart there to essentially problem him for touches. The sheer quantity of quantity will make the College of Alabama product a powerful begin weekly.
Large Receivers
A.J. Brown (Philadelphia Eagles) – Sturdy Begin
Brown has completed as a prime 10 scoring broad receiver in every of the previous two seasons, since being traded to Philadelphia. Whereas his greatest soccer little question occurred within the first half of 2023, the Ole Miss product has additionally been one of many 10 most focused gamers every season with Hurts as his quarterback. Brown is a goal hog and alpha WR on this offense.
DeVonta Smith (Philadelphia Eagles) – Sturdy Begin
Whereas Brown is the highest canine on this hierarchy, Smith is among the greatest quantity two broad receivers within the league. He completed thirteenth amongst all WRs in fantasy factors per sport lined up out of the slot in 2023, and faces a Packers protection which was simply exterior the highest 10 in fantasy factors per sport allowed out of the slot. Smith might be a powerful choice within the opener.
Jahan Dotson (Philadelphia Eagles) – Sit
Dotson is coming off of a disappointing 2023, the place he completed as the general WR56 regardless of being a preferred breakout candidate. Now, he has been traded away from Washington, the place he was the WR2, and finds himself decrease on the depth chart in Philadelphia. Dotson will solely have fantasy worth if harm strikes one of many Eagles’ two greatest receivers.
Christian Watson (Inexperienced Bay Packers) – Sturdy Begin
The Eagles allowed essentially the most fantasy factors in opposition to to opposing broad receivers in half PPR leagues final yr, making this a smash spot for Inexperienced Bay’s receivers. Watson was severely restricted by hamstring issues final season, however when wholesome he’s Love’s most explosive weapon, averaging 15 yards per reception since being drafted, and main the workforce in that class in every of his two seasons.
Jayden Reed (Inexperienced Bay Packers) – Sturdy Begin
Reed led the Packers in receiving yardage and was tied for first in receiving touchdowns final season. He was fourth within the league in fantasy factors per sport scored out of the slot, and faces an Eagles protection which allowed the second most fantasy factors out of the slot in 2023. Whereas Philadelphia tried to handle its terrible secondary from a yr in the past with the choice of two CBs with their first two picks on this previous draft, two gamers taking their first ever NFL snaps won’t be a brief time period answer in Week 1.
Romeo Doubs (Inexperienced Bay Packers) – Weak Begin
In case you are already hurting for broad receiver choices forward of Week 1, you are able to do worse than Doubs, however this can be a participant who relied closely on moving into the top zone to save lots of his fantasy output final season, enjoying in all 17 common season video games and recording 55 yards or extra simply 4 occasions. I’m anticipating a regression from his eight scores on 96 targets.
Whereas Jayden Reed additionally had eight touchdowns on two fewer targets, I do belief him a bit extra based mostly off his constant position and manufacturing out of the slot all season.
Dontayvion Wicks (Inexperienced Bay Packers) – Sit
When everyone seems to be wholesome in Inexperienced Bay, Wicks is the WR4 on this workforce. He completed with simply 5 extra targets than Watson in 2023 regardless of enjoying in six extra video games, and was nicely behind Doubs and Reed within the pecking order. Wicks may have some fantasy relevance if one of many receivers forward of him on the depth chart is pressured to overlook time.
Tight Ends
Dallas Goedert (Philadelphia Eagles) – Weak Begin
The Packers allowed the Twelfth-most fantasy factors to opposing tight ends final yr, making Goedert a worthy begin. With the arrival of offensive coordinator Kellen Moore in Philadelphia, we may see the Eagles move the ball a bit greater than we’ve change into accustomed to. That might be a key if Goedert, who’s a distance third choice within the passing sport, is to ascend right into a prime 10 choice at his place in 2024.
Luke Musgrave/Tucker Kraft (Inexperienced Bay Packers) – Sit
The Packers simply don’t make the most of their tight ends sufficient within the passing sport to think about both of those choices in your beginning lineup. Each had underneath 400 receiving yards in 2024, and so they mixed for 3 touchdowns.
