Drafting the Birds is a rollercoaster. You know the feeling. One minute Saquon Barkley is ripping off a 40-yarder through a hole big enough to drive a SEPTA bus through, and the next, Jalen Hurts is vulture-diving from the one-yard line. It’s chaotic. If you’re looking into Philadelphia Eagles fantasy football strategies for this season, you have to embrace that chaos. This isn't the Andy Reid era where you just took Brian Westbrook and called it a day.
The dynamic has shifted. Kellen Moore is calling the shots now. That matters more than most people realize. Moore brings a certain "verticality" that Nick Sirianni’s previous iterations sometimes lacked. Honestly, it’s about time.
The Jalen Hurts Regression Question
Let’s talk about Jalen. Is he still a Tier 1 quarterback? Probably. But the gap is closing. Last year, Hurts was a cheat code because of the "Brotherly Shove." If the Eagles got to the one, it was a guaranteed six points for your QB. But defensive coordinators have had an entire offseason to study the leverage points of Landon Dickerson and Jordan Mailata. Even with Jason Kelce gone—and let’s be real, Cam Jurgens is great, but he isn't 62—the play remains effective, yet it's becoming a predictable trap for fantasy managers.
You’re paying a premium. Usually a second or third-round pick. For that price, you need 2022 Hurts, not the "I'm throwing forced picks to A.J. Brown" version of late 2023. His rushing floor is elite, but if the rushing touchdowns drop from 15 to 8, your ROI vanishes. He’s still a locked-in starter, but the ceiling feels a bit lower than it used to.
Saquon Barkley in Midnight Green
It feels weird, right? Seeing the former Giant in Philly gear. But for Philadelphia Eagles fantasy football enthusiasts, this is the most exciting development in years. D'Andre Swift was good, but Saquon is a different animal. He’s a three-down back who actually pass-protects. That’s the key. If he’s on the field for 80% of snaps, he’s a top-five RB candidate.
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The concern is the goal line.
Barkley has spent his career being the "everything" for New York. In Philly, he has to share. Will he be frustrated when Hurts keeps the ball on a read-option at the five-yard line? Maybe. But the volume of high-value touches in this offense is so high that Saquon should still feast on efficiency alone. He won't have to dodge three defenders in the backfield like he did at MetLife. That offensive line is still a gold standard, even with the transition at center.
The Receiver Hierarchy: A.J. vs. DeVonta
This is where it gets spicy. A.J. Brown is a target hog. He’s built like a linebacker and runs like a deer. You draft him in the first round and you don't look back. But don't sleep on DeVonta Smith. In Kellen Moore’s system, the "Z" receiver often gets more creative looks—drags, bubbles, and deep posts that exploit man coverage.
Smith is technically superior.
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He’s the guy who catches 8 balls for 110 yards while A.J. is drawing the double team. If you’re in a PPR league, the value gap between them is narrower than the ADP suggests. Honestly, grabbing DeVonta in the late third round feels like a much better move than reaching for Brown in the first ten picks.
The Dallas Goedert Dilemma
Is Dallas Goedert still "elite"? He’s sort of in that fantasy purgatory. He’s better than the streaming options but not quite in the Kelce/LaPorta/Andrews tier. The problem isn’t talent; it’s the mouths to feed. When you have two Alpha WRs and a superstar RB, the tight end becomes the safety valve.
- Floor: 4 catches, 45 yards.
- Ceiling: 7 catches, 90 yards, 1 TD.
- Reality: He’s going to have four games a year where he disappears completely.
If you miss out on the top three TEs, Goedert is a fine consolation prize, but don't expect him to carry your week. He's a "glue" player for your roster.
Why the Defense is a Trap
People love the "Georgia Bulldogs" narrative. Jordan Davis, Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith. It sounds great on paper. But for fantasy purposes, the Eagles D/ST has been a rollercoaster. They lost some veteran leadership in the secondary. While the pass rush is terrifying, the linebacker play has been a question mark for years. Don't reach. Take them in the last two rounds or just stream. The schedule in the NFC East can be brutal with the way Dallas and Washington are putting up points lately.
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Strategy for Your Draft
If you’re targeting Philadelphia Eagles fantasy football players, you have to be wary of "stacking" too heavily. If the Eagles have a bad game (like that late-season collapse against Arizona), your entire fantasy week is cooked.
- The Power Stack: Hurts + A.J. Brown. High risk, massive reward.
- The Value Play: DeVonta Smith + Jake Elliott. Elliott is arguably the best kicker in the league for fantasy because the Eagles trust him from 50+ yards.
- The Sleeper: Will Shipley. If Saquon misses time, Shipley fits the Kellen Moore "scat-back" role perfectly. He’s a must-handcuff for Barkley owners.
Basically, the Eagles are a high-octane offense that will finish in the top 10 for total yards. The fantasy points will be there. You just have to decide if you want to pay the "Philly Tax" that usually inflates their draft stock.
Actionable Steps for Managers
Stop drafting Jalen Hurts in the first round of 1QB leagues; it nukes your roster depth. Instead, pivot to Saquon Barkley if he falls to the mid-first, as his ceiling in this specific offense is RB1 overall. Keep a very close eye on the "slot" snaps during the first two weeks of the season—if DeVonta Smith is moving inside more often, he's a locked-in WR1 in PPR formats. Lastly, don't hold onto the Eagles' defense if they struggle early; be ready to cycle them out for a high-upside streaming option like the Jets or Ravens if available on the wire.
Focus on the offensive line health. If Lane Johnson misses time, the entire ecosystem takes a hit. Monitor the injury reports every Friday, specifically for the right side of the line, as that directly correlates to Hurts' sack rate and rushing efficiency.