Philadelphia Eagles: Fantasy options in Week 2 vs. Buccaneers

The Philadelphia Eagles are looking to bounce back offensively in Week 2. They face Tampa Bay and should put on a great fantasy showing from top to bottom.

The Philadelphia Eagles are taking on an NFC South opponent, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in Week 2. Both teams have offenses capable of putting up big numbers, which could make this an exciting game for fantasy football players.

The Eagles didn’t have a huge fantasy day in Week 1 against the Falcons. The only players who made much of an impact were Jay Ajayi and Nelson Agholor, but things should be different this week.

Here are the Eagles fantasy options for Week 2.

QB – Nick Foles

Nick Foles showed last season in the playoffs that he can put up some big numbers. Yet, his regular season this year and last year haven’t been very impressive. Foles is still a free agent in many fantasy leagues, as he should be.

If you feel like you need to start Foles in fantasy this week your season isn’t off to a good start. Don’t try to out-think yourself too much by putting Foles in your starting lineup. He has potential, but until he can prove something on the field keep him on your bench or off your roster entirely. Verdict: Don’t start, don’t even think about it.

RB – Jay Ajayi

Jay Ajayi was the fantasy star from Week 1 against the Falcons. He showed he’s finally ready to take over the Eagles running game. He didn’t play much of the first half last week, but when he got the ball in the second half, he made the most of it. 62 yards rushing and two touchdowns is a good start for Ajayi, and exactly what his fantasy owners are looking for.

This week he’ll probably see the ball more often than he did in Week 1. Even though he won’t overwhelm you with yardage he is clearly the Eagles top goal-line option this season. Slot him in as your RB2 and you’ll be happy you did. Verdict: Must-Start

RB – Darren Sproles

It was really nice to see Darren Sproles return to the field after spending most of last year on the Injured Reserve. He looked like the same old Sproles with the same speed and shiftiness that makes him one of the most dangerous backs in the league.

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Last week, however, he was only able to muster 10 yards rushing to go along with 22 yards receiving. The four receptions were decent if you are in PPR league. He’s trying to acclimate himself back into the offense and into a backfield that has a lot of talent. This week would be smart to keep Sproles on the bench. Only use him in desperation if you need to fill the Flex spot. Verdict: Only start if desperate

WR – Nelson Agholor

Last week, Nelson Agholor had one of the strangest stat-lines of all-time. 8 receptions for only 33 yards, a measly 4.1 yards-per-catch. Add to that one run for 16 yards and one pass completion for 15 yards. It was quite an odd week for Agholor.

That being said, it’s a good idea to take another chance on him this week. With Alshon Jeffery expected to be out again the passing game will run through Agholor. He tied for the team-lead with 10 targets, and if you are in a PPR league he’s worth giving a shot as your WR3 or Flex option. Verdict: Start him and watch the targets come

WR – Mike Wallace

Mike Wallace had zero receptions on only three targets in Week 1 against the Falcons. If he’s on your roster, stay away from starting him. It’s that simple. Verdict: Don’t even think about starting him

TE – Zach Ertz

Week 1 for Zach Ertz was decent, but it left fantasy owners wanting more. His five receptions for 48 yards were nice, but he was kept out of the endzone. He did share the team-lead in targets at 10 with Nelson Agholor, which is a good sign for him.

Even if Ertz looked horrible in Week 1, he would still be a must-start in Week 2. The tight end position in the NFL is spread pretty thin, especially with the injuries in Week 1 to Greg Olsen and Delanie Walker. Other than Rob Gronkowski and Travis Kelce, there is no better player to start at TE than Ertz. Verdict: Start him and trust that he’ll make an impact.

Eagles Defense

Last week the Eagles defense had a nice day in the fantasy world. They only surrendered 12 points to the Falcons to go along with four sacks and one interception. They were one of the best fantasy defenses in the NFL last season and look to continue the trend.

They’ll be facing an opponent in Tampa Bay this week that went off for 48 points against the Saints in Week 1. Don’t expect a repeat performance against the Eagles. The Eagles defensive line should be able to make trouble for backup Ryan Fitzpatrick. As long as they get in Fitzpatrick’s face they should be able to force a turnover or two. Verdict: Start them and expect solid numbers

Other players of note: RB Corey Clement, TE Dallas Goedert

Both of these players are young and show a lot of promise, but aren’t ready to be counted on as fantasy starters. Against the Falcons Corey Clement only had five carries and zero targets in the receiving game. Dallas Goedert only had one reception for four yards himself. Plus, Goedert bobbled a possible catch that led to a Falcons interception.

Both players could end up having good fantasy seasons, so if you have a deep enough lineup to keep them stashed on your bench, you might use them later in the season. Verdict: Not ready yet