This is an intriguing matchup for several reasons. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott will be returning from his season ending hamstring injury with a lot to prove. The Eagles on the other hand will try to avoid the Super Bowl hangover and start the season on a winning note. It will also mark the debut for new Cowboys receiver George Pickens who was recently acquired in a trade from the Steelers.

Then of course there is the rivalry aspect that always ramps up the intensity of this NFC East battle. Dallas was blown out in both matchups last year and they will want to return the favor. Prescott, when healthy has shown he has the Eagles number with a 9-4 record head-to-head. This will be an entertaining opener to say the least and we can’t wait to see it play out.

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Cleveland Browns @ Houston Texans +2.5 (Saturday 4:30 PM EST on NBC)

Our first matchup of the weekend features two teams that many of us didn’t think would be here. The Browns have shuffled through 5 starting quarterbacks this season yet managed to finish an impressive 11-6. That is in large part due to their dominating defense which finished #1 in total team defense allowing just 270.2 yards per game.

The Texans meanwhile are playing with house money and are led by their star rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud. Stroud continues his strong rookie campaign where threw for 4000+ yards, 23 touchdowns and just 5 interceptions. The lack of turnovers was the most glaring stat as Stroud plays with the poise of a seasoned vet.

This game will come down to the wire and will be low-scoring. Expect Stroud to do just enough to pull off the upset at home and continue the Texans surprising season.

Game Pick: Texans 21 – Browns 14

Miami Dolphins @ Kansas City Chiefs -4.5 (Saturday 8:00 PM EST on Peacock)

Next up on Saturday night, we have a banged-up Dolphins team taking on the Chiefs in chilly Arrowhead. The weather will absolutely play a part in this matchup as temperatures as expected to be in the single digits come kickoff. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs are somewhat flying under the radar but you can’t count out Andy Reid and Mahomes in the playoffs.

Miami has been struggling lately as they come in losers of 2 straight. The Dolphins offense has come back down to earth a bit and is hoping star receiver Jaylen Waddle can return as he has been missed.

It’s hard to see the Dolphins coming out victorious in this one. Miami hasn’t been a good cold-weather team as Tua Tagovailoa has struggled in these types of games. Mahomes and the Chiefs move on setting up an intriguing Divisional round matchup.

Game Pick: Chiefs 24- Dolphins 16

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Buffalo Bills -10 (Sunday 1:00 PM EST on CBS/Paramount+)

Our first Sunday game features the red-hot Bills vs. the Steelers. The Bills wrapped up the AFC East title last week in Miami and are starting to look dangerous. This will also be a cold weather game with temperatures expected to be in the low 20s.

Pittsburgh is a heavy underdog in this matchup and rightfully so. They will be without their defensive star T.J. Watt who went down last week with a knee injury. Quarterback Mason Rudolph is set to start and he will have his hands full with this Buffalo defense.

This is a tough matchup for Mike Tomlin and the Steelers. They certainly weren’t expected to be here but just don’t have enough firepower to hang with the Bills. Look for a late backdoor cover for the Steelers in this one.

Game Pick: Bills 27 – Steelers 20

Green Bay Packers @ Dallas Cowboys -7.5 (Sunday 4:30 PM EST on FOX)

The first NFC matchup of the weekend will be in Dallas where the NFC East champions take on the surprising Packers. Dallas has been dominant at home where they posted a perfect 8-0 record. Most of those games haven’t been close with the exception of the Lions game that featured the controversial 2-point conversion.

Jordan Love and the Packers will be playing with nothing to lose as they were expected to have a down year in Love’s first year under center. It has been anything but that and Love has shown he can be the quarterback of the future in Green Bay.

The playoff atmosphere is different and with the lights on I think the Cowboys come out flat. They will eventually find their groove but expect the Packers to hang around until the end.

Game Pick: Cowboys 31 – Packers 24

Los Angeles Rams @ Detroit Lions -3 (Sunday 8:00 PM EST on NBC)

In the Sunday nightcap, we have the Matthew Stafford Bowl in Detroit. To me, this is the best game of the weekend with so many storylines to explore. Along with Stafford coming back to Detroit you also have Jared Goff looking for revenge against the team that gave up on him.

You have to be impressed with what Dan Campbell did for the Lions this season. Not only did they capture their first-ever NFC North title but they have turned this once lowly franchise into one of the best teams in the league. The Lions also feature one of the most coveted head coaching candidates in Ben Johnson. Johnson is the next great offensive mind and it looks like this is the year he becomes a head coach.

The Rams come into Detroit with confidence as they are winners of 4 straight. They are led by impressive rookie Puka Nacua and Kyren Williams who both look to be late-round steals. While I do think the Rams will hang around for most of the game Detroit will be too much at home in this one.

Game Pick: Lions 28 – Rams 21

Philadelphia Eagles @ Tampa Bay Bucs +3 (Monday 8:15 PM EST on ABC/ESPN)

Finally, we end Wild Card weekend with a Monday night showdown in Tampa Bay. The Eagles, who were once favorites to win the NFC come in losing 5 of their last 6 games. They have key injuries on both sides of the ball but their defense has let this team down all year.

The Bucs are another one of the surprising teams to make the playoffs. It was supposed to be a rebuilding year in Tampa but they were able to sneak into the playoffs thanks to the lowly NFC South. They now get a home playoff game and will look to avenge a week 3 loss against the Eagles.

This game comes down to who is the healthier team and right now that’s Tampa Bay. A.J. Brown has a knee injury and is not practicing while quarterback Jalen Hurts has a sprained middle finger on his throwing hand. Philadelphia is reeling and this game will put an end to a season that had so much promise.

Game Pick: Bucs 24 – Eagles 14

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Why in the world are the 49ers favorites against a very good Eagles team at home?

This a question I think a lot of folks are asking themselves as we get ready for a doozy of a game on Sunday. Look, the 49ers are good on both sides of the ball, but Philadelphia is a very tough place to play with relentless and loud fans. To me the location of this game means a lot. You put this game in San Fran and I like San Fran, but in Philly, I like the Eagles to win in a close one.

The Eagles have shown that they do have weaknesses, but they seem to find a way to win each and every week. There is no giving up with this team, as they always feel like they have a chance even if their down. The challenge for the 49ers on defense is how do you defend the Eagles. You can try and load the box to stop D’Andre Swift and Jalen Hurts but when you do that it opens up holes on the pass defense. Or do you play the pass and let them run a little bit. Do you blitz against Hurts? That’s fine but he can escape most pass rushers and run for 5-10 yards. He is a very smart and athletic quarterback.

When I look at the coaches I like Kyle Shanahan, but don’t sleep on Nick Sirianni. I don’t think there’s a coincidence between the Eagles being 10-1 and Sirianni coaching at a every high level. He also has a top notch coaching staff with a winning culture. This game will be close with the home team pulling it out. I think the Eagles will put pressure on Brock Purdy and make it difficult on him to pass the ball. In addition, they will have a game plan for Christian McCaffrey and try to contain him as much as they can.

Prediction: Eagles 34 49ers 30

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Jalen Hurts – Hurts was seen wearing a knee brace in the second half of the Eagles win over the Dolphins. It looks like Hurts won’t miss any time but this is something to monitor. Hurts is taking a lot of hits while extending plays and will need to protect himself better.

Bijan Robinson – What in the world happened to Bijan Robinson on Sunday? The Falcons have stated that he wasn’t feeling well but this was bizarre as Robinson wasn’t listed on the injury report. The hope is that Robinson indeed was just dealing with some type of bug and there aren’t underlying issues here.

D.K. Metcalf – Metcalf missed the first game of his NFL career on Sunday against the Cardinals. He is dealing with rib and hip injuries that kept him out last week. Metcalf is tough and I don’t expect these injuries to linger.

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The Vikings defense certainly isn’t one that worries you, and the Eagles defense is dealing with injuries on all levels. With a lot of high priced talent on the field, finding the value plays, mixed with the studs, in this game is what will help you cash out. Good luck to everyone out there, let’s go make that money.

Captain Plays

Jalen Hurts QB $17,100 ($11,400)

Last week against both the weather and a game Patriots defense, Hurts struggled to find the big play that made him such an amazing fantasy option last year. Neither of these factors will be in play as the weather should be great for the game, and the Vikings are not a great defense. The reason you would play Hurts at captain is if you believe he will score on the ground, which I believe might happen more than once.

Kirk Cousins QB $13,800 ($9,200)

As mentioned earlier, the Eagles defense is banged up and will be missing two key pieces of their secondary. We saw Mac Jones throw for 316 yards and 3 TDs against this defense last week, and Cousins has far more explosive weapons at his disposal. If you think Cousins spreads the ball around and tosses TDs to all different guys, he will be your play.

D’Andre Swift RB $6000 ($4,000)

Hard to trust a guy that saw only three opportunities to touch the ball last week, but with Kenneth Gainwell out, there’s a chance we see the D’Andre Swift that we all invested in behind this offense line. I believe he gets the first crack, and if Swift can get something going, he could be in line for a huge day that results in an incredible return on his price. I do believe there’s chance he is highly owned today, but his price allows you to get a lot of other guys in your lineup.

Justin Jefferson WR $18,600 ($12,400)

The highest price player on the slate, coming off a 9 catch 150 yard performance, in a game where the offense as a whole struggles, does not scare you away from playing JJ. It would take a legendary day to return on that price, but JJ could be in line for a huge day with multiple TDs.

Eagles D/ST $6,600 ($4,400)

Three words, Prime Time Cousins. Last year against this defense, albeit a different rendition, Cousins threw 3 INTs, was sacked twice and fumbled once. The Eagles don’t offer a lot in terms of Special Teams, but the pressure they can generate could lead to a sacks and turnovers. The last two Primetime games featured defenses that won their respective games, we could be in line for a third.

Lineup Suggestions

Captain Hurts Swift
Flex Brown Hurts
Flex Goedert Cousins
Flex Swift Jefferson
Flex Hockenson Hockenson
Flex Eagles D/ST Elliot

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The Good

Usually in this section, I focus on a handful of players that I like to highlight. For the Eagles, I want to focus on their front office, particularly Howie Roseman. Roseman is now one of the best GMs in the NFL and has masterfully built this Eagles roster. One of the things I like about Roseman is he is not afraid to take chances. For instance last year’s trade for wide receiver A.J. Brown. Roseman knew Hurts needed another receiver alongside DeVonta Smith and he pulled the trigger. It paid off in a big way as Brown finished the season with 1,496 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. These types of moves are why the Eagles are the top dogs in the NFC.

On the field, it’s hard not to be in awe of how quickly Jalen Hurts has developed. The big-bodied Hurts has always had a knack for running the ball but he has greatly improved as a passer. There was a point last season where Hurts was the front-runner to win the MVP before he got hurt. This season I expect more of the same from Hurts and this Eagles offense.

The Bad

In my mind, this Eagles squad doesn’t have a glaring weakness but there are some areas of concern. One of those areas is the running back position. Miles Sanders had his best season in Philadelphia in 2022 but the Eagles decided to let him walk. To fill his place they traded for D’Andre Swift and brought in Rashaad Penny. Both of those backs have shown glimpses but have battled injury issues over the past couple of seasons. I wouldn’t be surprised if Kenneth Gainwell takes over the lead-back position at some point.

The Prediction

The Eagles will once again be a threat in the NFC although there will be some bumps in the road. I have them losing 3 more games than last season but still winning the division. I believe losing both of their offensive and defensive coordinators will have an impact in 2023.

2023 Record: (11-6 1st in the Division)

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The Good

Although raw, Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson showed in college he can be an unstoppable force. The 6’4″ Richardson is built like Cam Newton but is more explosive. There were questions on how long it would take Richardson to adjust to the NFL after just 13 starts for the Gators. The Colts have seen enough to believe he is ready now and named him the starter going forward. I like the aggressive move as Richardson needs all the reps and new head coach Shane Steichen will devise a gameplan for him to succeed.

Speaking of Steichen, I was a big fan of this hire for Indianapolis. Steichen elevated Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts to one of the most dangerous weapons in the league. He used the RPO offense to perfection to keep opposing defenses off balance. This formula propelled the Eagles all the way to the Super Bowl before they eventually lost to the Chiefs. Expect Steichen to once again work his magic on Richardson and make him a successful dual-threat quarterback.

The Bad

All summer long the running back position has dominated the headlines. There is a disconnect between how much running backs think they’re worth versus how valuable the league sees them. Regardless of your stance, one can’t argue the value of Jonathan Taylor. In 2021, Taylor was the league leader in scrimmage yards (2171) and total touchdowns (20). While injuries cut his 2022 season to just 11 games he was still able to rack up over 1,000 all purpose yards.

Despite all that the Colts are unwilling to pay him and he has since requested a trade. This is not what the Colts need as they are trying to change the culture and start a new era. If they do trade Taylor it will only hurt the development of Richardson going forward.

The Prediction

There will be ups and downs this season for the Colts as they look to develop their young quarterback. Richardson will no doubt make highlight reel plays but also plenty of mistakes. It’s important for the Colts staff to be patient as he develops and they will reap the rewards in the future.

2023 Record: 7-10 (3rd in the Division)

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Week 1 – Buffalo Bills vs New York Jets

This game will have all eyes watching as the Bills visit the Rodgers led Jets. There has been a lot of hype this off-season about Rodgers coming to New York and his plethora of receivers. Look, it all looks good on paper but I need to see it to believe it. This is a good barometer of how the Jets will be this year against a very talented Bills team. I’m buying in all the Jets defense led by Sauce Gardner and that strong defensive line. In this game, I think the Bills know what to expect from the Jets and will be ready to play this one. I see both QB’s in this game and Allen will make some big time throws in crunch time. Sorry New York you take your first loss of the season in Week 1.

Prediction: Bills 28 Jets 23

Week 2 – Baltimore Ravens vs Cincinnati Bengals

He’s backkk!!! Yes a healthy Lamar Jackson with a lot to prove . The Bengals have been great the past few years, but I think they run into a roadblock in this game. I expect the Ravens to win 11 if not 12 games this year, as they have a lot to prove. They have good receivers now, and of course J.K. Dobbins. This is a put up or shut up year for John Harbaugh, who will need his team to make the playoffs and then some. I expect the Ravens to slow this game down and try and pound the ball down the Bengals defense. If they get into a track meet they will lose. The Ravens will do enough in this game to make a statement to the rest of the AFC North, that there the team to beat.

Prediction: Ravens 27 Bengals 21

Week 11 – Philadelphia Eagles vs Kansas City Chiefs

Everybody will be watching this game of course. Last year’s Super Bowl matchup which turned out to be a great game. Playing in Arrowhead is extremely hard and like I said above this won’t be the same Eagles team as last year. Expect this to be a victory for the Chiefs. Eagles will want to run the ball, as the Chiefs will want to sling the ball out quickly and let their speedsters make plays in space. Will be curious to see how the Chiefs offense will be ran this year without Eric Bieniemy.

Prediction: Chiefs 31 Eagles 24

Week 12 – Buffalo Bills vs Philadelphia Eagles

Could this be a Super Bowl matchup? Will the Eagles have a let down this year after losing some key players and coaching? The Eagles had a great season last year but I don’t expect them to be as good as last year. In fact, they may not win the division. The Bills will be hungry this year and they should be running on all cylinders come Week 12. This game is in Philly which is always a tough place to play. I like the Bills in a close game as their defensive line will cause Jalen Hurts some problems.

Prediction: Bills 31 Eagles 28

Week 13 – San Francisco 49ers vs Philadelphia Eagles

Are these the two best teams in the NFC? Can they take down the Chiefs, Bengals, Bills or Ravens? What we do know is that both of these teams have a formidable defense and will run the ball down your throat. They win ugly but it is very effective. How will Brock Purdy do in Year 2? In this game the 49ers will commit some turnovers in that hostile Philadelphia crowd, and the Eagles will take advantage. Expect the Eagles to come out on top in a game which could determine who is the #1 seed and maybe who slides down to the 5th or 6th seed?

Prediction: Eagles 24 49ers 17

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Dallas Cowboys: Can The Cowboys Overtake The Eagles?

Dallas was a little quiet in the offseason, after how their season ended. They’re coming in as not the favorite from the NFC East and are looking up at the Eagles. They added pieces in Brandin Cooks and Stephon Gilmore. However, they cut Ezekiel Elliot and let Dalton Schultz walk away in free agency. The Cowboys have a lot of talent, however on paper, the Eagles look much better than the Cowboys. One stat that the Cowboys can hold on to is that it’s been forever since an NFC East team repeated as the division winner.

New York Giants: How Will Daniel Jones Perform With The New Extension?

Daniel Jones got the bag with a $160M extension, $92M guaranteed. People were outraged with the size of this contract but HC Brian Daboll has helped in the leap of Jones. This was most seen in the Wild Card Round against the Vikings where Jones threw for 300+ yards, two passing TDs, and ran for 70+ yards. He comes into the offseason with new weapons such as Darren Waller, Jalin Hyatt, and a full year of Isaiah Hodgins. With Brian Daboll in the helm, another leap is possible for Jones as they hope to make this consistent.

Philadelphia Eagles: Can They Go Back To The Superbowl?

The Philadelphia Eagles were one holding call away from the Superbowl. It hurts to watch it but on to the new season. The Eagles secured Jalen Hurts with a long-term extension that made him the highest-paid player at that point. They beefed up the run game with D’Andre Swift and Rashaad Penny. They drafted a lot of Georgia players to shore up their defense. Jalen Carter was stolen with the ninth pick of the draft and Nolan Smith was available at 30. They’re adding youth to this experienced team for the future. They will have a tougher road in the regular season as they will face Mahomes, Allen, the 49ers, and many tougher opponents from last season. This team has the talent but it will be a tougher road in my opinion.

Washington Commanders: Will The Change In Ownership Bring New Life To The Team?

The toxic ownership of the Washington Commanders is finally over. Dan Snyder, who has been in the front of a lot of controversy, sold the team to ownership led by Josh Harris. New ownership usually comes with new changes from the front office to the field. In the first year, it will be interesting to see what the front office will look like. Changes are easier there compared to the product on the field. I hope it brings new life to the Commanders fans as they deserve better after all the scandals. For a rebuild, that will have to be discussed another time.

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PRESEASON EXPECTATIONS

Justin Herbert was dominant in his second season in fantasy football. In both STD and PPR, he finished 2nd overall with 394.76 FP. A lot of expectations were on his shoulders as the AFC West got stronger with big-time additions such as Russell Wilson, Davante Adams, and many more. A big season was in the cards for the Chargers as their offense would have to be better in order to compete with everyone in the division.

DRAFT EXPECTATIONS

To no one’s surprise, Justin Herbert was easily a 1st round pick in fantasy football. He would be the 5th QB taken behind big names such as Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, and Jalen Hurts. Owners were excited to see another year of Justin Herbert.

OVERALL SEASON PRODUCTION

The Chargers QB had surprisingly his worst season this year. On the eye test alone, many fans were wondering about the playcalling by the Chargers’ OC. Herbert threw a lot more check-downs and short routes compared to previous years. The stats also showed Herbert’s bad year. He threw just 25 TDs this season compared to 38 last season. His rushing was also bad as he only averaged 2.72 yards per run in 54 attempts. Kellen Moore was hired as the Chargers’ new offensive coordinator so hopefully, we get to see an improved Herbert next season.

CRITICAL MOMENTS DURING THE SEASON

Week 2 vs Kansas City Chiefs

Week 2’s TNF showcased a divisional matchup between the Chargers and the Chiefs. Justin Herbert looked good in the matchup going for 334 yards and three TDs. The Chargers were up 17-7 with 10 minutes left in the 3rd quarter before Kansas City made their run. Jaylen Watson caught a pick-6 for a 99-yard TD for the Chiefs in the 4th quarter. This was an exciting game to start the NFL season.

Week 6 vs Denver Broncos

The Chargers were on MNF when they took on the Broncos in Week 6. This game was dominated by the defenses as they made both teams’ offenses look mediocre. Herbert threw 37-57 for just 238 yards and no TDs. This was a disappointment for both teams on such a big game. LA Chargers won 19-16

Week 12 vs Arizona Cardinals

After having mostly subpar performances, Justin Herbert had his best game of the season against the Cardinals. Justin threw for 274 yards and three TDs with no interceptions. He also ran for 38 yards in four attempts, his best of the season. Herbert threw a one-yard TD pass to Austin Ekeler to make it a 24-23 game. He then threw the game-winning 2-point conversion to Gerald Everett with time running out. This was a good way to break their two-game losing streak. Herbert scored 28.76 FP and was QB3 for the week.

Week 16 vs Indianapolis Colts

The “worst” scoring game for Justin Herbert belonged to the Week 16 matchup vs the Colts. The Chargers’ defense did their thing as they only allowed three points all game to Nick Foles. Herbert threw for just 235 yards and had an INT. With the wild card being super close with many teams still in it, this was a crucial win for the Chargers. He only scored 5.50 FP. Sorry to his fantasy owners.

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