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

One of the biggest reasons Frank Reich failed in Indianapolis was due to the quarterback position. Reich had to deal with Andrew Luck‘s early retirement along with mediocre quarterback play from players past their prime. It all came crashing down last year when the Matt Ryan experiment failed miserably and Reich was let go. It’s important to look past that as Reich has shown he can run a successful NFL offense. Expect Reich to get back to his roots in Carolina and that includes the triangle read passing game along with the zone run game.

The Panthers have a lot of new faces on the roster, especially on the offensive side of the ball. One of those pieces is former Philadelphia Eagles running back Miles Sanders. Sanders signed a 4-year, $25 million dollar contract with the Panthers this offseason. He is now in a perfect system and I expect him to excel as the Panthers #1 back. Sanders is coming off a Pro Bowl season in Philadelphia in which he amassed 1,347 total yards from scrimmage. Expect Sanders to be a workhorse early on as Young gets accustomed to the speed of the NFL.

The Bad

In order for the Panthers to pull off a trade for the #1 pick they needed to part ways with D.J. Moore. Moore has been a franchise player for Carolina since he was drafted in 2018. Now the Panthers have a giant hole on offense that is likely to hurt them this year.

They did attempt to address this by bringing in Adam Thielen this offseason on a 3-year deal. Thielen has shown he can be an excellent wide receiver but I don’t like him in the #1 role. He is better suited for a number 2 role similar to his position in Minnesota. The wide receiver group for the Panthers will be their weak spot going into next season. The hope is that they can get immediate results from rookie Jonathan Mingo but I expect him to take his rookie lumps.

The Prediction

In any other division, the Panthers would likely be an under .500 team. Thanks to the weak NFC South they will finish their first season under Frank Reich with a winning record. Bryce Young will take some time to learn the pro game but things should start clicking from him mid-season. The future is bright for the Panthers and expect them to be competitive for years to come.

2023 Record: 9-8 (2nd in the division)

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Atlanta Falcons: RB Tyler Allgeier [ADP: 100.1]

Tyler Allgeier had a low-key amazing rookie season when he ran for 1035 yards and three TDs. In the last four games of the season, he ran for 431 yards and two TDs. You’d suspect that he’d be called the starter for the upcoming season, but Bijan Robinson says hello. The reps will go down as he’ll have to split with Bijan. The talent, however, is there and he’ll still get his reps. In his position, he’s worth a look at your flex position or stock up on depth as RBs run out very fast.

Carolina Panthers: RB Miles Sanders [ADP: 83.3]

Miles Sanders is in a new home when he got a four-year contract to play for the Carolina Panthers. The former Eagles RB had a career year when he ran for 1269 yards and 11 TDs. He’ll be the focal point in the Panthers’ offense as Bryce Young will slowly be eased in as QB. He doesn’t have to worry about reps also as he’ll receive the majority of the reps in the backfield. Miles Sanders at 83.3 is a steal.

New Orleans Saints: WR Michael Thomas [ADP: 125.6]

Is it time to trust Michael Thomas again? He was remarkable in the first three games of the season when he got at least five receptions and three TDs. The difficult part is that he never played after Week 3 due to injury. At 125.6, he’s worth a gamble with all his upside and he’ll have Derek Carr as his QB. Be wary of his injury history as you should have backup WRs in mind.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: QB Baker Mayfield [ADP 161.4]

Now, things may change as Kyle Trask might be the QB when the season starts. For now, we will rely on Baker’s experience as the current starter for Tampa Bay. People will be making fun of Baker’s missed throws in practice, but he’ll be enjoying once he gets more time with so many weapons such as Mike Evans and Chris Goodwin. He might be a sneaky backup option if you’re looking for a QB in the late part of the draft. Baker will also be motivated as this might be his last chance to be a starter.

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Will Levis with the First Pick?

Thanks to an anonymous Reddit post, Will Levis to the Carolina Panthers is gaining steam. The post is claiming that Levis is telling friends and family that Carolina is taking him with the first overall pick. Take the post with a grain of salt but it’s important to note that his betting odds have changed dramatically over the past 24 hours. I am not yet buying it as it seems like the Panthers are set on selecting Bryce Young. If Levis doesn’t go number 1, I expect him to go to he Colts.

Jalen Carter to the Seahawks is a Perfect Match

By now we all know the drama surrounding Jalen Carter and his off the field incidents. This will cause him to fall slightly but he is still the best prospect in this year’s draft. Seattle is the perfect fit for Carter and I projected him there in my latest mock draft. Pete Carroll is just what Carter needs as he will motivate and challenge him in the right ways.

Bijan Robinson in the Top 10?

Say what you want about taking a running back in the first round but Bijan Robinson is a different animal. He is the best overall offensive talent in this year’s draft. His ability to catch the ball out of the backfield along with his explosiveness sets him apart from the other running backs. Robinson to the Eagles at 10 makes too much sense. The Eagles said goodbye to Miles Sanders this offseason and picked up Rashaad Penny. Penny will be their bruiser but Robinson will be the playmaking RB they are looking for.

Titans Trade for a Quarterback

Tennessee looks like they want to move on from Ryan Tannehill and they have the ammo to make a big draft day trade. We have talked about it before as rumors have Derrick Henry on the trade block. Henry as part of a draft day package should be enough to get the Titans into the top 10 and allow them to select a QB.

Commanders Trade Back Again

In last year’s draft the Washington Commanders traded back in the first round and it was on of the best moves of the draft. They ended up using the draft capital to pick up Jahan Dotson, Brian Robinson Jr. and Sam Howell. These three are the young core the Commanders are now building on as they look to the future. I expect them to trade back again and focus on a CB or an OL. Both are big needs for the Commanders going into next year.

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BACKGROUND

Bijan Robinson is an RB prospect out of Arizona. He had one of the most storied careers in Arizona high school football. He ended his high school career with 7036 rushing yards and 114 TDs. After his senior season, he was awarded the Arizona Gatorade Football Player of the Year. According to Rivals, he was a five-star RB prospect and the top RB of his class. He committed to play for the Texas Longhorns.

COLLEGE CAREER

As a freshman, Bijan was able to get reps early on in his career. In 86 carries, he was able to rush for 703 yards and four TDs. His best performance came in the Alamo Bowl where he won MVP for his performance. In his sophomore season, they let him loose even more when he ran for 1127 yards and 11 TDs. This was his best pass-catching year as he caught 26 passes for 295 yards and four TDs. He was named First-Team All-Big 12.

2022-2023 COLLEGE CAREER

The Texas RB ended his career with an even more impressive season. He ran for 1580 yards and 18 TDs as a junior. His best game against a ranked opponent came against 13 Kansas State when he ran for 209 yards in 30 attempts and a TD in a 34-27 win. Against unranked opponents, he saved his best against Kansas where he ran for 243 yards and four TDs. He was awarded the Doak Walker Award, for the best running back in the country. He also was awarded an unanimous All-American.

STRENGTHS: Well-Rounded

Bijan Robinson can do many things well. This is what he banked on throughout his college career and what he will use in the NFL. His mix of size and strength makes him a powerful runner and can make short gains into long runs. He has a lot of moves that will make him a difficult runner to tackle for defenses. His pass-catching is decent since his hands are good. He can be a three-down back in the NFL.

WEAKNESSES: Lack Of Elite Speed

With everything that supports him as the top RB, it’s very difficult to find a weakness in his game. One aspect that isn’t his strong suit is his lack of elite speed. He can also be impatient at times as he doesn’t let the blocks happen before he makes a move. If he can learn to be more in control, he has a chance to be an elite RB in the NFL.

PLAYER COMPARISON: Saquon Barkley

TEAMS WHO COULD DRAFT HIM

Modern analytics suggest it’s not worth it to draft an RB in the first round. Bijan Robinson, however, is an exception to that. His talent and skill make him an intriguing prospect. Looking over different mock drafts, experts are split on where he’ll land but many have him as a pick in the 20s. Some have mentioned Baltimore as a potential spot but my favorite pick was Philadelphia at 30th, especially with Miles Sanders‘ impending free agency.

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How the Chiefs can Win

Arrowhead is an awfully tough place to play.  It is loud and KC is at its best at home.  The Chiefs need to continue to feed Travis Kelce the ball, but I think the key in this game will be the running game of the Chiefs, especially when Mahomes is not 100%.  Andy Reid will need to be creative in his game plan knowing that Mahomes won’t be his true self. On defense, get to Joe Burrow and force him into mistakes. The Chiefs have a formidable pass rush led by Chris Jones who will need to have a standout game. This may be a game where the last person with the ball wins. Get ready for a classic!

How the Eagles can Win

The Eagles are also tough to beat at home and Philadelphia will be rocking!  Philly has more talent than the 49ers on both sides of the ball.  The key to this game will also be the running game with Miles Sanders along with Jalen Hurt’s ability to run the read option.  Philly wins if they do this along with making Brock Purdy’s life a living hell.  They need to rattle him early and often and hopefully getting a pick where he starts thinking. 

How the Bengals can win

The Bengals have had the Chiefs number in the last few games.  With Mahomes not at 100% they have a very real chance to win this game.  The Bengals defense needs to rattle Mahomes and force him to escape the pocket where he will not be as effective. Also they need to watch tape on how to stop Kelce. This is usually done by being physical at the line and disrupting his route. Joe Burrow and his ability to use all of his weapons will be key.  He will need to sprinkle in some Joe Mixon and Hayden Hurst, but it’s his play that will carry the Bengals to a win.

How the 49ers can win

The 49ers are extremely well coached.  They have a top notch defense that is playing at a really high level.  They have a third string quarterback that outplayed a 20 million dollar quarterback in Dallas.  For them to win it’s the defense that will make that happen.  I don’t think they will put up more than 24 in this game which means the D will need to keep Philly under 24.  That will be a tall task but an attainable one.  On offense, they need to keep Philly’s d off balance and keep them guessing.  Of course Christian McCaffrey will need a great game.

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QB Fraud Of The Week: Justin Herbert 10.72 FP

313 Passing Yards, 2 Interceptions, 1 Carry, 2 Rushing Yards (Projected: 21.56 FP)

The Chargers survived a tough game against the Tennessee Titans. Justin Herbert had a subpar performance with two interceptions and no TDs. He did lead the Chargers on a game-winning drive that resulted in a field goal with time winding down. Herbert can be usually trusted on in a weekly basis. He is bound to have a bounce-back game against the Colts in Week 16.

RB Fraud Of The Week: Miles Sanders 0.90 FP

11 Carries, 42 Rushing Yards, 1 Reception, -13 Receiving Yards, 1 Fumble, 1 Fumble Lost (Projected: 14.91 FP)

Well what a game for Miles Sanders. The Eagles RB rushed for 42 yards in 11 carries, However, he caught a pass for -13 yards and also fumbled the ball and lost it in the win over the Bears. The game was closer than expected so luckily Philly got the win. Sanders will be relied on heavily in the upcoming weeks with the injury to Jalen Hurts.

WR Fraud Of The Week: Davante Adams 6.80 FP

4 Receptions, 28 Receiving Yards (Projected: 21.83 FP)

Davante Adams was the focus of the New England defense on Sunday. The Raiders WR1 was limited to four catches on 28 yards. This is just a one week thing as Davante can be relied upon for any week. Look for a bounce back game for Adams next week against the Steelers.

TE Fraud Of The Week: Mark Andrews 6.10 FP

3 Receptions, 31 Receiving Yards (Projected: 12.62 FP)

Mark Andrews is back on this list again after a subpar performance against the Browns. The Baltimore TE just caught three passes for 31 yards. Tyler Huntley has struggled being the QB and it has shown on the field with receivers not as performing as well. It’s getting difficult to trust Andrews these days during the playoffs.

DEF/ST Fraud Of The Week: Carolina Panthers 1 FP

1 Sack (Projected: 9.31 FP)

The Carolina Panthers defense struggled containing the Pittsburgh Steelers in their Week 15 loss. The defense allowed a total of 156 rushing yards and three TDs on the ground. Mitchell Trubisky played it safe for the Steelers and had few mistakes. Carolina only had a sack from Frankie Luvu. The Panthers hope to bounce back as they are just one game back from the division lead and a playoff spot.

Thanks for reading! You can look forward to this series until the end of the season. You can check out the last installment of FRAUDS Of Week 14.

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By: Jake Rajala

The Philadelphia Eagles have always stridden to have an impressive running back room. They’ve featured Brian Westbrook, LeSean McCoy, Duce Staley, and the list goes on. In 2021, they still display a quality RB room — led by none other than Miles Sanders. Sanders is coming off a stout season — where he ousted 754 yds in 12 games. PFF also gave him a modest 71.6 grade. He is entering a contract season, so it’s vital that he stays healthy and unleashes his best season behind an unearthly Philadelphia Eagles OL (which was ranked as the best OL by PFF).

After Sanders, the Eagles will anticipate magic from the 2021 fifth-round pick Kenneth Gainwell. He clocked five rushing touchdowns in his rookie season. Glenn Erby of The Eagles Wire believes that Gainwell is the Eagles under-the-radar profile that could be a star in 2022. It’s quite true that Philly could opt to not retain Sanders and roll with Gainwell in 2023.

After the top two Eagles ball carriers, the Eagles will anticipate production from the former Saints RB Boston Scott. He impressively garnered seven rushing touchdowns last season. PFF slabbed a 71.7 grade for Scott’s 2021 outing. He also provides value as a return specialist – as he unveiled 1,176 KR yards in 2021. He returned to the Eagles on a one-year deal worth $1.75 million dollars.

The Eagles RB Jason Huntley should feel confident in sticking with Philly as the fourth RB. The 2020 fifth-round draft pick capped off 51 rushing yds last season. He carries a base salary of $825,000 in the 2022 season.

Of course, the Eagles will anticipate more success from Jalen Hurts (784 rushing yds in 2021) in the ground game. He was first amid QBs in rushing yards last season. The combination of rushing ability between their QB and RB group (despite Sanders’s injury) was a big reason the Eagles ranked first in rushing yards last season. I fully expect the Eagles to be a Top-3 rushing attack in 2022 — assuming Hurts can stay healthy.

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