I've talked recently about the upcoming NFL trade deadline, and how (I believe) an unusually high number of running backs will change uniforms. Last night's result gives Philly even more reasons to find a new home for Saquon Barkley, which obviously would have massive fantasy implications for him, Dameon Pierce, Elijah Mitchell (if Pierce's late injury is serious), and whatever backfield Barkley might join if it plays out this way. This is the topic of today's podcast (linked at the bottom).
Even if he isn't traded, if you're rostering any Eagles, their fifth consecutive defeat puts them on the edge of a "lost season." Teams enduring lost seasons sometimes generate fantasy chaos. For example, if the Eagles were 2-10 yesterday, Barkley might not have been out there. That's what managers need to prepare for if you're rostering guys like DeVonta Smith or Dallas Goedert -- especially 31-year-old Goedert, who's battled injuries these last seven seasons (including this year).
The Eagles easily could have been 0-7. Washington missed a two-point conversion with a minute left in Week 1, giving Philadelphia a two-point victory. The following week, they beat the lowly Titans on a go-ahead touchdown with nine seconds left.
If you hold onto Eagles players for the long term, then even if they keep trotting out their stars each week, they'll face two of the best defenses in the fantasy playoffs (Seahawks and 49ers), as well as a Texans D that co-leads the league in sacks and is one of the tougher units against the run.
For the Cowboys, it was a fantasy-friendly evening against a seemingly deflated franchise. George Pickens got enough, Dak Prescott got plenty, and Javonte Williams got plenty plus. And actually, 59% of Williams' fantasy production occurred in the fourth quarter, when he carried the ball on eight of Dallas's final nine plays.
CeeDee Lamb led the way, though he caught only five of 12 targets. It's interesting that he reeled in 80% of his targets in his first four games, and he's caught only 46% of his looks since then. Meanwhile, Ryan Flournoy delivered his third consecutive double-digit performance. Facing the Cardinals next week, Flournoy will remain a popular streamer in what could be Week 8's highest-scoring contest.
And what the heck's happening at tight end? Unofficially, Jake Ferguson out-snapped Brevyn Spann-Ford 38-36. Last week, Ferguson had six more snaps than Spann-Ford, and 30 more the week before. Spann-Ford is a nearly 27-year-old former UDFA with 27 career catches. Ferguson averaged 11.1 points last year, 10.7 last month, and 3.1 this month.
Ferguson earned a contract extension that included $30 million guaranteed during the 2025 offseason, making him the seventh-highest paid tight end. He's not the first expensive TE to get phased out, and maybe it's temporary. But Spann-Ford has done more these past two games, and it's hard to view this as just a temporary hiccup.
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