Fantasy Football Predictions For Eagles Skill Players

The Eagles didn’t show any yet in the game, but don’t underestimate the ability of Andy Reid and Marty Mornhinweg to design a potent offense.  They were productive from a yards standpoint a year ago, but turned the ball over too much.  I see a big year for the Eagles offense because they’ve got all their weapons back from a year ago and they’ve added to it.

You’re probably going to see much more two-tight end offense with both Brent Celek and Clay Harbor on the field at the same time.  They’ll use quick speedster Damaris Johnson in the same way they tried to employ Chad Hall.  Johnson will have to covered man-to-man and that will be a difficult task for the third or fourth best cornerback on a team.

Here’s what I see Fantasy League production-wise for the Eagles skill players.

Michael Vick – You’re taking a chance with Vick because of his injury history, but he could have a career year with the talent and coaching around him.  Again, I think the addition of weapons in second tight end Clay Harbor and backup wide receiver Damaris Johnson will make the Eagles more dangerous because they add speed. You’ll see special packages for them each game. The problem at left tackle could derail everything.

Don’t underestimate the ability of Andy Reid and Marty Mornhinweg to put a quarterback in position to succeed.  Notice that every quarterback that plays here for Reid also plays his best football here.  Vick will get the chance to make plays in the red zone with his arm and with his legs.  If he can stay healthy I believe a near 100 QB rating, with a total of 40 TD’s are possible throwing and rushing.

LeSean McCoy – I think McCoy will have another big year for the Birds, but it probably won’t be quite as big as the record-setting year he had a year ago.  He’s going to catch more passes and gain more yardage as a pass receiver, but his carries and rushing yardage will be reduced.  The Eagles have to come up with another bread and butter running play to go to on the goalline with Jason Peters injured and out of action.  They’ll probably run behind Todd Herremans and Brent Celek.  McCoy’s rushing total will be closer to 1100 yards and his TD total will be around 15 with 11 rushing and 4 as a pass receiver.

Brent Celek will be a good Fantasy Football sleeper pick.  The fact that teams will be worried about McCoy on the goalline will allow Celek to sneak out on the play action passes and get open in the end zone. I see him taking some of the touchdowns which McCoy scored on the ground a year ago.  I like the routes I see Celek running on the goalline and the way Vick is looking for him. I see Celek equaling his biggest year with over 900 yards receiving and 8 TD’s.

DeSean Jackson is being used on the red zone much more now than I’ve seen Andy Reid do in the past.  Jackson will get plenty of chances to catch the deep ball and a slow start for Jeremy Maclin could mean more receptions for him early in the season. He’s going to get his chance to catch touchdowns because the Birds will start throwing for the end zone once they pass the fifty-yard line.  Jackson will be back on top with about 65 catches for nearly 1200 yards receiving and 8 TD’s.

Jeremy Maclin will probably start off the season slowly because he’s missing most of the preseason because of hamstring problems.  I wouldn’t expect a lot from him early in the season.  His absence will mean Vick won’t have the timing with him as much as he would if he were practicing.  Maclin needs to get back on the field ASAP if he wants to have a big year.  I believe he could catch over 70 passes for about 1000 yards with 8 TD’s.

Jason Avant will have his work cut out for him in equaling the same number of catches and yards from a year ago because the presence of Damaris Johnson is sure to reduce his number of snaps.  Clay Harbor’s improved play will mean that there will be more two-tight end looks and less three wide-receiver sets.

The Eagles defense will have a big year sacking the quarterback.  They’re also going to have quite interceptions if Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Nmandi Asomugha are able to lock down receivers in man-to-man coverages.   The safeties will get plenty of opportunities to pick off passes when they get ahead in games and the other team has to throw the football.