Thursday Night Fantasy Football Takeaways: Eagles’ Running Game Explodes Behind D'Andre Swift, While Passing Game Underwhelms

The Philadelphia Eagles moved to 2-0 on the season after a 34-28 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night in Philadelphia. The Eagles racked up 430 total yards on offense, and there were a few players that contributed heavily to that showing.

Let’s take a look at some of those players and the Eagles as a whole and how their fantasy perception might have changed.

D’Andre Swift has Big Day

After playing just 19 offensive snaps and getting just one touch in the season opener, Swift was the biggest star of the night for Philly. With Kenneth Gainwell missing the game due to injury, Swift took full advantage, playing 58 snaps and recording 31 touches.

Swift ran for 175 yards on 28 carries and scored a touchdown. He had a long run of 43 yards. Swift also caught three passes for 6 yards.

For the fantasy owners that started Swift, the running back absolutely made you look like a genius. The big question now becomes whether or not he’ll still be a big part of the team’s offensive plan when Gainwell returns. When both guys were active in the opener, Swift was an afterthought.

It’s crazy to even consider not starting Swift in week 3, but if Gainwell plays, that’s probably how I’d proceed. After Gainwell was solid in week 1 and Swift was brilliant in week 2, it’s feasible to expect both guys to possibly split carries going forward, and then the team rides the hot hand each week. That would be a nightmare scenario for fantasy owners, as one week a back could rush for 100 yards and the next he rushes for only 25. We’ll attempt to figure things out before week 3 begins.

DeVonta Smith Delivers Despite Limited Workload

The Eagles attempted 48 runs in the win over the Vikings, so naturally the team’s passing game wasn’t all that successful. Smith was the only player to go over 30 receiving yards, but he made the most of his five targets and four grabs, tallying 131 yards and a 63-yard touchdown. Smith also had a 54-yard grab early in the contest.

It marks the second-straight week Smith has scored, which is a positive thing given that the team’s passing game just looks a tick off in the early portion of the season. Now with a little extra time to prepare for week 3, we’ll see if the Eagles can get things clicking in the passing game. That way, you won’t need to rely on long receptions or touchdown receptions in order to justify putting Smith in your starting lineup.

Smith played in all 77 of the team’s offensive snaps, something you rarely see from receivers nowadays. He played in all but one snap in week 1. Obviously the more a player is on the field, the better chances he has of being a producer for your fantasy team, so this is a great thing.

Jalen Hurts Struggles Passing, but Scores 3 Times

As I’ve mentioned already, the Eagles’ passing game just seems a touch off at this time. Still, Hurts completed 18 of his 23 attempts for 193 yards and one touchdown. He threw an interception and was sacked four times.

It’s the second straight game Hurts finished with under 200 passing yards, something that happened only four times in all of 2022. Hurts rushed for 35 yards and two touchdowns on 12 attempts to help overshadow the low passing yardage and offset the interception. 

At some point, you’d like to see the passing game start to click, at which time Hurts could be considered one of the top fantasy quarterbacks in the league again. Until that happens, he’ll remain below Patrick Mahomes, and could fall below some others, in our projections. Still, his running ability is a big-time help for fantasy owners, and you should continue starting him every week.

A.J. Brown Struggles, Shows Frustration

Brown was the second-most targeted Eagle in the passing game on Thursday, hauling in four for just 29 yards. He did have a touchdown reception negated by a penalty. Brown was also caught during a break in the action showing frustration on the sideline.

Smith provided some insight on what Brown was frustrated about after the game was over.

Brown’s 29-yard performance puts him at just 108 receiving yards through two games, which is underwhelming considering he went for nearly 1,500 yards in 2022. He’s been targeted 16, which is a solid number, but the 11 total receptions and yardage are definitely a cause for concern. Brown played in 74 of the team’s 77 offensive snaps, so that wasn’t the issue.

You can bet the Eagles will be working hard these next few days to try and try and figure out what’s been holding them back in the passing game across the first two games. I wouldn’t be surprised if they make it a point to get Brown and the passing game going early in week 3, as they always have their ground game to fall back on.

Dallas Goedert has Another Down Showing

After being held without a catch in week 1, Goedert seemed like a likely candidate for a big bounceback performance in week 2. He was targeted seven times and caught six passes, but went for just 22 yards. His long reception was only 9 yards.

The slow start is a frustrating one for Goedert owners, as the tight end was held at 22 yards or less in just one 2022 contest. His six catches definitely helped out for those playing in PPR leagues, but the back-to-back lackluster showings definitely has owners on alert now.

Like in Brown’s case, the production isn’t because Goedert isn’t on the field, as the tight end matched Brown at 74 offensive snaps. Goedert simply hasn’t been able to bust off a big reception in either game. It’s hard to remain patient in fantasy football, but I’d suggest owners keep starting him, especially after seeing seven targets in week 2. Even with his struggles, he's still one of the few tight ends in the league that I trust. Better showings are coming.

Other Things to Ponder

Not many other Eagles’ skill players did a whole lot in the contest. Even with Gainwell out, running backs Boston Scott and Rashaad Penny didn’t get many touches. Scott did produce 40 rushing yards, but only received five carries. Penny was limited to four touches and 14 total yards. Scott played 10 snaps and Penny was on the field for just nine plays. Unless there’s an injury to Gainwell or Swift, I’m not sure either guy is even worth rostering at this point. 

Kicker Jake Elliott turned in another big performance, making all four of his extra points and 2-of-3 field goal attempts. Elliott made kicks of 24 and 61, while just missing on a 55-yarder. With the Eagles’ offense not fully clicking yet, he’s going to get a couple field goal attempts a game and be one of the highest-scoring kickers in the league. If you get extra points for longer field goal attempts, you're loving Elliott at this point.

The Eagles’ defense did allow 374 total yards, but most of that came with the team defending a pretty comfortable lead. The unit had two sacks and forced four turnovers. They haven’t been elite through two games, but the takeaways definitely help out owners with their defense. Philly has some really favorable matchups on the horizon, at least on paper, with games against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders and New York Jets coming in the next month. I'd continue to roster the Eagles' defense and feel pretty safe about what they'll be able to score you each week.