Team Talk: Philadelphia Eagles

By Adam Filadelfo (@Frostt24)

Moving back over to the NFC East, it's time to take a look at the defending division champions, the Philadelphia Eagles. Under head coach Chip Kelly, these birds flew high in 2013 and provided fantasy owners with some talent and are expected to have more fantasy relevance heading into 2014.

Nick Foles- Foles was not on many fantasy radars to start the 2013 season but he sure made fantasy rosters a few weeks into the season. Playing in 13 games, Foles threw for almost 3,000 yards and had a whopping 30-2 touchdown to interceptions ratio. He averaged 22.5 fantasy points per game and will most definitely be on all fantasy radars in 2014. Foles has all the weapons around him to put up big numbers again this year.

Riley Cooper- Cooper had a breakout season that not too many fantasy owners saw coming. He finished the season with 47 catches for over 830 yards and his big boost to fantasy owners was his eight touchdowns. The production Riley Cooper put up in 2013 was not expected and will be difficult for him to produce again.

Jeremy Maclin- Maclin missed all of 2013 due to an ACL injury he suffered during the preseason and was obviously a non factor in 2013. That doesn't mean he should be written off in 2014. He is expected to take over the old role held by DeSean Jackson and in 2012, posted fantasy numbers of 69 receptions for 857 yards and seven touchdowns. He also averaged 8.5 fantasy points per game. The only problem with Maclin is he's often injured and therefore cannot be trusted week to week. In Chip Kelly's offense though, Maclin could be a top fantasy receiver and is well worth the risk.

Jordan Matthews- The second round selection from Vanderbilt finished his college career with 262 receptions for almost 3,800 yards and 24 touchdowns. In a high flying offense like the Eagles, Matthews could very well be a sleeper pick late in fantasy drafts and should be owned in keeper/dynasty formats.

Josh Huff- Another rookie receiver drafted in 2014, Josh Huff was taken in the third round and played his college ball at Oregon. Coached by Chip Kelly before Kelly bolted to the NFL, Josh Huff could and should thrive under his old/new coach. In his four years as a Duck, Huff finished with 144 receptions for over 2,300 yards and 24 touchdowns. Fantasy owners have to think that kind of production in an offense like the Eagles should produce some interesting fantasy numbers at some point.

LeSean McCoy- The reigning NFL rushing champion had himself quite the season under Chip Kelly. The talent and the numbers have been there for McCoy but his numbers exploded last season. McCoy not only rushed for over 1,600 yards, but also added another 540 on 52 receptions and averaged 17.5 fantasy points per game making himself a top three pick in fantasy drafts heading into 2014.

Darren Sproles- Coming over from New Orleans, Sproles was much more effective in the passing game than he was running the football and now with the Eagles, his fantasy numbers could increase. Sproles will probably be used more as a receiver seeing how the Eagles won't be taking many touches away from Shady McCoy and Sproles did average seven fantasy points per game with the Saints in 2013. In PPR formats, Sproles should once again give fantasy owners early round value despite having down numbers last year.

Zach Ertz- The second year tight end may be ready for a breakout season. He ended 2013 with 36 catches for 469 yards and four touchdowns. He averaged almost five fantasy points per contest and in the Eagles offense, just may be ready to take that next step.

Brent Celek- The veteran tight end finished his 2013 season with 32 receptions for just over 500 yards and six touchdowns. With Zach Ertz in the mix, the Eagles could employ a two tight end set. Whichever way Chip Kelly ends up going, Celek could end up coming close to his fantasy numbers of 2013 where he averaged over five fantasy points per game. He could end up being a decent fantasy option late in drafts.