As we head into Week 2 of the preseason, FantasyPros analysts Derek Brown, Andrew Erickson, Pat Fitzmaurice and Mike Maher continue a series of preseason roundtables by discussing how Ezekiel Elliott and Dalvin Cook will affect the fantasy value of their new backfield mates, how to handle the Eagles’ running backs in fantasy drafts, and whether to confidently draft pass catchers playing with unproven quarterbacks. And check out last week’s fantasy football roundtable for even more expert advice.
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In Philadelphia’s preseason opener, Kenneth Gainwell and Boston Scott were held out of the game — often an act of deference to veteran players with job security to protect them from injury — while D’Andre Swift and Rashaad Penny both played. What’s your read on the Eagles’ backfield in terms of fantasy value?
Derek Brown: We’re overanalyzing this to an extent. It’s one game, people. Breathe. As noted by Eagles beat writer Zach Berman of The Athletic, head coach Nick Sirianni stated to the media that the coaches wanted to see Rashaad Penny play because he hadn’t seen live tackling reps in a game for a while. Sirianni stated that he’d be rotating the rest of the guys, and it was simply Swift’s turn. We are looking for every micro edge for drafts, but we need to take this with a grain of salt and realize it was one game and probably not actionable.
Pat Fitzmaurice: It’s a Goldilocks and the Three Bears setup in the Philadelphia backfield, except with ADP replacing porridge. D’Andre Swift’s ADP is too hot. Kenneth Gainwell’s ADP is too cold. Rashaad Penny’s ADP is just right. I don’t see how Swift returns a profit at his overinflated RB25 price (half-point PPR) when he’s not even going to be the passing-down back for the team that had the fewest RB targets in the league last season. Gainwell, who’s reportedly been working as the Eagles’ passing-down back throughout the season, has limited upside in a three-man committee but is still a nice value at an ADP of RB56. (But I agree with DBro that we’re making too much of Gainwell being held out of the preseason opener.) Penny has a worrisome injury history but is the best pure runner in this backfield and seems fairly valued at an ADP of RB35.
Mike Maher: I don’t read much into Gainwell and Scott sitting out the team’s first preseason game because the Eagles are playing another game on Thursday, and HC Nick Sirianni said Swift and Penny will likely get that game off as he rotates backs. For fantasy purposes, I’m not worried about Boston Scott at all, so we can just end that portion of the conversation here. From there, it’s anyone’s guess. My guess is that the team wants to feature Swift, at least as the lead of their crowded committee, but that they also want to keep their options open. They love Gainwell, and they brought in Penny before trading for Swift. But I think the Eagles recognize the injury histories of Swift and Penny and the ceiling of Gainwell. In their perfect world, they have trouble keeping Swift off the field but have a solid rotation to keep him fresh. The Eagles didn’t throw to their RBs much last season, but that’s also because one of those RBs was Miles Sanders, who can’t catch, is a poor route runner and struggles in pass protection. That’s why, despite his explosiveness, Sanders started losing playing time to Gainwell late in the season and into the playoffs. They’re never going to lead the league in RB targets because they’re obsessed with explosive plays, but new Eagles OC Brian Johnson has been emphasizing this part of the offense in training camp (especially when it comes to targeting Swift). What does this all mean for fantasy value? It means it’s a giant mess. Swift has the highest ceiling but also the most expensive ADP. Gainwell is the opposite. Penny is in the middle, but there are rumblings he might not even make the team. (I don’t buy that, but beat reporters are at least whispering it.)
Andrew Erickson: I think Gainwell remains the best fantasy value at the cheapest price point. Because right now, I still think the Eagles are trying to sort through what their backfield will project as in 2023. Among the top five running backs in EPA per carry last season, Penny (1st), Gainwell (2nd) and Swift (5th) are all on the Eagles’ roster. GM Howie Roseman is a wizard. Unless Gainwell struggles as the main incumbent — or the newer backs prove they are so much better — I think the Eagles just go with the guy they trusted to play over Sanders during last season’s playoff run.
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