The Philadelphia Eagles are set to host the Green Bay Packers in São Paolo, Brazil on Friday, kicking off their 2024 NFL season with a bang. This promises to be a high-scoring game, with bookmakers setting the total points at around 49.
This means multiple Eagles players could be about to go big, so let’s take a look at their fantasy options:
NFL Brazil: Philadelphia Eagles’ top weapons
QB: Jalen Hurts (20.64)
Jalen Hurts is a must-start in every game this season and could easily go above his 20.64 projections. Hurts is the QB1 in a high-scoring offense, and he also takes the majority of rushing touchdowns.
Hurts rushed or was bundled over the goalline for 605 yards and 15 TDs, and given how he has broken 10 rushing TDs in each of the last three seasons, he is a top-two QB in fantasy.
He also throws a lot of touchdowns, recording 3,858 yards and 23 passing TDs in 23. There are arguably no better options in Week 1 (apart from maybe Josh Allen).
RB: Saquon Barkley (13.49)
Saquon Barkley joined the Eagles from division rivals, the New York Giants, in a much-discussed free-agency move. Barkley is one of the NFL’s top backs but Hurts’ proclivity for rushing touchdowns, especially from the goalline, is a concern for his fantasy outlook.
This is why Barkley is projected 13.49 points (HPPR) in Week 1, as there is the risk Hurts will find himself in the endzone in Barkley’s place.
As Barkley is a threat in the passing game as well as the rushing, he is a must-start in every game but could be a source of great frustration if Hurts does see a similar rushing TD year in 2024.
WR: A.J. Brown (14.20), DeVonta Smith (11.12) & Jahan Dotson (4.27)
A.J. Brown is the WR1 in Philadelphia and another must-start from this offense. Brown previously made it obvious when he was unhappy with his target share, and saw his numbers swiftly improve when that happened in 2023.
The WR1 is one of the top receivers in the NFL and his 14.20-point predictions reflect that. He beat this number seven times in 2023, with a ceiling of 24.7 (HPPR).
A.J. Brown saw his numbers fluctuate wildly in 2023 and in general fall from Week 14 onwards. He will be looking to get off to a good start this season and is one to watch out for in Brazil on Friday.
DeVonta Smith is a tougher receiver to predict, and while the obviously talented dep-threat WR can go big, he sees some low-floor weeks that should give pause.
Smith’s 2023 points fluctuated on a weekly basis, with highs of 20.1 (twice) and lows of 1.1, 4.5 and 4.8 in HPPR leagues. He is a good flex option due to his high ceiling, especially in a potentially high-scoring game like tonight.
Jahan Dotson has come over from the Washington Commanders and could be a player to keep an eye on. The wisest course of action would be to have him on your bench and see how the Eagles use him before considering putting him in your lineup.
Also read: NFL Brazil: Packers’ fantasy outlooks for Eagles showdown in São Paolo
TE: Dallas Goedert (7.67)
Dallas Goedert could make a statement in 2024, as last season he was banged up for multiple weeks although managed to play 14 games.
Goedert had one week where he did not record a catch and was seemingly overlooked by Jalen Hurts in multiple games. However, Goedert has a high ceiling, and broke 21 points on one occasion, with his second-best score at 16.2.
As such, Goedert is a good start, albeit as something of a risk. But given the TE position is always boom-bust, he is as good a shot as anyone else and could go above 7.67 points by a wide margin.
Also read: Week 1 Tight Ends: Rankings, projections and streamers explored