Saquon Barkley will have more than 19 rushing attempts
Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) rushes the ball against the Kansas City Chiefs during the third quarter in Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The NFL’s reigning rushing leader, Saquon Barkley, will be looking to prove that 2024 was not a fluke and that he is capable of being a workhorse back at an elite level. In 2024, Barkley was one of the largest parts of the Philadelphia offense, as he averaged just over 21.5 carries a game. He also would’ve had more than the projected number of 19 carries last year in 10 of the Eagles’ 16 contests. The Eagles used Barkley early and often in last year’s opener, as Barkley saw 24 carries against Green Bay. In the two matchups last year against the Cowboys, Barkley crushed this projection in their second matchup with the Cowboys, totalling 31 rushing attempts in Week 17, and would’ve missed the projection in their Week 10 34-6 blowout against a banged-up Cowboys secondary.
CeeDee Lamb will have more than 9.5 targets
Dec 15, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) scores a touchdown as Carolina Panthers safety Jordan Fuller (20) defends in the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Ceedee Lamb is one of the best wideouts in the entire NFL, and he is rewarded with targets accordingly. Lamb is a perennial receiver who will consistently command 110+ targets per year and has exceeded 150 targets in the previous three seasons. He would have landed on or surpassed this projection in 10 of his 15 games for the Cowboys last year. Lamb reached double-digit targets in 8 different games, one of which was the Week 9 matchup the Cowboys had with the Eagles.
The Dallas Cowboys have been in search of their WR2 to play opposite of their All-Pro pass catcher in Lamb, and the newest player to be plugged into the hole is former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens. While Pickens may eat into Lamb’s total targets for the season, Lamb’s stranglehold on targets during big games and big moments should remain steady.
Devonta Smith will have more than 3.5 receptions
Football – NFL – Super Bowl LIX – Philadelphia Eagles v Kansas City Chiefs – Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States – February 9, 2025 Philadelphia Eagles’ DeVonta Smith scores a touchdown. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
Devonta Smith may be the hardest one to predict production out of the three players on this list, but he is still capable of being one of the most effective. While the Slim Reaper has an absolute game-breaking ability, he still must compete with Saquon Barkley and AJ Brown for touches. Smith’s initial projection of 4.5 receptions may be the tipping point for any hesitation, but he did eclipse the 3.5 reception projection in all four of the Eagles’ postseason games as well as the final four regular-season games that he played in last year. If it hadn’t been for an explosive show of force from the Eagles’ offensive role players in their Week 10 matchup against the Cowboys, Smith would likely have flirted with reception projection as well.
I think trends can overcome matchup-based objections to this lineup addition, and the trends are pointing towards Devonta Smith having another productive night as the Eagles’ WR2.
You can email John at [email protected] or find him on X at @JohnOleary22
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