We can all rejoice, for it’s the return of Thursday Night Football! OK, so it’s not really something to rejoice about, but after a week without the NFL on Thursday night, we get a matchup of NFC East powerhouses.
OK, it’s the Eagles and the Giants, but still…
Eagles -4.5.
Giants +195, Eagles -225
O/U: 44.5
The good news for DFS players is that we know for certain that Miles Sanders and Zach Ertz are out, so we have no doubts whether or not we have to wait for their designations.
But that begs the first question:
Who’s going to be the primary ball carrier for Philly?
I can see DFS players gravitating to Boston Scott (and for good reason), but I certainly like the FanDuel price ($6,500) more than DraftKings ($8,400.) I get the love for Scott in this game, because on paper he should get the majority of the running back work. But there’s a part of me that’s skeptical because it’s Doug Pederson, and for that reason I find myself intrigued with Corey Clement. He’s a nice salary saver as he’s minimum priced on FanDuel ($5,000) and quite a bit cheaper on DraftKings ($5,200.)
If building multiple lineups, I’m going to throw Clement in a Captains spot, just in case he gets the majority of the work. Plus it saves some money and allows for roster flexibility.
What about Philly’s pass catchers?
I think the Eagles can exploit the Giants secondary, but who will be Carson Wentz‘s main target? Ertz will miss 3-4 weeks with an ankle injury, and we don’t know if Dallas Goedert will be activated off IR before the game. Just because he’s eligible to return doesn’t mean he will, and if he’s not, we pivot to a more contrarian play in Richard Rodgers. But buyer beware as the Giants aren’t a good matchup for tight ends this season so far as they’ve given up the sixth fewest receptions to tight ends this season. So no matter how you spin it, there really isn’t a solid play on the Eagles’ roster.
As for wide receivers, Travis Fulgham has stepped up as the de facto No. 1 wideout in the absence of DeSean Jackson and Alshon Jeffery, and his whopping 23 targets over the past two weeks reflect that, so he’s going to be a staple. Even if Jackson returns for the first time since Week 3, there’s no guarantee he’s going to get a full workload. He could be a high risk, high reward play, but I’m personally not going to have much stock.
Who will Daniel Jones throw to?
It sounds like Sterling Shepard is close to returning. The Giants have activated him off IR with the turf toe issue, but it’s a really tough ask with a short turnaround, so I’m likely fading him this week in DFS. Keep an eye on warmups as that will ultimately determine his status. The news is a little better with sophomore wideout Darius Slayton, but he’s clearly dealing with a foot injury. He caught two of four targets for 41 yards and a touchdown, but he never looked comfortable.
Even if Shepard does play, I don’t think it will affect Slayton’s target share. I’m still on the Evan Engram bandwagon, and with the concerns with wide receivers and the Eagles’ inability to cover tight ends, he’s probably the Giant I roster the most.
Even though the game might not be the most attractive, it’s still a good chance to have some DFS fun and make some money…
