Eagles News: DeSean Jackson is a “must start” against Washington

Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links ...

Flex On Fire: 6 must starts for Week 1 fantasy football - Fake Teams
DeSean Jackson (WR), Eagles @ Washington. Ooh I love this one. No player seems to love Week 1 like DeSean Jackson. Since 2011 Jackson has averaged 22.1 fantasy points on the opening weekend, including two touchdowns in each of the last two years. His skillset of getting behind the defense suits those early match ups, where defenses are lacking game time and continuity and facing a Washington team in a major transition period, Jackson will eat again.

Experts predict Week 1 NFL upset picks and fantasy football sleepers and flops, plus 2020 MVP - ESPN+
Pick a fringe fantasy player who should be started in Week 1. Graziano: DeSean Jackson, WR, Eagles. He is the de facto No. 1 wide receiver in Philadelphia right now due to injuries to Alshon Jeffery and Jalen Reagor. And in Week 1 last season against Washington, Jackson had eight catches for 154 yards and two touchdowns. I don’t see where Washington’s secondary has improved from last year. And considering that Jackson got hurt a week later and missed the rest of the season, I believe Carson Wentz has been dying to try this out again. Walder: DeSean Jackson, WR, Eagles. Washington corners Ronald Darby and Kendall Fuller each allowed completion percentages of more than 10 points over expectation last season, and both were even worse on passes 10 yards downfield. With Reagor out, Jackson should get plenty of targets.

7 things to watch when the Eagles play the Football Team in Week 1 - BGN
Methinks some might be sleeping on Jackson’s potential impact. We all know he had a huge game against Washington in Week 1 last year with eight receptions for 154 yards and two touchdowns. I fully expect Jackson to go off again in this one. Training camp reminded us that Wentz absolutely loves throwing to Jackson and it’s not hard to understand why: the 33-year-old receiver is always finding a way to get open. And not just on the deep patterns but really at any level of the field. Jackson is likely drawing either Ronald Darby or Fabian Moreau with Kendall Fuller doubtful for Sunday’s matchup. Regardless, that’s a very exploitable matchup. No. 11 should be looking No. 10’s way early and often.

Washington vs Philadelphia Week 1: Five Questions with Bleeding Green Nation - Hogs Haven
The Eagles are an aging team and spent the offseason largely trying to add speed and youth to their roster, as well as providing Carson Wentz with more weapons. However, they’ve already been bit by the injury bug, losing several players for the season and with several more who may be limited for this game. The Eagles also somewhat controversially drafted QB Jalen Hurts in the 2nd round of the 2020 draft, though they have publicly remained committed to Carson Wentz as their starter. To learn more about these and other issues, I asked Brandon Lee Gowton of Bleeding Green Nation five questions about the state of the Eagles and what to look for in this game.

Five over/unders for Eagles’ season opener against Washington - PhillyVoice
Sacks by Washington defense: 4.5. This almost entirely comes down to Lane Johnson’s health on Sunday. The veteran right tackle had his ankle cleaned out a few weeks back and has missed time at training camp. He’s currently listed as questionable, but will likely try to give it a go against Washington. If he can play — and can stay healthy — that should go a long way toward helping the offensive line keep Wentz upright in this one. That number above, though, is the one for if Johnson plays. If he doesn’t, the over would be easy money here. That’s because even if Johnson is out on the field, there are still concerns over the offensive line. Matt Pryor will likely get the start at right guard in place of Brandon Brooks, who tore his Achilles’ this summer. Jason Peters was originally brought back to replace Brooks, but once left tackle Andre Dillard was also lost for the season, Peters returned to the position that made him a future Hall-of-Famer. It’s going to be a cross-your-fingers-and-close-your-eyes type of situation in the beginning until we know whether or not this shuffling will actually work.

A Mysterious Season Ahead - Iggles Blitz
The last couple of years have been more up and down. Wentz has had injuries to deal with. He’s had limited skill players to get the ball to. There have been flashes of greatness mixed with some question marks. It is hard not to be excited after the way Wentz played last December. He carried a cast of largely young and unknown players to a divison title. I’m excited to see what Wentz can do now that he’s surrounded by speedy players. Miles Sanders, Boston Scott and Jason Huntley all have above average speed for RBs. DeSean Jackson remains one of the fastest players in the league. Jalen Reagor is an explosive athlete with playmaking ability. Backups receivers like John Hightower and Quez Watkins can fly. Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert run well for TEs. The lack of big plays was an issue in 2018 and 2019. That should change with Wentz now having improved weapons.

6 questions to ponder on the Eagles’ road to victory, Week 1 - PE.com
5. Who else does the defense need to worry about other than McLaurin? Don’t underestimate quarterback Dwayne Haskins, who had a big game against the Eagles in December. He’s said to have made a lot of progress heading into his second season. Washington is high on rookie running back Antonio Gibson, a 6-2, 230-pounder who has great versatility. Logan Thomas has not had a lot of production catching the football as a tight end in this league, a vast departure from the days the Eagles had to deal with the likes of Jordan Reed and Vernon Davis when they played Washington. Steven Sims is another second-year receiver who had 34 catches as a rookie and is bound to take a next step. Look at this, though: Second-year quarterback, two second-year wide receivers, a rookie running back. Youth is served in Washington.

Already an elite NFL quarterback, Carson Wentz worked in the offseason to improve his mechanics - Inquirer
But elite athletes often know their shortcomings as well as anyone and meticulously obsess over the most-minute of details. Every quarterback tinkers with his mechanics, in-season and out. Wentz is no different. This offseason, though, because he wasn’t rehabbing from injury for the first time in three years, he was able to spend more time on his throwing motion. He went back to “swing doctor” Adam Dedeaux in Southern California shortly after last season ended and worked on his footwork more than anything else. Wentz would rather discuss most any other subject than his mechanics. When asked previously about them, he would downplay any changes, noting they would be indiscernible to the naked eye. The theory here is that he doesn’t want to highlight a certain feature for fear of further hair-splitting analysis. It is likely why Eagles coach Doug Pederson feigned ignorance when asked recently about Wentz’s offseason training.

Week 1 Rankings - Rotoworld
It didn’t take long for Carson Wentz’s supporting cast to get hurt, but his real Week 1 concern is 6.5-point favorite Philly getting too run established against the clownish “Washington Football Team.”

Eagles-Washington cheat sheet: Matchups to watch, injury updates, predictions - The Athletic
Bo Wulf: Washington has the element of surprise and the advantage of young legs up front. I’m tempted to spring for the upset, but I just think Washington’s offense will struggle too much and the Eagles will have enough bells and whistles in their offensive game plan to slow Washington’s pass rush. A long DeSean Jackson touchdown or two feels like a fait accompli. Eagles 24, Washington 13.

Giants vs. Steelers Week 1 final injury report - Golden Tate questionable - Big Blue View
The Giants obviously hope to have Golden Tate available so they can have their full compliment of weapons against the Steelers’ dangerous defense. Crowder, likewise, was receiving reps with the starters towards the end of camp, and the Giants obviously like his athleticism at the second level.

Shame on the Chiefs fans who booed players during a show of unity - SB Nation
The Texans and Chiefs took the field on what should have been a celebratory night, welcoming the return of the NFL. However, despite the words “End Racism” emblazoned at the end of the field, fans in attendance were willing to supply more than enough hatred to combat the league’s small moves towards equality. Following the national anthem, players met at midfield and linked arms, showing they were united in combating prejudice. Then they were met with boos.

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