NFL 2026 PREVIEW: PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

The Philadelphia Eagles enter the 2026 campaign with high expectations following an 11-6 finish in 2025. Warren Sharp’s forecast projects 10.5 wins and a first-place division ranking, suggesting continued contention despite a roster that saw significant turnover in free agency. The schedule offers a favorable path, ranked seventh easiest on a scale where one represents the softest slate and 32 the hardest. Unit evaluations highlight a dominant foundation up front, with the Offensive Line and Front 7 both rated as the second-best in the league for this outlook. However, the head coaching position ranks fourteenth, marking the weakest link in the organizational assessment. Balancing elite trench play against moderate leadership metrics will define whether they justify Sharp’s season-average line as 3-point favorites.

Research note. Warren Sharp's 2026 Football Preview sets the agenda for each team preview — what to cover and where to dig. Snapshot figures (forecast, SOS, unit ranks, Vegas lines) are credited to Sharp. Tables below are Hacking DFS calculations from nflverse (primary data source), including FTN charting data, plus NFL Next Gen Stats, 2025 play-by-play, snap counts, DraftKings weekly salaries, and NFL+ season averages. Play-level fantasy points are full PPR; weekly floor/ceiling numbers are DraftKings scoring. Please purchase the book for the full chapter, charts, tables and first-class expert commentary.

Team Snapshot

Win forecast, division finish, strength of schedule, and Vegas lines are from Sharp. 2025 record, ATS, totals, and scoring are Hacking DFS.

Coaches & Personnel Impact

Coaching Staff

Key Additions: Riq Woolen (CB), Marquise Brown (WR), Arnold Ebiketie (EDGE), Jonathan Jones (CB), Johnny Mundt (TE), Elijah Moore (WR), and A.J. Epenesa (EDGE); Jonathan Greenard (EDGE) (via trade), Dontayvion Wicks (WR) (via trade), and Andy Dalton (QB) (via trade).

Key Departures: A.J. Brown (WR) (traded to the Patriots), Jaelan Phillips (EDGE) to the Panthers, Nakobe Dean (LB) to the Raiders, Reed Blankenship (S) to the Texans, Jahan Dotson (WR) to the Falcons, Brett Toth (LT) to the 49ers, Sam Howell (QB) to the Cowboys, Adoree' Jackson (CB), Matt Pryor (C) to the Cardinals, Sydney Brown (S) to the Falcons, A.J. Dillon (RB) to the Panthers, Azeez Ojulari (EDGE) to the Falcons, Joshua Uche (EDGE) to the Dolphins, Kylen Granson (TE) to the Titans, Ben VanSumeren (LB) to the Bills, and Luke Felix-Fualalo (LT).

Unavailable / status: Grant Calcaterra (TE — Reserve/Injured designated to return; unavailable for at least the first four games); Elijah Mitchell (RB — IR; not on the initial active 53).

Nick Sirianni enters his sixth season as head coach with a new voice calling the offensive plays, as Sean Mannion takes over as offensive coordinator for his first season in that role. The most significant shift on this side of the ball is the departure of wide receiver A.J. Brown, who was traded to the Patriots on June 1, 2026, for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick, creating a major void in the passing attack. To help fill that gap, the team added Marquise Brown and Elijah Moore via free agency and acquired Dontayvion Wicks via trade from Green Bay, while also bringing in tight end Johnny Mundt and acquiring veteran quarterback Andy Dalton via trade from Carolina. These personnel changes suggest a reshuffling of targets and roles within the offense, requiring bettors and fantasy players to monitor how quickly the new receivers integrate into Mannion’s system without the established presence of Brown.

On defense, Vic Fangio remains in his third season as defensive coordinator, providing continuity in scheme despite notable roster churn. The front seven sees the addition of edge rusher Jonathan Greenard, who arrived via trade, along with free-agent signings Arnold Ebiketie and A.J. Epenesa, helping to offset the loss of Jaelan Phillips to the Panthers. The secondary has been reinforced with the signings of cornerbacks Riq Woolen and Jonathan Jones, which is crucial after losing safety Reed Blankenship to the Texans and cornerback Adoree' Jackson. Linebacker Nakobe Dean also departed for the Raiders, meaning the defensive unit must rely on its remaining holdovers and new additions like Greenard and Woolen to maintain the high level of play that contributed to the team's strong front-seven ranking.

2026 Draft Class

Draft class summary

The Philadelphia Eagles addressed immediate offensive needs by selecting Makai Lemon in the first round at Pick 20, a move Sharp characterizes as a logical stabilizer for an offense transitioning after the departure of A.J. Brown. Lemon brings versatility from USC, capable of lining up both wide and in the slot, which provides necessary flexibility alongside returning holdover DeVonta Smith. Sharp notes that Lemon’s route-adjusted catch rate was 11% above expected during his collegiate career, suggesting a high floor for reliability and volume potential in the slot despite concerns about pairing another undersized receiver with Smith. The front office continued to bolster skill positions in the second round by taking Eli Stowers at Pick 54, a tight end from Vanderbilt who adds depth to the passing game. In the third round at Pick 68, the team selected Markel Bell, an offensive tackle from Miami (FL), to reinforce the offensive line unit that Sharp ranks as the second-strongest component of the roster.

Later rounds focused on developmental depth and defensive line rotation. The Eagles selected Cole Payton, a quarterback from North Dakota State, in the fifth round at Pick 178, providing insurance behind the starting signal-caller. Offensive line depth was further addressed in the sixth round at Pick 207 with Micah Morris, a guard from Georgia. The seventh round featured three selections aimed at defensive versatility and special teams value: Cole Wisniewski (S, Texas Tech), Uar Bernard (DT, IPP), and Keyshawn James-Newby (DE, New Mexico). All three were waived at cutdown and returned on the practice squad, so they are developmental depth rather than immediate active-53 contributors. This draft class still prioritizes high-floor skill adds like Lemon and Stowers, who made the initial 53, while the later defensive picks sit behind the current roster.

Sharp Forecasts Philadelphia Eagles with 10.5 Wins

Sharp forecasts Philadelphia at 10.5 wins and first in the NFC East, with a schedule that ranks as the seventh-easiest in the league. The case for another double-digit-win season leans heavily on the team’s exceptional durability during the 2025 campaign, where they finished second in overall health and saw key contributors like Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, and DeVonta Smith avoid missing any games due to injury. While A.J. Brown has departed via trade, the remaining core benefited from being fifth in offensive health and 11th in defensive health, providing a stable foundation for another high-win season. The Eagles also demonstrated resilience in tight contests, securing eight victories in one-score games while only suffering four losses in similar situations, resulting in a .667 win percentage in those matchups that tied for seventh in the NFL.

On the field, Philadelphia’s offense was league-leading near the goal line, posting a 70.5% red-zone touchdown rate that far exceeded the NFL average of 57.3%. Although the Brotherly Shove remains a potent weapon, this spike represents a significant deviation from their 13th-ranked efficiency in 2024 and fourth-ranked average from 2022 to 2024, suggesting some regression may be possible despite the offensive line’s dominance. Defensively, Vic Fangio continues to coordinate a unit that ranked seventh in yards allowed per play and fifth in points allowed per game at 19.1. To address roster changes, the team acquired Jonathan Greenard via trade to help fill the void left by Jaelan Phillips’ departure, aiming to maintain the pressure rate and coverage standards that kept them among the top defenses in yards and points allowed last season.

Schedule Timing & Rest

Sharp’s timing metrics give Philadelphia a difficult rest calendar: season net rest is −15 days, 31st of 32 (1=most helped), which Sharp’s schedule analysis calls the #2 most difficult net-rest slate. Prep rank is 29th, rest rank 19th, and the weekly rest-edge chart still shows nine labeled weeks with distinct edges — including seven-day deficits in Weeks 6, 8, 9, and 14 — so the club is not uniformly rested even in weeks that carry an edge label.

The Eagles also face notable challenges in short-week and prime-time scenarios, ranking 31st in short-week road games and 26th in games off road Sunday Night Football or Monday Night Football broadcasts. Their negated bye rank is 19th. Specific weeks illustrate these pressures, such as the road trip to Washington in Week 8 on Sunday Night Football following a home game against Dallas, and a Thursday Night Football home game against Houston in Week 16. These structural hurdles mean the team must navigate a calendar that offers sporadic relief rather than consistent logistical ease.

Team timing ranks vs NFL (1=best)

Net rest edge rank is season net rest days (1=most helped, 32=most hurt); this club -15 days.

Critical & Game-Deciding Stats

Turnovers

Giveaways: Jalen Hurts (6 INT, 3 FL), AJ Dillon (1 FL), Saquon Barkley (1 FL), Will Shipley (1 FL, special teams return), Tanner McKee (1 INT). Takeaways: Jalyx Hunt (3 INT, 1 FR), Zack Baun (2 INT, 1 FR), Andrew Mukuba (2 INT), Jihaad Campbell (1 INT, 1 FR), Reed Blankenship (1 INT, 1 FR), Cooper DeJean (2 INT)

The Philadelphia Eagles entered the 2026 campaign with a turnover profile defined by elite quarterback security and moderate ball protection elsewhere. Jalen Hurts led the unit in giveaways with six interceptions thrown and three fumbles lost, while Tanner McKee added one interception to the team total of seven, which ranked first in the league. The ground game contributed minimally to the error column, as Saquon Barkley, A.J. Dillon, and Will Shipley each recorded one fumble lost, with Shipley’s mistake occurring on a special teams return. These eight total fumbles lost placed the team at number 18 in that specific metric, but the overall giveaway count of 15 was the fourth-lowest in the NFL. This discipline in avoiding offensive errors provides a stable floor for betting models, particularly given the roster changes that saw A.J. Brown traded to New England while Marquise Brown signed in free agency and Dontayvion Wicks arrived via trade from Green Bay.

Defensively, the Eagles generated 21 takeaways, ranking tenth in the league, driven largely by a secondary and pass rush that capitalized on opportunities. Jalyx Hunt led the defense with three interceptions and one fumble recovery, while Zack Baun and Cooper DeJean each secured two interceptions. Andrew Mukuba also contributed two interceptions, and Jihaad Campbell added one interception alongside one fumble recovery. The departure of Reed Blankenship in free agency removes a player who recorded one interception and one fumble recovery last season, creating a vacancy in the takeaway production chart. With nine fumble recoveries ranking ninth in the league, the front seven maintained pressure that forced errors, complementing the 12 total defensive interceptions that ranked 15th. The net turnover margin of plus-6 reflects a balanced approach where limiting offensive mistakes compensated for a defense that was solid but not dominant in creating picks.

Sacks

Yardage surrendered to sacks: Jalen Hurts 181 yards; Tanner McKee 14 yards. Formation-play sack shares divide sacks by all plays from that formation, including runs, so they are not conventional dropback sack rates: 31/704 ≈ 4.4% of shotgun plays; 3/222 ≈ 1.4% of under center plays. Coverage-shell rows are raw sack counts (and count ranks), not per-snap efficiency measures.

Sack leaders (defense): Jalyx Hunt (6.5), Moro Ojomo (6), Jordan Davis (4.5), Nakobe Dean (4)

The Philadelphia Eagles offensive line allowed 35 sacks during the 2025 season, a total that ranked 12th in the league. Jalen Hurts absorbed the majority of this damage, losing 181 yards to sacks, while backup Tanner McKee surrendered 14 yards. When examining how these pressures distributed across formations, the data shows that 31 sacks occurred across 704 shotgun plays, representing approximately 4.4% of all plays run from that alignment. In contrast, the unit was more secure when operating under center, where only three sacks were recorded across 222 plays, resulting in a share of roughly 1.4%. These figures represent raw shares of total formation plays rather than conventional dropback sack rates, highlighting a clear disparity in protection stability depending on the pre-snap setup.

On the defensive side of the ball, the pass rush featured notable contributions from several returning holdovers despite the departure of key veterans like Nakobe Dean and Joshua Uche. Jalyx Hunt led the team with 6.5 sacks, followed closely by Moro Ojomo with six takedowns. Jordan Davis added 4.5 sacks to the tally, while Nakobe Dean recorded four sacks before his departure in free agency. The defensive front generated these results across various coverage shells, with the raw sack counts reflecting the ability of individual defenders to finish plays rather than just generating initial pressure. This production helps anchor a Front 7 unit that Sharp ranks as the second-strongest in the league heading into the 2026 campaign.

Return Touchdowns

Punt returns 22 for 239 yards; kickoff returns 59 for 1411 yards.

The Philadelphia Eagles did not score any touchdowns on punt or kickoff returns during the previous season, a result that placed them thirteenth in the league for special teams scoring in this specific category. Despite the lack of end-zone production, the unit was active in the return game, logging 22 punt returns for 239 yards and handling 59 kickoff returns for 1,411 yards. These volume figures indicate that the team had ample opportunity to generate big plays, but none of those attempts resulted in a touchdown.

Defensively, the Eagles were equally effective at preventing opponents from scoring on returns, as they allowed zero punt or kickoff return touchdowns. This perfect record in preventing return scores ranked first in the league, demonstrating that opposing returners could not find the end zone against Philadelphia’s coverage units. While this statistic confirms that no return touchdowns were surrendered, it does not provide data on starting field position or overall coverage efficiency beyond the final score impact.

Penalties

Offense: 66 penalties for 469 yards (#20). Most common: False Start (24), Offensive Holding (17), Delay of Game (8). Most flags in Shotgun (20), Under Center (5). Most flagged players: A.J. Brown (7), Tyler Steen (7), Jordan Mailata (6).

Defense-side nflverse bucket: 51 penalties for 604 yards (#23), including 3 special-teams punt-return holdings — not a pure scheme-defense total. Most common: Defensive Pass Interference (18), Defensive Holding (5), Roughing the Passer (4). Most flags on Cover 1 (16), Cover 4 (5), Cover 3 (4). Most flagged players: Kelee Ringo (7), Quinyon Mitchell (6), Jalen Carter (5).

League Rank polarity: #1 = fewest penalties (most disciplined); #32 = most flags.

The Philadelphia Eagles offense recorded 66 penalties for 469 yards, ranking twentieth in the league for discipline. False starts were the most frequent infraction with 24 occurrences, followed by 17 instances of offensive holding and eight delay of game penalties. These flags appeared most often when the unit operated out of the shotgun formation, which accounted for 20 penalties, compared to just five while under center. Among individual players, A.J. Brown and Tyler Steen each drew seven flags, while Jordan Mailata was penalized six times.

On the defense side, the team accumulated 51 penalties for 604 yards, placing them twenty-third in the NFL. This total includes three special-teams infractions within the broader defensive bucket. The data highlights specific areas where the unit struggled to maintain clean play, contributing to a yardage total that exceeded their offensive counterpart despite fewer overall flags.

Early Downs & Red Zone Efficiency

Early Downs: 765 plays, 43.7% success, 0.00 EPA/play (#21). Most efficient on early downs: Darius Cooper (8 plays, 0.50 EPA/play), Dallas Goedert (66 plays, 0.49 EPA/play), DeVonta Smith (70 plays, 0.30 EPA/play).

Red Zone: 154 plays, 46.8% success, 0.10 EPA/play (#6). Most efficient in the red zone: Dallas Goedert (15 plays, 1.05 EPA/play), DeVonta Smith (12 plays, 0.59 EPA/play), Jalen Hurts (27 plays, 0.57 EPA/play).

The Philadelphia Eagles generated 765 early-down plays last season, achieving a 43.7% success rate and an expected points added per play of 0.00, which ranked 21st in the league. Among returning holdovers, Dallas Goedert was highly effective on these downs, recording 0.49 EPA per play across 66 plays, while DeVonta Smith contributed 0.30 EPA per play over 70 plays. Darius Cooper also posted strong efficiency with 0.50 EPA per play, though his sample size was limited to just eight plays. These metrics indicate that while the overall unit struggled to gain an advantage on first and second downs, specific pass catchers provided positive value when targeted.

Inside the red zone, the offense improved significantly, ranking sixth with 0.10 EPA per play across 154 total plays and converting at a 46.8% success rate. Dallas Goedert led the team in red-zone efficiency with 1.05 EPA per play on 15 plays, demonstrating his reliability near the goal line. DeVonta Smith added 0.59 EPA per play on 12 plays, and quarterback Jalen Hurts contributed 0.57 EPA per play over 27 plays. This stark contrast between early-down struggles and red-zone proficiency highlights the team's ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities despite broader offensive inconsistencies.

Pass Rate / Rush Rate

On neutral downs, pass rate over expected (PROE) was -0.1 (#12); they passed 54.3% of those snaps.

On pass plays (not official attempts): Jalen Hurts (43.2% success on 486 pass plays), Tanner McKee (47.8% success on 46 pass plays).

On rushes (qualifying 2025 PBP rush plays — not official NFL attempt totals): Saquon Barkley (37.7% success on 281 qualifying PBP rush plays), Jalen Hurts (55.3% success on 94 qualifying PBP rush plays), Tank Bigsby (50.0% success on 58 qualifying PBP rush plays).

The Philadelphia Eagles operated with a run-heavy tendency in 2025, calling rush plays on 46.5% of their snaps, which ranked seventh in the league. This approach resulted in 463 qualifying rush plays compared to just 532 pass plays, the latter of which was the 27th-lowest volume in the NFL. While the ground game was frequent, it produced 4.34 yards per play and a 42.5% success rate, ranking 21st and 19th respectively. The passing attack generated 6.21 yards per play, good for 14th in the league, but the overall pass success rate of 43.6% placed the team 22nd. On neutral downs specifically, the offense passed on 54.3% of snaps with a pass rate over expected (PROE) of -0.1, which ranked 12th.

Individual efficiency varied significantly between quarterbacks and ball carriers on qualifying play-by-play data. Jalen Hurts recorded a 43.2% success rate across 486 pass plays, while Tanner McKee achieved a 47.8% success rate on his 46 pass plays. In the running game, Hurts was highly effective with a 55.3% success rate on 94 qualifying rush plays. Saquon Barkley logged 281 qualifying rush plays with a 37.7% success rate, and Tank Bigsby posted a 50.0% success rate on 58 qualifying rush plays. These figures highlight a disparity where the quarterback rush game was markedly more successful than the primary running back's output on a per-play basis.

Explosive Plays

Explosive Playmakers (Offense)

Coverages Beaten

Explosive Plays Allowed (Defense)

Coverages When Explosives Were Allowed

Explosive play = 20+ yards gained on a rush or pass (2025 PBP). Rank 1 = most generated on offense / fewest allowed on defense.

The Philadelphia Eagles offense generated 51 explosive plays of 20 or more yards during the 2025 season, a total that ranked 25th in raw count across the league. These big gains accounted for 1,660 total yards, with the passing attack responsible for the majority of the production at 42 plays for 1,344 yards. DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown led the receiving corps with 14 explosive receptions each, though Smith accumulated slightly more yardage on those plays with 481 compared to Brown’s 405. Dallas Goedert contributed seven explosive catches for 190 yards, while Jahan Dotson added four such receptions for 149 yards before his departure. On the ground, Saquon Barkley recorded six explosive runs totaling 281 yards, and Jalen Hurts added two rushing explosives for 52 yards.

Defensively, the unit allowed 54 explosive plays, ranking 11th in the league for fewest allowed in raw count. Opponents gained 1,736 yards on these plays, with 46 coming through the air for 1,530 yards and eight occurring on the ground for 206 yards. The defense surrendered significantly more yardage via the pass than the rush on explosive downs, highlighting where opposing offenses found their biggest chunks of gain. While the team ranked 11th in fewest explosive plays allowed by raw count relative to other teams, the volume of passing explosives allowed suggests that secondary coverage situations were tested frequently over the course of the schedule.

Offensive Personnel Usage

FP/play is full PPR from 2025 PBP, not DraftKings.

RPOs are also counted in shotgun, pistol, or under center.

The Philadelphia Eagles relied heavily on the 11 personnel package, which features one running back, one tight end, and three wide receivers, for the majority of their offensive snaps in 2025. This grouping appeared on 625 plays and generated 1.42 full PPR fantasy points per play, making it the most productive and frequent alignment. The primary contributors in this set included Saquon Barkley, Dallas Goedert, DeVonta Smith, A.J. Brown, and Jahan Dotson. The team also utilized the 12 personnel package, consisting of one running back, two tight ends, and two wide receivers, on 284 occasions. That formation produced 1.15 fantasy points per play and featured Barkley alongside tight ends Grant Calcaterra and Dallas Goedert, as well as receivers Smith and Brown. A smaller sample of 65 plays came from the 13 personnel group with three tight ends, which yielded 1.38 fantasy points per play and included Kylen Granson in the rotation.

Formation usage showed a clear preference for the shotgun, which accounted for 70.8% of all plays and delivered 1.46 fantasy points per play. The under center formation was used on 22.3% of snaps and resulted in 1.23 fantasy points per play, while the pistol formation saw limited action on 6.8% of plays with a lower output of 0.69 fantasy points per play. Run-pass options were integrated into these structures rather than standing as a separate category, appearing on 6.3% of snaps and generating 1.08 fantasy points per play. Shotgun was both the most-used look and the highest-scoring of the three alignments at 1.46 FP/play, while pistol’s 0.69 FP/play came on a thin 6.8% share.

Pre-snap Motion & Play Action

Motion rate rank #27; play-action rank #22 (32-team, 2025 PBP + FTN charting).

FPavg is full PPR per play.

The Philadelphia Eagles utilized pre-snap motion on 47.4% of their offensive snaps during the 2025 season, a frequency that ranked 27th among all thirty-two franchises. This approach yielded a 41.9% success rate across 472 recorded plays. When examining full PPR fantasy points per play, the unit averaged 1.39 points in situations featuring motion compared to 1.32 points when lining up without it. These figures report FP/play splits only.

Play action was employed less frequently, appearing on just 128 plays for a 12.9% rate that placed the team 22nd in the league. The success rate for these designed fakes stood at 49.2%. In terms of fantasy scoring efficiency, plays run with play action generated an average of 2.03 full PPR points per play, whereas plays without it produced 1.25 points. This data highlights the disparity in per-play output between the two concepts based on the previous year's charting.

Passing Game: 2025 Recap & 2026 Outlook

Sharp ranks the Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks as the twelfth-best unit heading into 2026, a standing supported by Jalen Hurts delivering a stable baseline of production despite schematic inconsistencies. Hurts appeared across 16 DraftKings-tracked games, averaging 20.0 DraftKings points with a floor of 14.5 and a ceiling of 30.9, while securing two slate wins at an average salary of $6,700. His efficiency metrics showed a slight positive edge over expected completion percentage at plus-3.2% and an expected points added per dropback of plus-0.01. The offense struggled with creative variety, as Hurts recorded the lowest screen target rate of his career at 5.3%, which ranked twenty-eighth in the league. Conversely, hitch routes comprised 18.1% of his throws, marking the second-highest rate of his career and fifth highest across the NFL. This lack of diversity contributed to an uneven offensive performance, even as Hurts threw a career-high 25 touchdowns.

The passing game enters a new era with significant staff changes, as Kevin Patullo departs and Sean Mannion takes over play-calling duties for the first time. Mannion arrives from Green Bay, where he served as an offensive assistant and quarterbacks coach under Matt LaFleur, marking the sixth different play-caller in this span. The Eagles are revamping their approach not only through scheme but also via personnel adjustments, including acquiring veteran quarterback Andy Dalton via trade from Carolina. Sharp rates the offensive line as the second-strongest unit in the league, providing a sturdy foundation for the new offensive coordinator to build upon. The team also drafted Cole Payton in the later rounds to add depth to the quarterback room. With A.J. Brown listed among the departures, the burden on the remaining pass catchers and the new offensive leadership will be substantial as they attempt to inject more creativity into the aerial attack.

QB fantasy metrics. DKavg, floor, ceiling, Slate Win, Avg $, and FP/$ from weekly DraftKings logs. EPA/DB and CPOE from NFL+ regular-season averages. Slate Win = weeks in the top N at that DK position on the salary slate (QB 5 / RB·WR 12 / TE 6). DK GP is the fantasy-tracked sample.

Receiving Game: 2025 Recap & 2026 Outlook

The Philadelphia Eagles enter the 2026 season with a highly ranked receiving unit, as Sharp places the group at number eight overall. This outlook follows a 2025 campaign defined by significant volume for its top targets but marked by the departure of key contributors. A.J. Brown led the team in target share with 25.3 percent and commanded 121 total targets, while DeVonta Smith operated as the other primary option with a 21.9 percent share and 113 targets. Dallas Goedert served as the central tight end presence, securing a 19.6 percent target share across 82 looks. The roster has undergone notable changes, with Brown and Jahan Dotson listed among the 2026 departures. Dotson, who saw 36 targets and an 8.8 percent share during his time with the club, exits alongside Brown, creating immediate vacancies in the wide receiver rotation.

To address these losses, the Eagles signed Marquise Brown and Elijah Moore in free agency, acquired Dontayvion Wicks via trade from Green Bay, and selected Makai Lemon with the twentieth overall pick. The active wide receiver group on the initial 53 is Marquise Brown, DeVonta Smith, Lemon, Wicks, Moore, and Darius Cooper. Johnny Mundt joins the tight end room behind Dallas Goedert; Grant Calcaterra is on Reserve/Injured designated to return and must miss at least the first four games, so the current active TEs are Goedert, Mundt, E.J. Jenkins, and second-round pick Eli Stowers. Kylen Granson, who is no longer with the team, saw nine targets. These moves aim to redistribute the target volume previously absorbed by Brown and Dotson, ensuring the offense maintains its passing potency under new play-caller Sean Mannion.

Red-zone usage in 2025 highlighted the hierarchy among the returning and departing pass-catchers. Dallas Goedert led the team with 15 red-zone targets, representing a 24.6 percent share of those looks, followed by A.J. Brown with 13 targets and DeVonta Smith with 12. Jahan Dotson accounted for five red-zone targets before his departure. With Brown and Dotson off the roster, the Eagles must identify new primary options near the goal line. The combination of Goedert’s established role, Hollywood Brown, Wicks, Moore, Lemon, and Stowers — with Calcaterra unavailable for at least four games — will define the efficiency and distribution of the 2026 passing attack.

TGT% / Rec EPA / AYavg are NFL+ season averages. TGT% is each player's share of targets over his NFL+ qualifying sample, not necessarily his share of every team target for the full season. For players traded midseason whose NFL+ sample includes games with another club (multi-team PBP targets), those three columns are left blank so prior-team production is not mixed into this club's row. DraftKings columns use this club's fantasy weeks only. Red-zone and early-down tables provide separate club-specific target splits.

Overall Targets

Overall Targets uses NFL+ season targets for players who spent the year with one club. Traded players who changed teams midseason (multi-team PBP targets) are left blank here so the NFL+ season total (which can blend both clubs) is not mistaken for this club's volume; use the red-zone and early-down tables for this club's hierarchy instead.

Red Zone Targets

Early Down Targets

Rushing Game: 2025 Recap & 2026 Outlook

Saquon Barkley anchored the 2025 ground attack with 280 carries, while Tank Bigsby contributed 63 attempts in limited action. Sharp ranks the running back unit fifth and the offensive line second for the 2026 season, highlighting the structural strength supporting these ball carriers. Barkley recorded a negative rushing EPA of -38.6 and a success rate of 35.7%, whereas Bigsby posted a positive rushing EPA of +3.8 and a higher success rate of 47.6%. PBP and NFL+ success rates use different denominators, so these efficiency metrics should be viewed as distinct indicators of play quality rather than direct mathematical derivatives of the attempt totals.

In the red zone, Barkley was the primary option, logging 44 rushes and eight targets across 52 total opportunities to score six combined touchdowns. Bigsby saw significantly less volume near the goal line, recording 17 rushes and one target over 18 opportunities for one combined touchdown. A.J. Dillon, who is listed among the 2026 departures, had minimal red-zone involvement with two rushes and one target over three opportunities. The departure of Dillon removes a depth option from the backfield, but the core production remains tied to Barkley’s heavy workload and Bigsby’s efficient, albeit limited, touches.

Looking toward 2026, the Eagles retain their top two rushers from the previous campaign while upgrading the surrounding personnel through the draft, including guard Micah Morris at pick 207. The combination of a top-five ranked running back group and a second-ranked offensive line suggests a continued commitment to establishing the run. Although Philadelphia added veteran backs during the offseason, none changed the initial active-53 hierarchy, which remains centered on Barkley, Bigsby, and Will Shipley. The focus remains on maximizing the volume for Barkley while finding ways to integrate Bigsby more consistently into the offensive plan.

Red Zone Rushing Scope

Team Scoring

PPG from 2025 regular-season finals. FP/G is full PPR per game from PBP (not DraftKings). Rank 1 = most scored / fewest allowed.

The Philadelphia Eagles finished the 2025 regular season with a scoring output that placed them in the middle of the pack relative to the rest of the league. They averaged 22.3 points per game, which ranked 19th in the NFL, while their defense allowed just 19.1 points per game, good for the fifth-best mark in the league. When viewing these results through a fantasy lens using full PPR metrics, the offense generated 78.5 fantasy points per game, ranking 21st overall. The defensive unit continued its strong real-world performance in fantasy terms, allowing 71.9 fantasy points per game, which ranked seventh best.

This divergence between real-world and fantasy production highlights a middling offense next to a strong defense: 22.3 PPG ranked 19th, while 19.1 points allowed ranked fifth. The 78.5 FP/G (21st) and 71.9 fantasy points allowed per game (7th) sit in the same neighborhood as those real scoring ranks rather than an elite offensive profile. The gap suggests that while the team scored enough to win 11 games, skill-player fantasy volume did not reach the upper echelon. That 2025 production now carries into a 2026 schedule Sharp ranks as the seventh-easiest, providing a potentially favorable backdrop for improved offensive efficiency.

Scoring By Quarter

Avg Pts are NFL points per game in that quarter. FPavg is full PPR per game from PBP, not DraftKings. Rank 1 = most scored / fewest allowed.

The Philadelphia Eagles established themselves as early-game specialists in 2025, ranking fifth in the league for average points scored in the first quarter with 6.1 points per contest. This strong start translated to fantasy production as well, where the unit placed tenth in full PPR scoring during that opening period. However, offensive output dipped significantly as games progressed, particularly in the second and fourth quarters. The team ranked twenty-third in real points and twenty-second in fantasy points during the second quarter, while fourth-quarter scoring fell to twenty-ninth in the NFL for actual points and twenty-fourth for fantasy metrics. This late-game stagnation in real scoring suggests the offense struggled to close out drives efficiently in the final period.

Defensively, the Eagles allowed more in the fourth quarter (7.3 points per game, rank #22 fewest allowed; 21.3 FPavg allowed, rank #14 fewest). Rank 1 is fewest allowed, so those are mid-to-back-pack frames, not “worst” or “highest allowed.” The middle quarters were tighter: Q2 allowed 4.9 real points (#3 fewest) and 16.9 FPavg (#4 fewest), and Q3 allowed 3.0 real points (#3 fewest) with 17.5 FPavg allowed (#13 fewest). The contrast is between stingier middle quarters and a leakier fourth, not a polarity flip on the rank scale.

Defensive Outlook

Sharp's defensive Rank: Front 7 #2, Secondary #6.

Defensive Studs

Note: Combined tackles are 2025 regular-season nflverse totals (solo + assists). Traded players may include production from a prior club unless a single-club club-stint total is available.

Zack Baun led the club with 123 tackles; Jalyx Hunt 6.5 sacks, Moro Ojomo 6.0 sacks, Jaelan Phillips 5.0 sacks.

Defensive counting stats: Zack Baun: 7 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 2 INT, 7 PD; Cooper DeJean: 4 TFL, 2 INT, 16 PD; Reed Blankenship: 1 TFL, 1 INT, 4 PD; Jihaad Campbell: 2 TFL, 1 INT, 3 PD; Jordan Davis: 9 TFL, 4.5 sacks, 6 PD; Adoree' Jackson: 1 INT, 11 PD; Jalyx Hunt: 9 TFL, 6.5 sacks, 3 INT, 3 PD; Moro Ojomo: 6 TFL, 6.0 sacks, 1 PD.

Sharp rates the Philadelphia Eagles’ front seven as the second-best unit in the league, a standing that persists despite significant turnover on the edge and at linebacker. The defense must replace departing contributors such as Jaelan Phillips, Nakobe Dean, Azeez Ojulari, Joshua Uche, and Ben VanSumeren, who have all left via free agency or other means. To offset these losses, the team added Jonathan Greenard (EDGE) via trade and signed Arnold Ebiketie (EDGE) and A.J. Epenesa (EDGE) to bolster the pass rush. Seventh-round picks Cole Wisniewski (S), Uar Bernard (DT), and Keyshawn James-Newby (DE) were waived at cutdown and are on the practice squad — not immediate active-53 depth. Zack Baun anchored the group with 123 combined tackles in 2025, providing a stable foundation in the middle as the new edge rushers integrate into the scheme.

The secondary is ranked sixth by Sharp, though it faces its own reshuffling after losing safeties Reed Blankenship and Sydney Brown along with cornerback Adoree' Jackson. The Eagles addressed these gaps by acquiring Riq Woolen (CB) and Jonathan Jones (CB) to strengthen the perimeter. Rookie safety Cole Wisniewski was waived at cutdown and is on the practice squad, so he is not plugging the Blankenship/Sydney Brown hole on the initial 53. It is important to note that Sharp’s unit grades were published before these late roster moves were finalized, so the current composition may differ slightly from the initial assessment. With Jalyx Hunt contributing 6.5 sacks (and nine tackles for loss) among other defensive stats, the unit aims to maintain its high efficiency through a mix of veteran acquisitions and young talent stepping into larger roles.

Fantasy Points Allowed by Coverage

Rank 1 = fewest PPR fantasy points allowed per snap in that coverage.

Special Teams: 2025 Recap & 2026 Outlook

Jake Elliott: 20/27 FG, 41/42 PAT.

Braden Mann led with 72 punts (20 inside the 20).

Kickoff returner Will Shipley: 29 returns for 777 yards.

Punt returner Britain Covey: 11 returns for 124 yards.

Special teams tackler Kylen Granson: 18 combined tackles on punts and kickoffs.

Jake Elliott handled the placekicking duties in 2025, converting 20 of 27 field goal attempts for a 74.1 percent success rate while missing only one extra point on 42 tries. His longest make traveled 58 yards, and he successfully nailed four kicks from 50 yards or longer. Braden Mann served as the primary punter, dropping 72 punts with 20 of them landing inside the opponent’s 20-yard line and none blocked.

Will Shipley led the kickoff return unit with 29 returns that generated 777 total yards, while Britain Covey managed the punt return role with 11 attempts for 124 yards. Kylen Granson was the most active special teams tackler, recording 18 combined stops on coverage units before his departure in free agency.

Penalty Analysis

Hacking DFS / nflverse records 66 offensive penalties and 51 defense-side flags (117 total), so the offense’s share of that table is 56.4% (false starts plus offensive holding are 41 of 117, or 35.0%). Sharp uses a separate penalty methodology and reports the offense at a below-average 46% of the team’s total penalties, with offensive holding and false starts making up 38% of all flags on Sharp’s definitions — those shares are not derived from the Hacking DFS table. On Sharp’s boards, the defense struggled to maintain the clean play that characterized their Super Bowl campaign, resulting in a top-five ranking for surrendering automatic first downs via penalties. This shift contributed to the Eagles recording the second-biggest swing from positive to negative territory in beneficial automatic first downs from 2024 to 2025, with only the Miami Dolphins experiencing a larger decline in this metric.

The team’s penalty issues were most pronounced in critical moments and later stages of games, as they averaged nearly 20 yards per contest in third-down penalties, the highest mark in the league. Philadelphia also led the NFL with 61% of overall penalties assessed in the second half of their contests, a significant increase from the 46% recorded in 2024. This lack of discipline resulted in the Eagles ranking number one in net negative penalties per game, marking their worst performance in this category during the Nick Sirianni era. While the roster remains talented, the spike in defensive penalty averages and the inability to draw beneficial flags highlight a clear area for improvement as they look to bounce back from their championship hangover.

Types of Penalties

Offense: 66 penalties for 469 yards (#20). Most common: False Start (24), Offensive Holding (17), Delay of Game (8). Most flags in Shotgun (20), Under Center (5). Most flagged players: A.J. Brown (7), Tyler Steen (7), Jordan Mailata (6).

Defense-side nflverse bucket: 51 penalties for 604 yards (#23), including 3 special-teams punt-return holdings — not a pure scheme-defense total. Most common: Defensive Pass Interference (18), Defensive Holding (5), Roughing the Passer (4). Most flags on Cover 1 (16), Cover 4 (5), Cover 3 (4). Most flagged players: Kelee Ringo (7), Quinyon Mitchell (6), Jalen Carter (5).

League Rank polarity: #1 = fewest penalties (most disciplined); #32 = most flags.

The Philadelphia Eagles offense was charged with 66 penalties that cost the team 469 yards, ranking twentieth in the league. False starts were the most frequent infraction with 24 occurrences, followed by 17 instances of offensive holding and eight delay of game penalties. These flags appeared most often when the unit operated out of the shotgun formation, which accounted for 20 penalties, compared to just five while under center. Among individual players, A.J. Brown and Tyler Steen each drew seven flags, while Jordan Mailata was called for six infractions during the season.

On the defense side, the nflverse bucket recorded 51 penalties for 604 yards, a total that includes three special teams holdings on punt returns rather than representing pure defensive scheme errors alone. Defensive pass interference was the most common call with 18 instances, while defensive holding occurred five times and roughing the passer was flagged four times. This data reflects specific coverage and situational outcomes without attributing the entire penalty count to a single defensive unit or scheme.

Top Fantasy Player Targets

Sharp fantasy ranks: DeVonta Smith WR11, Saquon Barkley RB4, Jalen Hurts QB7.

The QB, WR, TE, and RB tables above already cover 2025 DraftKings averages, floors, ceilings, slate wins, and salaries from Hacking DFS. This section is the roster call — who to target, who to fade, and who inherits work from free agency and the draft.

Fantasy Points & Expected Fantasy Points

FPavg and xFPavg are full PPR per game from 2025 PBP (not DraftKings).

GP is games with at least one scored skill play in the 2025 PBP fantasy sample — not necessarily official games played.

xFPavg uses expected receiving/rushing/passing fantasy points.

Top scorers: Jalen Hurts (18.9 FPavg), A.J. Brown (14.7 FPavg), Saquon Barkley (14.4 FPavg), Dallas Goedert (12.3 FPavg), DeVonta Smith (11.9 FPavg).

Rushes vs Defensive Front 7

Front 7 = rushes against 7 or more defenders in the box (2025 PBP).

Total FP and FPavg are full PPR (not DraftKings).

Fantasy Points vs Coverage

Coverage % is share of offensive plays facing a charted coverage.

Total FP and FPavg are full PPR from 2025 PBP (FPavg is per play).

The Philadelphia Eagles offense generated its highest cumulative fantasy production against Cover 3 and Cover 1 shells, which combined to account for nearly half of their charted plays in 2025. DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown were the primary beneficiaries in these frequent looks, with Smith leading the team with 68 full-PPR points against Cover 3 and Brown posting a team-high 71 points against Cover 1. While Brown also contributed 63 points against Cover 3, Smith’s role as the top scorer in that specific coverage highlights his volume reliability when defenses deploy three-deep zones. These two receivers anchored the passing attack, ensuring that the offense maintained high scoring outputs even when facing the most common defensive structures.

Dallas Goedert emerged as the critical safety valve when defenses tightened their coverage schemes, particularly against Cover 2 and Cover 0. He led the team with 46 fantasy points against Cover 2 and added 37 points against Cover 0, demonstrating his value in tighter windows where outside receivers may find less space. Although Smith also scored 40 points against Cover 2, Goedert’s ability to lead in both man-heavy and two-high looks underscores his importance as a red-zone and intermediate target. The tight end’s production in these scenarios suggests he remains a viable option when the defense attempts to limit vertical threats by compressing the field.

It is important to note that A.J. Brown was traded to New England, which significantly alters the hierarchy for the upcoming season. With Brown no longer on the roster, the burden of leading the receiving corps falls to DeVonta Smith, who has proven capable of handling high-volume roles across multiple coverage types. Fantasy managers should monitor how the offense adjusts its distribution without Brown’s physical presence, especially against Cover 1 and Cover 3 where he previously accumulated significant points. Marquise Brown (free agency), Dontayvion Wicks (trade), and Elijah Moore (initial 53) are the new complementary options, but Smith remains the established centerpiece for fantasy production based on prior year data.

Skill adds: Dontayvion Wicks (WR) (via trade), Marquise Brown (WR), Elijah Moore (WR), Andy Dalton (QB) (via trade), and Johnny Mundt (TE).

Skill losses: A.J. Brown (WR) (traded to the Patriots), Jahan Dotson (WR) to the Falcons, Sam Howell (QB) to the Cowboys, A.J. Dillon (RB) to the Panthers, and Kylen Granson (TE) to the Titans.

Skill draft picks: Makai Lemon (WR, Rd 1, USC), Eli Stowers (TE, Rd 2, Vanderbilt), and Cole Payton (QB, Rd 5, North Dakota State).

Jalen Hurts remains the primary fantasy engine for Philadelphia, posting an 18.9 full PPR average per game in 2025, but the receiving corps faces a massive reshuffling after A.J. Brown was traded to New England. Brown was the team’s top pass-catcher with a 14.7 FPavg, leaving DeVonta Smith as the clear WR1 returning to the lineup with an 11.9 FPavg from the prior season. Smith must now absorb a larger share of targets without his former running mate, while Marquise Brown (free agency), Dontayvion Wicks (trade from Green Bay), Elijah Moore, and first-round pick Makai Lemon compete for the remaining volume alongside holdover Darius Cooper.

The tight end position sees Dallas Goedert return as a reliable option after averaging 12.3 fantasy points per game in 2025. He is joined by rookie Eli Stowers, veteran addition Johnny Mundt, and holdover E.J. Jenkins. Grant Calcaterra is on IR/designated to return and will miss at least the first four games, so he is not part of the early-season committee. While Goedert has established himself as a high-floor option in this offense, the influx of new pass-catchers means target distribution could be volatile early in the season as Hurts determines his preferred weapons beyond Smith.

Saquon Barkley anchors the backfield with a 14.4 FPavg from 2025, benefiting from an offensive line ranked as the second-strongest unit by Sharp. His workload appears secure despite the departure of A.J. Dillon to Carolina, which removes a direct backup but does not threaten Barkley’s lead role. The rushing attack should remain potent given the offensive-line strength (Sharp ranks the line second) and favorable schedule context, allowing Barkley to maintain high usage. With Andy Dalton acquired via trade from Carolina as a quarterback depth piece and Cole Payton drafted in the fifth round, the team has insulated its roster, but Barkley and Hurts remain the only players with proven high-end fantasy production returning from the previous year’s core.

Inside Scoop

Sharp’s overall grade for the Philadelphia Eagles is a C+. The forecast model projects 10.5 wins and a first-place division finish, reflecting a roster that remains among the most talented in the league despite failing to repeat as Super Bowl champions after their dominant 2024 campaign. The unit rankings highlight a clear dichotomy: the Offensive Line and Front 7 are rated second-best in the NFL, providing a massive structural advantage, while the Head Coach position is ranked fourteenth. As long as Vic Fangio directs the defense, this group should remain a top-10 unit, but the offense faces significant pressure on new coordinator Sean Mannion to resolve persistent inefficiencies.

The team enters the 2026 season with a schedule ranked seventh-easiest on Sharp’s scale, which supports the favorable betting lines that list them as favorites in thirteen of seventeen games. However, the roster has undergone substantial turnover that complicates the outlook. Key departures include A.J. Brown (traded to New England), Jahan Dotson, and Nakobe Dean, along with defensive contributors like Jaelan Phillips and Sydney Brown. To offset these losses, the front office added Jonathan Greenard, Riq Woolen, Dontayvion Wicks (trade), Marquise Brown, Elijah Moore, Arnold Ebiketie, A.J. Epenesa, Andy Dalton (trade), Jonathan Jones, and Johnny Mundt. Grant Calcaterra begins the year on IR/DFR. While the defensive foundation remains strong under Fangio, the offensive uncertainty surrounding Jalen Hurts and the new play-caller suggests the team may struggle to outperform its win total if the passing game does not stabilize quickly.

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Warren Sharp's 2026 Football Preview served as a research guide for this team preview. Hacking DFS tables, player-level analysis and fantasy metrics are independently calculated from the data sources noted above. Please support Sharp's work by purchasing the full preview for his complete team analysis. Verify against the latest market before betting.