Jalen Hurts isn’t active. Eagles instead will start Gardner Minshew, and that changes that entire offense. With Philadelphia playing against a Jets defense that’s allowing a league-high 30.4 points per game, this is noteworthy.
In recent weeks with Hurts, the Eagles have had the most run-dominated offense in the league. In their last five games, they’ve averaged 215 rushing yards versus only 146 passing yards. Also in those games, 10 rushing touchdowns and only 3 passing touchdowns. It’s like a college offense.
With Minshew, I think it’s a start-from-scratch situation. He doesn’t run like Hurts, but he’s got a lot more passing ability. So I would think they’ll come out looking like a different team.
If you’ve got Dallas Goedert or DeVonta Smith, I think those guys just got a lot more interesting. They’re the clear focal points of the passing offense, and I think they’re going to use them more. As soon as I get this posted, I’m going over to the Blackout competition and plugging in Goedert at tight end – he’ll be a lot busier. Earlier in the week, Smith was merely a top-30 wide receiver. With Minshew, I think he looks more like a top-10 guy.
I have also moved the other wide receivers up. Quez Watkins and Jalen Reagor now in my top 50 at the position in PPR scoring.
If you had Hurts and you’re looking for a quarterback, probably Minshew is your guy. I played around with the numbers some on this team, and in a ballpark estimate, I think Minshew should come in around 12th among quarterbacks.
My hot takes aren’t as decisive with the running backs. Hurts runs for a bunch of touchdowns on his own. He’s not there, so perhaps this will be the week Miles Sanders finally runs for a touchdown. But at the same time, the team isn’t going to run as often, and they’ve got other backs they’re using. Boston Scott didn’t practice all week, but he’s active. And I wonder if Kenneth Gainwell will show up as more of a factor? He’s their best third-down type back. In recent weeks, he hasn’t played much at all, but if they’re going with Minshew and throwing it around more, it would make sense for Gainwell to play a bigger role.
Best of luck to all today.
—Ian Allan