The sweat may be pooling up in all the wrong places, but, before you know it, changing leaves, cool temperatures and football will be in the air. To help fantasy managers and devoted bettors get through summer’s soaring heat, The Gaming Juice’s resident gridiron gambler, Brad Evans, is here to preview each NFL franchise -- fantasy values, prop picks and team win totals. Channeling Richard Dent, Reggie White and J.J. Watt, the Three-Point Stance has eyes on sacking the sportsbooks and fantasy rivals.
Today’s featured squad: Philadelphia Eagles
[ Gamer's Guide to the Gridiron: Fantasy football forecasts and NFL betting picks ]
Fantasy value - Dallas Goedert, TE (ADP: 159.50, TE17) - Fight through the fog of that seventh grapefruit High Noon and remember the under-appreciated tight end in the double-digit rounds of your fantasy draft.
Coveted capital for the likes of Brock Bowers, Trey McBride and George Kittle will inevitably be spent, but the bargain shoppers in attendance should have Philly's primary plus-sized pass catcher squarely on their radar.
Goedert spoke highly of what new offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo has designed for him this season, commenting in late June he's giddy about the "different ways that he's going to get me the ball." Spicy.
Limited to only 10 games last season due to knee and hamstring setbacks, he scored a mere two times. Still, his No. 3 catchable target rate, No. 4 yards per route run (2.54) and No. 5 fantasy points per route run (0.53) were promising. Recall his 10.4 fantasy points per game in PPR formats cracked the position's top 10.
Yes, Philly's second-hardest strength of schedule is an unwanted cement mixer shot and the Eagles should remain at or near the top of the rush attempt ranks, but at TE17, Goedert has sizable profit potential.
For the wait-on-a-TE crowd, he should be highly desired.
Prop pick - Jalen Hurts OVER 600.5 rush yards (+100, BetMGM) - Turn that John Mellencamp classic up to 11.
As witnessed numerous times over the years on social media, the thick-thighed quarterback is capable of squatting a beer truck full of untapped kegs. His Herculean lower base combined with Philly's elite offensive line is precisely why crybaby league owners and GMs have tried to ban the tush push. However, still a very legal play, the Brotherly Shove is alive and well. Whether on short forward falls, opportunistic scrambles or deigned RPOs, Hurts is nearly a lock for 125-plus carries. Last season, his 150 ground grips set the pace among passers.
Equally encouraging, the Eagles have the fifth-easiest projected fantasy RB schedule. Yes, he's a QB, but the favorable in-the-trenches slate only increases the likelihood this bet cashes.
Yes, given his duality, he's alway vulnerable to some time missed. Still, he's suited up in at least 15 games in four straight seasons, racking 605 or more ground in each.
Most respected prognosticators have him pegged between 650-700 ground yards. Unless the dastardly injury imp renders him useless, bank on an outcome in that range.
Come on Jalen, make it Hurts so good.
Team lean - Eagles OVER 11.5 regular season wins (+105, BetMGM) - Soaring over the proposed number is very much on the table. Projected by almost ever human being registering a pulse, the reigning Super Bowl champs shouldn't endure a harsh correction.
Their seemingly always salty head coach Nick Siriani has much to be confident about. His defense may be slightly above average, but his offense -- featuring arguably the best o-line in the game -- is proven, well-versed and efficient.
ESPN's Mike Clay forecasts a surprising 10.3 wins for the Eagles this season. However, the soothsayer gives them a 51% or greater win probability in a whopping 15 games.
Unless that alien invasion finally occurs, Philly should win at least a dozen games -- even with the second-hardest slate in the entire NFL.
Fly Eagles, fly.