RADIO
We all had something to be thankful for on Thanksgiving Thursday, except the Philadelphia Eagles. During the first game of the traditional NFL turkey day schedule, the Eagles put out one of the more embarrassing performances by any team all season. The Detroit Lions destroyed Philadelphia 45-14 and forced the Eagles to fall to 4-7. The playoff hopes of Philadelphia are fading and so is the fantasy value of the team. Over the last two games, the Eagles have been outscored 90-31.
Mark Sanchez started at quarterback in place of the injured Sam Bradford and had a very mundane fantasy game. With 199 passing yards, two touchdown passes and a fumble, Sanchez failed to develop the passing game for the Eagles. A garbage touchdown helped make the numbers of Sanchez and star wide receiver Jordan Matthews look more respectable than it should have been. Matthews finished with three catches for 60 yards and a touchdown reception but no other Philadelphia receiver did anything of note. While Sam Bradford was also quite lackluster at the quarterback position before suffering a shoulder injury, he was definitely a better option than Sanchez. The defense has a better time game planning against the running game because they can easily limit the Eagles from having a strong passing attack with Mark Sanchez as quarterback.
DeMarco Murray’s poor game was arguably the biggest disappointment of the day from a fantasy perspective. The running back finished with 14 carries for just 30 yards on the ground and a shocking zero targets in the passing game by Sanchez. Murray was starting to turn his season around and was entering the low end RB1 discussion before the injury to Bradford. The quarterback change has resulted in lackluster performances over the last two consecutive games by Murray. Opposing defenses are loading up the front and not letting him break out many big runs. His usual threatening status in the passing game is also at a lower ceiling with Sanchez at quarterback. In last week’s 45-17 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Murray was limited to just seven standard fantasy points and finished with just three today.
It’s becoming clearer that Bradford is a better fit for the Eagles offense than Sanchez. Albert Breer reported that Bradford likely would have started if the team was given a full week of practice but the short week prevented his return. This gives hope he will return in Week 13 against the New England Patriots. You’re likely not starting him in fantasy but it helps the value of Jordan Matthews and especially DeMarco Murray going forward.
