Philadelphia Eagles @ New York Giants Week 18 Game Preview

With the way things look, both teams could use this type of matchup. 

Philadelphia needs a win to get past their devastating loss to the Cardinals last week. Plus, New York’s passing game has just enough explosiveness to it to create a few highlights against the Eagles’ secondary. They’ll (likely) ultimately lose but go down swinging, giving folks some optimism about the team in 2024. On paper, this sounds like a win-win. And the Eagles still have something to play for in Week 18.

• Philadelphia: The Eagles can take the division title with a win plus a loss by Dallas. However, the Cowboys are 13-point favorites against the Commanders, leaving little doubt as to who will wind up with a win. If the Eagles get out to lead and get wind of the Cowboys doing the same, we might see a few guys rest midway through the game.
• New York: Already eliminated from playoff contention.

So, as always, the onus is on Jalen Hurts to fuel this contest from a fantasy perspective. Whether it’s him taking off or throwing the ball downfield, the Eagles go as he goes. And, knowing their tendencies, Philadelphia’s ground game should be our main focus.

But the problem is their RB rotation. D’Andre Swift has been the starter since Week 2 and has taken over 50.0% of the totes during their last month of games. But, per our Utilization Report, Kenneth Gainwell has taken 84.0% of long-down-and-distance snaps and nearly half of the short-yardage work. Plus, he’s averaging two targets per game. Between Gainwell’s touches and Hurts getting the Tush Push at the goal line, Swift, as a ‘between the 20s’ option, makes him a low-end RB1. And against the Giants’ defense, we see more from the WRs anyway.

Week 17 was the first game all month where A.J. Brown saw less than ten targets. Granted, Hurts only attempted 23 passes, and there’s no riff in the locker room to think Brown isn’t the WR1. DeVonta Smith is on the mend after securing 42.2% of Hurts’s targets, and Dallas Goedert has earned at least five looks per game over his last three. I’d look to Brown to lead the trio, but all three have paths to the Top 12 in Week 18.

For the Giants, the good news is they’re sticking with Tyrod Taylor. As expected, with the journeyman QB under center, HC Brian Daboll was more comfortable with a pass-heavy approach against the Rams.

I doubt you’ll be counting on Taylor to win any fantasy championships (if you’re still playing in Week 18…why?), but his pass-catchers might be on your roster. Taylor’s 332 air yards were the most by any Giants’ QB in a single game since Week 2. Admittedly, most of them have gone to Darius Slayton (30.2%), but Philadelphia’s defense has let a few receiving options at a time get by them.

The last time the Giants faced the Eagles, they held Darren Waller to 32 yards on five targets. However, with TEs giving Philadelphia’s linebackers a tough time (George Kittle 6-68-0, Jake Ferguson 8-72-0, Noah Fant 5-16-1, Trey McBride 7-48-0), Waller has a shot at a positive outing in the season finale.

And the only real options at WR are Slayton and Wan’Dale Robinson. Slayton has the big-play upside, averaging 18.6 air yards per target with Taylor under center. However, the Giants’ slot man has all the volume. Robinson’s 16 looks over the last two weeks lead the team, and he’s second on the squad in air yard share (17.4%). In PPR leagues, if you’re in a pinch, Robinson, at worst, has a safe floor with the shot at a ceiling in Week 18.