Evan Silva’s Matchups: Falcons at Eagles

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Editor’s Note: This Matchup was written by John Daigle, with input from Evan Silva.

Monday Night Football

Atlanta @ Philadelphia

Team Totals: Falcons 20.5, Eagles 26.5

As if Kirk Cousins’ concerning arm strength and pocket movement were not enough, the 0-1 Falcons travel to Philadelphia on national television then host the defending Super Bowl Champion Chiefs in Week 3. OC Zac Robinson’s play-calling debut was flooded with the pistol offense (48.2%, second) and zero snaps of play action, which Cousins has leveraged for the most touchdowns (69) since 2018; Atlanta shockingly ran the ball at an above-average clip (43.4%, 14th) in neutral game script. Pressured on 39.3% (ninth) of his dropbacks against the Steelers, Kirk’s range of outcomes opposite specimen DTs Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis includes 250 yards with multiple touchdowns or being benched for Michael Penix Jr., who should immediately be stashed in Superflex leagues. There are better options to stream (Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones) ahead of Cousins in Week 2. … Bijan Robinson didn’t miss a beat in handling 88.4% (fifth) of Atlanta’s backfield touches with 100% of their RB targets (5). At first glance, Tyler Allgeier’s standalone role under Robinson is nonexistent with only three carries (and four routes) in the season opener, all which occurred on early downs. Philadelphia’s trenches leaked 5.3 yards per carry (and two 20-yard runs) to Josh Jacobs, keeping Bijan entrenched as a confident RB1.

“We certainly have to get him involved a bit more,” Robinson said on Drake London following his three-target effort. Fortunately for the squeaky wheel, Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. (1/7/0 in coverage) is no longer on the schedule, and Philadelphia permitted the second-most fantasy points to enemy receivers in Week 1. London’s on-field participation with a route on every dropback elevates him as a top-24 WR for one more week. … Darnell Mooney also ran a route on every dropback against the Steelers, resulting in a single 15-yard catch. His career 12.2 yards per reception are reserved exclusively for deep dynasty leagues and one-game slates. … Even in leading the Falcons with a 30.4% target share, Ray-Ray McCloud finished fifth on the team in routes run (73%) as the PPR WR44. It was the sixth time (across 78 appearances) he’s earned more than five targets in any game. … On the surface, Kyle Pitts could not have been more wide open on his TD catch. His usage behind the scenes should be in focus, earning a 9.3-yard depth of target for ‘free’ fantasy points underneath; he was schemed a career 12-yard aDOT (the highest of any tight end with 100 targets since 2021) under former OC Arthur Smith. Pitts was also the only TE to garner a 100% route participation in Week 1, running a team-high 64% of his reps from the slot. Note that Eagles slot CB Avonte Maddox allowed Jayden Reed (5/171/2) to go nuclear on five touches.

The Eagles were afforded 10 days rest from playing Friday night in Brazil then returning home for MNF. Every promise was kept under OC Kellen Moore, ranking sixth in Neutral Pace and third in no-huddle rate (per Pat Thorman’s Snaps and Pace research). Jalen Hurts’ 34 pass attempts and 13 carries were comparable to his averages (33.9, 9.8) through Week 9 before suffering concussion, knee, and finger injuries down the stretch. He continues to project as the overall QB1 at season’s end. … Saquon Barkley’s 26/132/3 from scrimmage included 3.6 yards after contact per attempt (seventh) and two carries from inside the 5-yard line — 20% of D’Andre Swift’s total (10) in that area of the field last year. Kenneth Gainwell operated as the sole backup over Will Shipley, but both were boxed out for two combined touches and 14 routes (to Saquon’s 26). Barkley’s every-down role provides an RB1 floor regardless of the restraint Atlanta showed against Justin Fields (4.0 YPC), Najee Harris (3.5), and Cordarrelle Patterson (3.2).

A.J. Brown’s rapport with Hurts carried over with a team-high 34.4% target share for 5/119/1, cooking All-Pro CB Jaire Alexander for a 67-yard touchdown in Brazil. Atlanta’s secondary was scorched for 14.2 yards per catch and two 20-yard receptions by 6-foot-3 George Pickens, projecting AJB in a similar light. Friday’s hamstring tightness is admittedly a concern and worth monitoring: HC Nick Sirianni said “we’ll see” when asked about Brown’s availability. If active, his floor-ceiling combo remains a must-start. … One of only nine players to run a route on 100% of dropbacks in Week 1, DeVonta Smith’s power slot role (71%) under Moore afforded the former a 27.5% target share for 2.1 Yards Per Route Run (23rd). Peppered for 63% of his targets within nine yards of the line of scrimmage, Smith’s increased floor as an every-week WR2 is additionally captain-worthy on Showdown slates. … Jahan Dotson was utilized as Philadelphia’s third receiver but drew just one target (in the red zone) on 26 routes (63%). His surprising on-field usage keeps him afloat for single-game offerings, especially if sliding into Brown’s (potentially) vacated role. … Dallas Goedert finished third on the team in targets (5, 17.2%) against the Packers for 4/31/0 receiving as the overall TE12. A low-end TE1 weekly for his promising 78% route rate, Goedert’s opportunity in Week 2 includes a Falcons unit that most recently funneled the fifth-highest rate (31.8%) of targets to tight ends.

Score Prediction: Eagles 28, Falcons 17