Fantasy Implications in Eagles' Week 2 Matchup With Chiefs

Each week this season, we'll take a look at the Eagles and their opponent from a fantasy perspective to help with any lineup-related decisions.

Before looking ahead, let's take a quick look back.

What we got right
• Zach Ertz indeed had a great game and Alshon Jeffery didn't against the 'Skins.

• LeGarrette Blount reached the end zone.

• Rob Kelley and Terrelle Pryor struggled.

• Chris Thompson had the best day of any Redskins running back.

What we got wrong
• Jordan Reed, who we pegged at seven catches, 90 yards and a TD, had a modest afternoon. News came out Sunday morning that Reed is dealing with a broken toe, which may have affected his game.

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• Jamison Crowder did next to nothing, falling well short of our six-catch projection.

Now on to the Eagles and Chiefs.

• • •

RB Kareem Hunt
Hunt was one of the top stories of Week 1 after his 246 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns. It was the best debut a running back has ever had.

Hunt will continue to get ample opportunities in Kansas City's ground attack. Charcandrick West, the No. 2 RB, is more of a pass-catcher than a between-the-tackles runner.

If you have Hunt, you're starting him this week, you don't really need any fantasy advice or input. 

It's hard to know just yet how good the Eagles' 2017 run defense is. Last season, the Eagles allowed RBs an average of 125 total yards and 5.6 catches per game.

Projected stat line: 70 rushing yards, 5 catches, 40 receiving yards, TD

• • •

WR Tyreek Hill, TE Travis Kelce
Hill is a nightmarish matchup for any team because he's probably the fastest man in the NFL and the Chiefs are so creative with his usage. The Eagles can try different things, jamming him at the line of scrimmage or doubling him on occasion, but Andy Reid is going to figure out ways to get him the ball.

Last season, Hill had seven plays of 34 yards or more, including touchdown runs of 68 and 70 yards. In Week 1 against the Patriots, he had a 75-yard catch-and-run for another TD. If Alex Smith hits him in stride ... good luck.

The Chiefs put Hill in motion a lot and those are the most dangerous situations. He'll take a hand-off on an end-around or serve as a decoy to open running lanes for Hunt or space in the seam for Travis Kelce. 

It will be difficult for the Eagles to contain both Hill and Kelce in this game. Given Hill's explosiveness, they could make him the top priority to stop. He has to be defended the way teams defend DeSean Jackson with an over-the-top safety, which means more 1-on-1 coverage for Kelce.

With Hill, all it takes is one play. The Patriots actually played him pretty well aside from the 75-yarder.

Jordan Hicks and/or Malcolm Jenkins could draw the Kelce assignment. The Eagles allowed the fewest receptions and yards to tight ends of any NFL team last season but they didn't face one quite like Kelce.

Hill's projection: 90 yards from scrimmage

Kelce's projection: 6 catches, 72 yards, TD

• • •

WR Alshon Jeffery
After a tough Week 1 matchup with Josh Norman, Jeffery could be in line for a big game if he draws No. 2 Chiefs cornerback Terrance Mitchell.

The way the Chiefs play defense and the way Eagles lined Jeffery up last week, it looks like he'll avoid top corner Marcus Peters for the most part. Mitchell last week allowed 96 receiving yards, according to Pro Football Focus.

Jeffery (6-3/218) has a distinct size advantage on Mitchell (5-11/190). Plus, the Chiefs' pass defense figures to be worse moving forward with Eric Berry (torn Achilles) done for the season.

Projected Jeffery stat line: 7 catches, 120 yards, TD

• • •

RB LeGarrette Blount
The Chiefs allowed three one-yard TDs to Mike Gillislee in the opener against the Patriots but that doesn't necessarily make Blount a good start this week. 

First off, Gillislee's TDs were more about opportunity than anything else. Will the Eagles be able to drive inside the five-yard line multiple times against this KC defense? 

Blount's best chance at a decent game in this one would involve pass interference calls in the end zone. In that regard, Jeffery could be his best friend this weekend.

The Chiefs have a pretty stout front seven with Bennie Logan at the nose, Justin Houston and Dee Ford generating pressure and Derrick Johnson being the all-purpose linebacker he's always been.

Don't be surprised if the Eagles use Darren Sproles a bit more in this game to avoid the tough middle of KC's defense.

Projected stat line: 35 rushing yards, 0 TD

• • •

TE Zach Ertz
The Chiefs were the only team to allow fewer fantasy points per game to tight ends last season than the Eagles, and just last week they shut down Rob Gronkowski. 

But with Berry out, the Chiefs' ability to nullify the tight end drops and they'll likely bracket Ertz with two lesser players. If Jeffery wins his matchup a few times, KC could pull help away from Ertz to aid with Jeffery and that would enhance Ertz's matchup.

Ertz has been on a roll for about a calendar year and I think that continues Sunday even if he doesn't reach the end zone.

Projected stat line: 6 catches, 80 yards

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