If you own Zach Ertz or the Eagles' defense in fantasy, you'll like what you're about to read.
Analyzing the relevant Eagles and Giants from a fantasy football perspective heading into Week 3:
TE Zach Ertz
Ertz was third in the NFL with 190 receiving yards through two games, and he has a juicy matchup Sunday against the Giants.
The Giants' defense is pretty good but has been victimized so far by tight ends. New York has allowed 13 catches for 104 yards to tight ends and saw both Jason Witten and Eric Ebron score touchdowns.
Last season, Ertz caught 10 of 10 targets for 130 yards in the two games against the Giants. That averages out to an 11.5-point afternoon in a PPR league, and Ertz has even more upside than that because of how teams have attacked the Giants so far.
He's a no-brainer start at a thin position.
Philadelphia Eagles
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Projected stat line: 6 catches, 85 yards, TD
WR Alshon Jeffery
Jeffery's matchup depends on whether Pro Bowl cornerback Janoris Jenkins is healthy enough to play after missing Monday night's game with ankle and hand injuries.
When healthy, Jenkins is a shutdown corner, and in Week 1 he held Dez Bryant to two catches for 43 yards.
If Jenkins plays - the expectation is that he will - don't expect Jeffery to receive double-digit targets like he did in Week 2 when he caught 7 of 13 passes his way for 92 yards and a TD. You could see Carson Wentz opt to involve Torrey Smith and Nelson Agholor more.
Projected stat line: 4 catches, 45 yards
Eagles' defense/special teams
The Eagles' strength is their pass rush and the Giants' weakness is their offensive line. It's the major reason the Eagles are in good shape to win this early-season divisional showdown, and it could result in a double-digit point total from their D/ST.
Through two games, the Eagles have eight sacks and the Giants have allowed eight sacks. It's a good bet that they'll at least hit their average of four sacks in this game.
Giants left tackle Ereck Flowers has been a turnstile. He allowed three sacks to Ziggy Ansah on Monday night, and since 2015 he's allowed 134 QB pressures, the most of any offensive tackle, according to Pro Football Focus.
Thus, it's a great matchup for Vinny Curry and Derek Barnett at right defensive end. On the other side of the line, Brandon Graham is having a fantastic season so far.
Eli Manning's best bet in this one is getting the ball out very quickly, but that also requires his receivers to get open quickly. A gimpy Odell Beckham Jr. and a rusty Brandon Marshall haven't been capable of helping their QB much so far.
Projected stat line: 5 sacks, 2 takeaways, 20 points allowed
RB Shane Vereen
Because of the reasons listed above, Vereen is a decent RB2 in PPR leagues this Sunday. Manning is going to need to check the ball down to avoid the Eagles' pass rush, which he could keep off balance early with a few well-timed screens.
Vereen is not much of a runner but he gets a ton of looks in the passing game. In Week 1, he caught 9 passes for 51 yards. In Week 2, he had three catches and 55 yards from scrimmage.
Projected stat line: 6 catches, 70 total yards
WR Odell Beckham Jr.
After sitting in Week 1, Beckham had just four catches for 36 yards in Week 2 as he continues to recover from his ankle injury.
I don't expect Beckham to have a 10-catch afternoon, but he's a good bet to break at least one big play with the Eagles' secondary so banged-up. On top of missing top cornerback Ronald Darby, the Eagles have also been without DBs Rodney McLeod, Corey Graham and Jaylen Watkins, who are all dealing with hamstring injuries.
Beckham played just 61 percent of the Giants' snaps in Week 2. He's an obvious start for anyone who drafted him in the first round but don't expect real first-round value until he's healthy enough to play an entire game. His injury occurred about four weeks ago and Beckham said it carried a recovery time of at least six weeks.
Projected stat line: 4 catches, 80 yards, TD
WR Brandon Marshall
Marshall just isn't startable right now, between the Giants' O-line issues, his drops and a lack of rapport with Manning.
Perhaps he has his first good game with Big Blue this Sunday, but until he does he cannot be trusted.
Projected stat line: 3 catches, 36 yards
Eagles RBs
Good luck predicting how the Eagles' running back snaps are going to play out. In Week 1, LeGarrette Blount had 14 carries and a one-yard TD reception. In Week 2, he had one touch.
In Kansas City, Darren Sproles had more than twice as many offensive snaps as Blount, Wendell Smallwood and Corey Clement combined. Some of that was dictated by game flow and opponent. The Chiefs have a strong interior and front seven so a shiftier runner than Blount was needed.
The Giants, too, are solid up the middle with Damon Harrison, perhaps the best nose tackle in the NFL. Last season, Harrison according to PFF had 49 run stops (run plays resulting in a loss). The next-best nose tackle had 39.
Sproles is the only Eagles running back worth starting against the Giants. Last season, he factored heavily into the game plans in the two games against the Giants, rushing 20 times for 97 yards and a touchdown, while adding five catches for 37 yards.
The Eagles have also been known to have a long punt return or two against the G-Men.
Projected stat line: 75 total yards, 4 receptions, TD
