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The Philadelphia Eagles kick off their 2013 season on Monday night against the Washington Redskins. The Eagles want to improve the 4-12 record they posted only a season ago. Andy Reid is out and Chip Kelly is in. Michael Vick and LeSean McCoy are healthy, but Jeremy Maclin is out for the year, forcing Riley Cooper to take the No. 2 receiver spot.
Many fantasy owners like having a player or two on Monday, but with all of the uncertainty surrounding this Eagles team, it’s tough to feel confident. Vick finished as the 27th-ranked quarterback and McCoy just missed the top 20, coming in at No. 21, based on NFL fantasy standard scoring.
With that being said, here are my predictions for the Eagles’ star players against the Redskins.
Michael Vick
To say that Vick has owned the Redskins would be an understatement. In four games as the Eagles’ starter, Vick is 67-of-105 for 954 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions. He also has 154 rushing yards and two touchdowns. The Eagles are 3-1 in those games.
The last time these two teams played on Monday night, Nov. 15, 2010 to be specific, was Vick’s reintroduction to the league. Vick finished the game 20-of-28 with 333 yards and four touchdowns. If that wasn’t enough, he rushed eight times for 80 yards and two more touchdowns. He ended up with 49 fantasy points, the most among quarterbacks in a single game.
The Redskins finished the 2012 season as the 30th-worst passing defense. With not many changes on their defense, look for Vick to carve up the Redskins’ defense under Kelly’s new offensive scheme.
Prediction: 22-of-32, 305 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, 75 rushing yards, 1 TD (27 points)
LeSean McCoy
Despite playing in only 12 games last season, McCoy finished the season with 200 rushing attempts and 840 yards. However, he only had two rushing touchdowns. Bryce Brown showed some skills during McCoy’s absence, but he put the ball on the ground too many times, four to be exact. The fifth-year running back has had some success against the Redskins as well. In seven games, McCoy has averaged 111 total yards.
McCoy was drafted in most leagues as a No. 1 running back and will not disappoint. After he left fantasy owners hanging with four missed games and only 135 points, McCoy will begin his road to redemption with a explosive first game.
Prediction: 125 total yards, 1 TD (18 points)
DeSean Jackson
Jackson has not played a full season since his rookie year in 2008. With Maclin out for the year, Jackson will look to get more than his fair share of targets. Cooper doesn’t have chemistry with Vick and Brent Celek isn’t a top-tier tight end.
Against the Redskins, Jackson has 386 yards, never topping 100 yards in nine games. Jackson will most likely be covered by cornerback DeAngelo Hall all game, preventing him from breaking off on a long pass. He will, however, reach the end zone to break double-digit fantasy points.
Prediction: 60 receiving yards, 1 TD (12 points)
Bill Pivetz is a fantasy football writer for Rant Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @Mr_Piv1127.
