DeSean Jackson

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Through five games, the Philadelphia Eagles are only 2-3, but are still deadlocked for the NFC East lead. The offense under Chip Kelly is much different than anything the Eagles have shown in prior years, especially based on the fact that it is run-based.

Employing the option-based spread offense, it would seem that the receivers would see less of the ball, even more so in Philadelphia where league-leading rusher LeSean McCoy dictates the Eagles’ ebb and flow. Paired along with the youthful legs of veteran quarterback Michael Vick, it becomes even harder to see where any receiver could get enough touches to place in the top tier of the NFL.

However, DeSean Jackson is on pace to do just that.

Jackson’s consistency is the only thing holding him from earning a top-three spot among the league’s receivers for the season. In just five weeks, Jackson has already stumbled twice in games against the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos, yet still finds himself in the top-four. His production in those two games combined didn’t match any of his other three outputs this season. In addition, he scored in each of the other games.

Jackson is well on pace to shatter his own career high in receiving yards for a season. Using his total over the first five weeks, he is set to gain over 1650 yards in the air before season’s end. Not only would that surpass any of his career marks, it would finish second to only Calvin Johnson in last season’s receiving marks, and would surpass every pass catcher from 2010. It would place him in the top-10 all-time in single-season receiving yards.

If Jackson can stay healthy and remain involved on a more consistent basis in the Philadelphia offense, he’ll easily reach the top three in receiving in the NFL for 2013, as well as setting the Eagles’ all-time mark for receiving yards in a single season. 

Bob Francis is a Philadelphia Eagles contributor for www.RantSports.com.  Follow him on Twitter @rfrancisjr, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google

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