Eagles Fantasy Outlook: 3 key matchups to exploit against the Packers

There’s been a lot that has been said about this year’s first international game on the NFL schedule which features the Green Bay Packer and Philadelphia Eagles heading to Sao Paulo, Brazil for a Week 1, Friday night clash. Good, bad, indifferent, the two teams will be ready to play and there are some intriguing fantasy matchups that you should be aware of to help win your first week of the season.

*Rankings are based on ESPN PPR League*

Saquon Barkley vs. Packers Rush Defense

The buzz and excitement surrounding Saquon Barkley’s Eagles debut is one of the most anticipated storylines coming into the season. What type of production he might offer not only in real life, but in the fantasy football world is also something fans are pondering.

Barkley enters the season as the RB5 according to ESPN’s PPR Rankings as of Aug. 31 and this first week matchup could be a very productive one for the talented running back. The Packers defense ranks 19th in fantasy this year after struggling last year allowing the fifth-most rushing yards per game (127.1 yards/game) and being near the middle of the pack in passing yards allowed, finishing 13th a season ago (218.3 yards/game).

More specifically, the Packers allowed 21.7 fantasy points per game to running backs last year in PPR leagues, which was ranked 20th in the NFL. With that said, the Packers made changes to help revamp their defense, letting go of former defensive coordinator Joe Berry and brought in Jeff Hafley, the former head coach at Boston College who will run a new, 4-3 defense in Green Bay. The Packers also inked star safety Xavier McKinney to a 4-year, $68 million contract to be a force in the secondary. The front office also used six draft picks to help shore up the unit, highlighted by a pair of second round picks in linebacker Edgerrin Cooper out of Texas A&M and safety Javon Bullard from Georgia.

Despite the additions and change in philosophy, Barkley should have success in his Eagles debut. He’s behind a much better offensive line than he was last year in New York where he finished ninth among running backs last year, averaging 15.9 points a game being one of the only weapons for the Giants. Add in the possibility of catching a few passes from Hurts in this new-look offense under offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, who saw his running backs haul in 67 catches with the Chargers last year, and the multiple options the Packers will need to defend, Barkley should have ample opportunities to help finish as a top 5 RB in Week 1.

Dallas Goedert vs. Packers Pass Defense

Will this be the year Dallas Goedert becomes a top-five fantasy tight end? He certainly has the skillset to be a mismatch against many opposing defenses but injuries and falling down in the pecking order behind A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith along with the addition of Barkley, it might be tough for Goedert to have huge impacts in games on a week-to-week basis. The seventh-year tight end of the Eagles ranks just outside the top 10 at TE11 on ESPN.

You are going to have to keep any eye on the injury report as Goedert has been out of practice for a week dealing with an oblique issue, but if he’s able to suit up, he should be a formidable tight end to start.

The Packers defense a season ago did allow success to opposing tight ends, ranking 18th in points allowed, surrendering 11.8 points per game. If you’re a Goedert owner, you would be very happy with 10+ points in Week 1, but if the Packers defense continues its trend from last year, one angle to look at is that they allowed the 4th-most points in the red zone to tight ends. A touchdown added to Goedert’s day could be in the cards in this Week 1 matchup.