Congratulations, we made it to Week 2! Hopefully, everyone is 1-0 and ready to make all the right decisions to get to 2-0 after this week. One of the toughest decisions facing fantasy managers this week is who, if anyone, to start in the Philadelphia Eagles backfield. I believe this will be a tough decision every week because Head Coach Nick Sirianni won’t name an official starting running back. So that will make for a running back by committee (RBBC) approach being used by the Eagles, and that will leave fantasy managers with a big headache every week.
Eagles Running Back Fantasy Football Breakdown
In Week 1 Coach Sirianni decided to go with Kenneth Gainwell as his lead back, with D’Andre Swift and Boston Scott as the backup running backs. The Eagles made Rashaad Penny a healthy inactive for Week 1 which was surprising given they had signed just this offseason, theoretically to replace free agent Miles Sanders. It looked like the Eagles made the right decision in Week 1 as Gainwell gained 54 yards on 14 carries also adding four receptions for 20 yards and looking really good in the process. Meanwhile, Swift saw little playing time, managing only three yards on two touches. Boston Scott added 10 yards on two touches as well. So, it was clear coming out of Week 1 that the Eagles had their lead back in Gainwell … but wait, we find out on Monday that he has a rib injury and will not play in Week 2. Now we are back to square one with no Gainwell and a three-headed monster at running back heading into Week 2.
Who Should You Start?
Now as for this week, we know Gainwell has already been ruled out, and I can see Penny, Swift and Scott all being active for tonight’s game. I can definitely see this being an ugly timeshare and the Eagles using the hot-hand approach, but I believe ultimately that Swift will end up with the most touches in tonight’s game against the Minnesota Vikings. He is the most talented and more explosive healthy running back on their roster at this point. Still, I would avoid starting any of the Eagles running backs this week unless you are desperate and have no one else to start; then I would reluctantly start Swift and hope for the best.
