What We're Watching: NFC EAST
The NFL season is underway as all 32 teams will be opening training camp this week. The brief lull of the early summer is over, and it's time now to put the fantasy preparation into overdrive. As always, Footballguys is here to be your guide to another great season. Here's what we're watching for in the NFC East:
DALLAS COWBOYS
As the Cowboys head west to Oxnard, California, the team has an unmistakable air of optimism. Dallas is coming off a 10-6 season and NFC East crown; it’s third NFC East title in the last five years. While the team has been on a roll in the regular season, playoff success remains elusive. Dallas hasn’t gotten out of the divisional round since 1995, and the pressure is on head coach Jason Garrett to make the leap into Super Bowl contention. In an effort to improve last year’s 22nd-ranked offense, the team promoted Kellen Moore to offensive coordinator; he will call the plays. In contrast, Rod Marinelli remains defensive coordinator and has the Cowboys young defense playing at an elite level.
Camp Details:
- When: 7/26 (Rookies and Veterans)
- Where: Marriott Residence Inn (Oxnard, CA)
- Open to Public: Limited
Preseason Game Schedule:
- Aug 10 -- @San Francisco 9:00pm EST
- Aug 17 -- @Los Angeles Rams 10:00pm
- Aug 24 -- Houston 7:00pm
- Aug 29 -- Tampa Bay 8:00pm
What We're Watching:
- Is Travis Frederick back? – Frederick is arguably the league’s best center, and he missed the 2018 season with Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Without Frederick, the Cowboys offensive line struggled against top-tier defenses, particularly on the ground. If the All-Pro center returns and rookie Connor McGovern has a strong camp, Dallas’ offensive line should be elite and have enviable depth.
- Is Kellen Moore an innovator? – Dallas promoted Moore in hopes of modernizing the offense and making it less predictable. Teams usually play things close to the vest in preseason games, but it’ll be essential to hear from players and camp observers about Moore’s wrinkles and whether it portends more explosive playmaking.
- Will Ezekiel Elliott be a good camper? – All eyes are on Elliott, who has intonated a possible camp holdout due to frustration with his contract. Although Elliott has played well enough to earn a bigger deal, he doesn’t have much leverage with two years left on his rookie deal. A protracted holdout would potentially sour the entire offense, as the team lacks depth at the position.
- Does Jason Witten have gas in the tank? – Jason Witten will waltz into the Pro Football Hall of Fame someday, but he hit the reset button on that clock by un-retiring after a year in the broadcast booth. Inexplicably, Dallas was so bereft of talent at tight end, Witten likely slides right back into a starting role. Any signs he looks like his old self will go a long way toward optimizing the offense.
- Will any receiver other than Cooper offer fantasy value? – Amari Cooper was brilliant in Dallas last year and should be terrific in his first full season. But can either Michael Gallup or Randall Cobb emerge as a viable fantasy alternative?
NEW YORK GIANTS
The Giants return to East Rutherford with belief in Pat Shurmur and his staff. In spite of winning just five games in Shurmur’s first season, there were tangible improvements in every facet of the game. New York finished 16th in points scored, up from 31st in 2017. Moreover, the defense, while still in the bottom half of the standings, improved from 27th to 23rd. The team jettisoned a number of high-priced veterans including Olivier Vernon and Odell Beckham but hasn’t fully committed to a youthful rebuilding effort. Baby steps were enough in Year One, but fans and ownership expect Shurmur to lift the Giants out of the NFC East basement this year, and vie for a playoff spot. It will be a tall order considering most of the projected starters are 2018 returnees.
Camp Details:
- When: 7/22 (Rookies) / 7/24 (Veterans)
- Where: Quest Diagnostics Training Center (East Rutherford, NJ)
- Open to Public: Yes
Preseason Game Schedule:
- Aug 8 -- New York Jets 7:00pm EDT
- Aug 16 -- Chicago 7:30pm
- Aug 22 -- @Cincinnati 7:00pm
- Aug 29 -- @New England 7:30pm
What We're Watching:
- Can Daniel Jones push Eli Manning? – Jaws were on the floor on draft night as New York used the 6th overall pick on Duke’s Daniel Jones; a quarterback most saw as a raw, developmental prospect. But when a team uses a high pick on a quarterback, the fan base immediately wants to see a return on the investment. The coaches and front office insist Eli Manning’s job is safe, but will that be the case if Jones lights it up in the preseason?
- Is there a vertical element to the passing game? – Trading Odell Beckham and replacing him with veteran Golden Tate raised eyebrows. Although Tate is a proven contributor, he’s never been a vertical threat, and neither has incumbent Sterling Shepard. Can the Giants offense take another step forward without field stretchers? If not, will Shepard or Tate play out of the slot?
- Is Evan Engram an elite tight end? – Evan Engram has flashed in two seasons but has also flopped at times, including missing five games a year ago. Without Odell Beckham, Engram is the team’s most athletic pass-catcher and could be among the most targeted tight ends in the NFL if he can show more consistency.
- Is the offensive line getting better? – The team prioritized the offensive line last offseason, including signing Nate Solder to a mega-contract and spending a first-round pick on Will Hernandez. In spite of the investment, the Giants offensive line worsened, allowing 47 sacks (versus 34 in 2017) and ranking near the league’s worst in run-blocking. The hope is free agents Kevin Zeitler and Mike Remmers will be the final pieces to the puzzle, but neither grade out as difference-makers.
- Was the defensive makeover a success? – New York could have as many as seven new defensive starters if all goes to plan. Veteran additions Antoine Bethea and Jabrill Peppers are projected as the starting safeties. Rookie first-rounder Dexter Lawrence is expected to earn the nose tackle job. Fellow first-rounder Deandre Baker will push at cornerback, and both outside linebacker jobs are up for grabs. Can all the new faces gel and raise the defense out of the league’s depths?
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
The Eagles descend on the NovaCare Complex with a sense of renewed purpose after the 2018 season ended with a divisional-round loss to the New Orleans Saints. Following the franchise’s first Super Bowl in 2017, the team battled inconsistency and injury; needing a three-game winning streak at year end to secure a playoff berth. There’s room for improvement in all phases, as the offense (18th in points scored) and defense (12th in points allowed) fell back to the pack after top-5 rankings the prior year. The coaching staff returns intact but will have a bevy of new players at their disposal, including wholesale changes to the running back and receiving corps.
Camp Details:
- When: 7/24 (Rookies and Veterans)
- Where: NovaCare Training Complex (Philadelphia, PA)
- Open to Public: Limited
Preseason Game Schedule:
- Aug 8 -- Tennessee 7:30pm EDT
- Aug 15 -- @Jacksonville 7:00pm
- Aug 22 -- Baltimore 7:30pm
- Aug 29 -- @New York Jets 7:00pm
What We're Watching:
- Can Carson Wentz live up to his new contract? – After missing the playoffs each of the last two seasons, most expected the team to wait on a new contract until Wentz proved he could hold up for a full season. Instead, Howie Roseman rewarded him with a $154-million extension including $107 million in guarantees. Wentz has been elite when healthy, but now he’s being paid like the team’s cornerstone – keeping him upright is priority A, B, and C.
- Dealing without the Nick Foles safety net – Nick Foles may be the most valuable backup in NFL history. He led the Eagles to their first Super Bowl and outdueled Tom Brady, and then led the team back into the playoffs and a wild card victory over the Bears last year. But he’s now in Jacksonville, and the Eagles have to find a new backup for Wentz. Nate Sudfeld has looked the part in preseason work, but it’s hard to imagine a more precipitous drop-off in talent.
- Jordan Howard versus Miles Sanders – The Eagles backfield is kryptonite for fantasy football purposes, as no team utilizes a committee approach more. Every running back on the roster sees touches, and 2019 looks no different. If there is going to be a fantasy-relevant runner, it’s going to be either rookie Miles Sanders or veteran Jordan Howard – who was acquired via trade with the Bears. Sanders is the more exciting option; the rookie has three-down potential. But unless one of the two dominates in the preseason, expect a three- or four-headed monster in the regular season.
- Is the receiving corps set? – The re-acquisition of DeSean Jackson seemingly locks down the main receiver roles, with Jackson and Alshon Jeffery on the outside with Nelson Agholor in the slot. But the team used a second-round draft pick on rookie J.J. Arcega-Whiteside and still has high hopes for third-year Mack Hollins. If the younger players shine in the preseason, might the team consider moving Agholor for help elsewhere?
- Does Jason Peters still have it? – Peters has been one of the three best tackles of his generation, but at 37 years old, his end is near. He opted to return for another Super Bowl run in spite of playing with a litany of injuries including a torn triceps last season. The team will treat him with kid gloves in the preseason, which will give a window into rookie Andre Dillard and second-year Jordan Mailata as potential long-term replacements.
WASHINGTON
The pressure is on head coach Jay Gruden as he heads to Richmond for his sixth training camp as Washington’s head coach. Gruden won the NFC East in 2015 – his second season – but lost in the Wild Card round and hasn’t made the playoffs since. The team is coming off consecutive losing seasons, and the offense – Gruden’s specialty – hit rock bottom last season (29th in points scored, 28th in yards), inviting wholesale changes in the offseason. Gruden will call plays but has a new offensive coordinator – Kevin O’Connell – at his side. The team will also have a new starting quarterback; whether it’s journeyman Case Keenum or rookie Dwyane Haskins. The defense was middle-of-the-road last year (15th in points allowed, 17th in yards) and hopes a handful of new faces is enough to elevate the unit further.
Camp Details:
- When: 7/24 (Rookies and Veterans)
- Where: Ben Secours Washington Redskins Training Center (Richmond, VA)
- Open to Public: Yes
Preseason Game Schedule:
- Aug 8 -- @Cleveland 7:30pm EDT
- Aug 15 -- Cincinnati 7:30pm
- Aug 22 -- @Atlanta 7:30pm
- Aug 29 -- Baltimore 7:30pm
What We're Watching:
- How long until it’s Haskins’ team? – Dwayne Haskins is a local kid made good and will be Washington’s starting quarterback. The question is whether he wins the job right away and whether that decision is what’s best for his long-term development.
- Monitoring the Trent Williams situation – Trent Williams is the team’s best offensive player, and has been a stalwart at left tackle. Unfortunately, he’s holding out for two reasons: he’s unhappy with his contract and believes the team should have been more proactive in helping him deal with a tumor on his head; which required surgery. Details are nebulous, but NFL Network’s Mike Garofolo intonated the holdout could be protracted.
- Who’s going to run the ball? – Derrius Guice missed last season but was expected back for training camp. Recent reports of a hamstring injury cloud the outlook. Is Guice going to live up to his considerable potential and, if not, does the team rely on the ageless Adrian Peterson again? Can rookie Bryce Love come back from his injury to compete for touches?
- Who’s going to catch the ball? – Incumbent starters Josh Doctson and Paul Richardson Jr were terrible last year but remain atop the depth chart. Can new slot receiver Trey Quinn live up to the offseason hype? Will rookies Terry McLaurin (Dwayne Haskins’ teammate at Ohio State) and Kelvin Harmon push for roles given the veterans’ struggles? At tight end, can Jordan Reed stay healthy? Questions abound.
- Sorting out the linebacking corps – Reuben Foster’s torn ACL seemingly ensured Mason Foster’s place in the starting lineup, but the team cut (Mason) Foster shortly before camp begins. That leaves the inside linebacker jobs wide open, with Josh Harvey-Clemons, Shaun Dion Hamilton, and Jon Bostic vying for roles.
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