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    Saquon ‘needs things perfectly set up for him’

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    PHI Running Back #26
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    An NFL coordinator told ESPN Saquon Barkley “tends to need things perfectly set up for him.”

    ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler spoke with NFL coaches and front office officials about the league’s best running backs. Barkley ranked third behind Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs. “My only criticism is that he doesn’t always produce when things aren’t completely clean,” an NFL coordinator said of Barkley, adding that Barkley should be treated as a three-down back. “That’s dating back to the Giants. Tends to need things perfectly set up for him.” This could explain why Barkley had a disappointing 2025 campaign in an Eagles offense that struggled to move the ball for much of the season. Barkley, who is widely expected to have a bigger role in the Philadelphia passing offense in 2026, last season ranked 45th out of 60 qualifying backs in yards after contact per rush, alongside Woody Marks and Breece Hall. Tank Bigsby, Barkley’s backfield mate, led the NFL in yards after contact per attempt.
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  • PHI Running Back #26
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    Berman notes that Barkley had 136 targets in his final two seasons with the Giants compared to just 93 with the Eagles over the past two years, and adds that new OC Sean Mannion was teammates with Todd Gurley when Gurley averaged 84 targets in 2017 and 2018 with “a similar offensive scheme.” A.J. Brown’s absence will absolutely leave a target vacuum that Barkley could step into. If so, that would be a major boon for his fantasy prospects in 2026.
  • PHI Running Back #8
    Mosher notes that Bigsby’s one-cut running style is a great fit for new OC Sean Mannion’s scheme, saying “there’s no question he excels at planting one foot in the ground to getting downhill quickly.” He believes Mannion would be “smart” to get Bigsby involved in short-yardage situations to give starting RB Saquon Barkley’s body some rest. We see the logic here, although adding another short-yardage ball carrier to the rotation could muddy up fantasy projections a tad. Regardless, Bigsby is looking like a high-end bench stash this season.
  • PHI Quarterback #1
    Under new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion, who will reportedly have “total authority” over the team’s offense, Jalen Hurts and the Eagles will have to learn an entirely new playbook predicated on the concepts that have made Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers and Sean McVay’s Rams two of the league’s most efficient offenses. This is very much in line with Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie pledging in April that the team would implement “significant offensive changes” after a 2025 campaign in which they ranked 17th in EPA per play, in line with the Texans and Falcons. Depending on which version of the Shanny/McVay offense Mannion installs, Saquon Barkley could see more pass-game involvement while short-area pass catchers like Dallas Goedert and rookie Makai Lemon see plenty of looks from Hurts, who last year ranked 14th out of 45 qualifying quarterbacks in accuracy on short throws. In 2024, Hurts led all QBs in accuracy on attempts between 1-10 yards.
  • PHI Quarterback #1
    Under head coach Nick Sirianni and new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion, a former NFL quarterback, Lurie said the Eagles would make the tweaks necessary to bounce back after a down 2025 campaign. “This year, it was really apparent to everybody, but especially I would say to our head coach that we were able and going to make some significant offensive changes that would get us back to being a championship-level offense,” Lurie said. “We have our own proprietary metrics and ways of measuring offensive and defensive performance, and our offense was not what we were either accustomed to or expected of.” The usually-efficient Philadelphia offense last season ranked 17th in EPA per play, behind teams like the Commanders and Giants. Jalen Hurts’ passing efficiency fell off big time, as the Eagles were 15th in adjusted yards per pass attempt, in line with the Falcons and Texans.
  • PHI Running Back #26
    Mannion is expected to lean on run game coordinator and tight ends coach Ryan Mahaffey in installing a zone-blocking scheme reminiscent of the one used by the Shanahans and their acolytes over the decades. Eagles head coach Nick Sirriani said he expects Saquon Barkley — coming off a down 2025 season — to be “exceptional” in the team’s new rushing scheme. “He’s been highly productive in many of the schemes,” Sirianni said of Barkley, who had 28 rushes of more than ten yards in 2025 after having 46 such runs in 2024. The Eagles in 2025 used zone rushing concepts on 45 percent of their carries, the 13th lowest rate in the NFL. They were efficient with zone rushes, logging a 50 percent success rate, the tenth highest in the league.
  • FA Head Coach
    After firing offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo following a mostly disastrous 2025 season, the Eagles should seek “a fresh set of eyes” to reevaluate the Philly offense and how it utilizes its skill position players, Murphy said. McDaniel, who designed and called plays for a Miami offense that ranked among the NFL’s most efficient from 2022 to 2024 — before the team’s 2025 collapse. Eagles players, including DeVonta Smith, said after the team’s Wild Card loss to the 49ers that the offensive scheme had not changed at all in recent years despite the Eagles shuffling through offensive coordinators. That suggests the problem lies with head coach Nick Sirianni. “Howie Roseman and Jeffrey Lurie pride themselves on being ahead of the curve. They’d rather be a year early than a year late,” Murphy said. “Right now, it is getting late early. McDaniel or not, they need a new voice, an inventive mind, and a fresh set of eyes. Anybody else will end up right where Patullo is. And that’s not fair to anybody.”
  • PHI Running Back #37
    Bigsby was not targeted in the passing game. Surprisingly acquired from the Jags following Week 1, Bigsby ended up easily surpassing Will Shipley as the Eagles’ No. 2 back, but it amounted to only 61 offensive touches. Bigsby did feature on special teams, but neither he nor Shipley made much of an impression behind Saquon Barkley. The Eagles’ No. 1 back isn’t going anywhere for 2026, but they might think about an upgrade in the No. 2 spot. Bigsby, who turns 24 in August, is heading into the final year of his rookie deal.
  • PHI Running Back #26
    Coming off an historic 2024 season, Barkley was a 2025 mortal behind an Eagles’ offensive line that was nowhere near as good as we’ve grown accustomed to. He averaged 54 fewer rushing yards per game this season as he posted a replacement-level 4.1 yards per carry. Today was just his fourth 100-yard rushing effort of the year. Barkley did remain a net positive in terms of rush yards over expected, per NextGenStats. Although he is aging — 29 next month — Barkley could still easily “bounce back” next season if the Eagles’ blocking gets back closer to what we are used to seeing. He remains an RB1, if now more of a risk/reward option.
  • PHI Tackle #65
    Johnson sustained a Lisfranc fracture in mid-November but could suit up for Wild Card Weekend, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane. “Johnson has made progress in his recovery, but still has to test his right foot before the team makes a decision on his availability for Sunday’s wild card game vs. the 49ers,” McLane said. The team’s offense fell apart with Johnson sidelined as they finished the season 3-4. The Eagles are now 18-28 in games Johnson hasn’t played during his 13-year NFL career. His presence would go a long way in helping the Philly offense find its footing in the postseason. He was officially limited on Wednesday.
  • PHI Running Back #37
    Bigsby got a chance to take over the backfield with Saquon Barkley resting in Week 18. He got 16-of-17 running back carries on the day, showing explosiveness on several touches. His singular reception came on a dump-off from Tanner McKee where Bigsby made a shifty cut and showed burst to take it 31 yards. His second touchdown of the season came on a two-yard rushing score in the third quarter. Bigsby was acquired by the Eagles mid-season and though he does not get a high volume of snaps regularly, he has shown to be a valuable backup to Barkley heading into the playoffs.

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  • IND Quarterback #17
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    The Athletic’s James Boyd reports Colts QB Daniel Jones is “cleared to do everything” ahead of training camp.

    “I’m doing everything. Cleared to do everything,” Jones told Boyd Friday at his youth football camp. “I think it’s just about, at this point, sharpening that.” Jones said that he still thinks about the Achilles during practice reps, adding that he “probably will until you get playing.” Jones continues to appear to be on track for Week 1, although his progress through camp and preseason will be telling. Whether Jones, who signed a two-year, $88 million contract extension with $50 million in guaranteed money prior to the 2025 season, returns to his form shown during the first half of the 2026 season remains to be seen. Considering the injury and lengthy rehab process, fantasy managers could be waiting into the second quarter of the coming season for that chance.
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    Bears signed TE Sam Roush to a four-year, $7.35 million contract.

    The Bears now have all of their rookies under contract with the signing of Roush, mere weeks before the start of training camp. The selection of another tight end in the third round turned heads during the draft, but another athletic and well-rounded option at the position gives head coach Ben Johnson further flexibility to run higher rates of 12 and 13-personnel in the coming year. Roush brings a tantalizing athletic profile to the professional ranks, although he likely needs to improve his blocking abilities to carve out a significant role behind Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet during his rookie campaign.
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    ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports free agent CB Terrion Arnold will not be required to wear a GPS tracking device as a condition of his release.

    ESPN’s Xuan Thai first reported the news. The ruling by a Florida judge on Friday allows the free agent cornerback to visit NFL teams as he looks for a new contract following his release by the Lions last month. Arnold was being held after turning himself in following a kidnapping and robbery incident in the Tampa area in February 2026. He visited with the Texans Thursday and is now free to continue his search for a new home, with the expectation that he’ll garner tangible interest on the open market.
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    The Athletic’s Josh Kendall believes Tua Tagovailoa will start in Week 1 for the Falcons.

    In his Falcons summer mailbag article, Kendall was asked to give his opinion on who he believes will start the season opener for the Falcons. While he was quick to say “I sincerely don’t know,” before pointing out Tagovailoa and Michael Penix are engaged in “a legitimate competition,” Kendall said he ultimately believes Tagovailoa will be the Week 1 starter. While some of this hinges on the health of Penix’s knee, Kendall also added that head coach Kevin Stefanski values accuracy, which he believes will give Tagovailoa the inside edge. It’s a hard point to argue against, as Penix has completed just 59.6 percent of his passes for his career, while Tagovailoa, in his worst season, completed 64.1 percent of his passes. Kendall said he believes we will ultimately see both quarterbacks play this season, due in part to Tagovailoa’s health but also because the Falcons need to get a look at what Penix, a former No. 8 overall pick, can offer the franchise long term as he enters his third season. The health of Penix could go a long way in deciding this QB competition, but this is likely to be a messy QB situation for much of the season, regardless of who is under center. Fantasy managers drafting in 2QB/Superflex leagues should likely look to Tagovailoa if they’re in need of a second starter early in the season.
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    ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports free agent CB Terrion Arnold “took a physical in Houston” for the Texans on Thursday.

    According to Schefter, Arnold is scheduled to visit with two more teams next week. Whether or not a team would sign Arnold while he awaits his trial for the multiple felonies he’s facing that relate to a February robbery and kidnapping is to be determined, but it doesn’t appear his attorney was bluffing when he said last week that multiple teams have already reached out to him. Arnold was waived by the Lions on June 29th and became an outright free agent after going unclaimed on waivers. The 23-year-old corner has appeared in 24 games in his career, totaling 91 tackles, 18 pass breakups, and one interception.
  • FA Quarterback #4
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    Speaking on Good Morning Football, Derek Carr said it would take a “special situation” for him to come out of retirement.

    According to Carr, “multiple teams” reached out to him this offseason to gauge his interest in returning, but he declined to name them. While he appears somewhat open to a return, Carr said that even if the right situation arose, “it’s not guaranteed” he would return to the field. It was reported earlier that there was a lot of talk surrounding Carr and a potential return at this year’s NFL Scouting Combine, but that news came and went pretty quickly, as no real suitor publicly emerged for Carr during free agency. The 35-year-old signal-caller said he has been enjoying spending time with his wife and kids since walking away from the game last offseason, and sounds like a player who is permanently retired, despite his suggesting he would keep the door open for teams.
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    NFL.com’s Kevin Patra reports Cowboys and HC Brian Schottenheimer had an “agreement” in place that would keep him with the team if not hired to be the head coach a season ago.

    “We had made an agreement that I would stay here no matter what,” Schottenheimer revealed on the Twins Take Podcast. “And I didn’t want to leave. I really wanted to be the head coach and put our fingerprint, our blueprint on it.” While the “agreement” was not fully disclosed, it sounds like Jerry and Stephen Jones intended to keep Schottenheimer with the organization, most likely as a play calling offensive coordinator had the team hired a more defensive-minded head coach during the 2025 coaching cycle. Schottenheimer served in that position with the organization during the 2023 and 2024 seasons, although he was not tasked with play calling duties. Either way, Dallas landed their man and now look to return to offensive prominence in Schottenheimer’s second season as head coach.
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    Bleacher Report’s James Palmer reports Shedeur Sanders has “closed the gap” on Deshaun Watson.

    Early in the offseason, it looked like the Browns were more than comfortable rolling Watson out as their Week 1 starter. Then they saw Watson practice. Reports from OTAs and minicamp were not kind to Watson, though Sanders didn’t earn great reviews either. After getting a better look at both players, it sounds like new head coach Todd Monken truly doesn’t know who will take the first snap this year. By virtue of not being Deshaun Watson, Sanders has forced a legitimate training camp competition, though we doubt much fantasy value comes from the situation, regardless of who wins the job.
  • DAL Defensive Coordinator
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    NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe believes Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker is on a “direct path” to being a head coach.

    Wolfe said he heard this sentiment from multiple sources around the league. Dallas hired him as their defensive coordinator this offseason after two years as the Eagles’ defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator. He also held the title of DBs coach in Denver for three seasons. Parker has a tall order ahead of him with the Cowboys. They ranked dead last in scoring allowed in 2025, giving up a franchise-record 511 points. Expect several teams to give him a look in the next hiring cycle if he can turn this unit into even a league-average one.
  • JAC Wide Receiver #12
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    NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe reports Jaguars WR/CB Travis Hunter (knee) will be a “full go” for training camp.

    Hunter is working his way back from a 2025 knee injury and is expected to be a full go for the beginning of training camp, according to Wolfe. The 23-year-old is still going to play both sides of the ball, though Wolfe stated Hunter can be “unleashed” as a starter on defense and “the goal is to eventually have him play nearly all the snaps on defense in a particular game.” The Jaguars seem to like Hunter much better as a cornerback but he will still play offense with his wide receiver snaps fluctuating depending on the game. Hunter is attending meetings for both sides of the ball and will presumably practice both sides come training camp. He is expected to be healthy and ready to go by the time Jags veterans report to training camp in late July.