Jahan

Dotson

Finishing up his second year as the Eagles’ sparingly-used No. 3 wideout, Dotston was sporadically productive in a dysfunctional passing attack. Headed to free agency after Philly declined his fifth-year team option, Dotson could end up back with the Eagles on a non-guaranteed contract. The 2022 draft bust’s two years in the Eagles’ system probably make him worth more to Philly than anybody else. That being said, we doubt Dotson would be a candidate to ascend to No. 2 status if A.J. Brown is traded.

Dotson saw increased opportunity with the Eagles resting most of their starters in Week 18. He was able to convert eight targets into only 40 yards, including a miscommunication with Tanner McKee that led to a goal line interception in the second quarter. Dotson will only see an increase in routes if A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith are out. Heading into the playoffs, he is the No. 3 wide receiver in the Eagles offense.

Dotson saw a big bump in routes with A.J. Brown sidelined with a hamstring issue. He made the most of his two targets, catching a gorgeous bomb from Jalen Hurts in the third quarter for a 40-yard score — one of Hurts’ four touchdown throws on the day. Dotson likely won’t have any fantasy appeal when the Eagles return from their bye in Week 10 if Brown is back in action.

Dotson had 24 snaps of Philadelphia’s team total of 50, so he remains the most-used third receiver for the team. It doesn’t seem like that matters, but we figured we’d tell you in case you were curious. Dotson hasn’t cleared one catch since Week 1.

Non-A.J. Brown/DeVonta Smith/Saquon Barkley Eagles receivers combined for five targets and 15 yards, with Calcaterra the only other receiver who received multiple targets. Dallas Goedert was missed today. Neither Calcaterra nor the others look like players we’re trying to get into our lineups in Week 3 against the Rams.

Confusingly, No. 3 Dotson drew as many looks as DeVonta Smith and two more than A.J. Brown. He led the team in receiving, with his roasting of Kaiir Elam 1-on-1 for a 51-yard gain going down as the game’s longest play. The solid performance confirmed training camp buzz that Dotson was the unquestioned No. 3 wideout, but he’s still going to remain the fourth or fifth option in the passing game more weeks than not. That includes Week 2 against the Chiefs.

A.J. Brown (hamstring) and DeVonta Smith (groin) have both missed time in training camp, affording Dotson the opportunity to catch passes “in bulk.” The Eagles’ No. 3 wide receiver reportedly “had a great close to camp” after a “quiet start.” Kempski is now the second beat reporter this month to suggest that Dotson will contribute more than he did last year, though Dotson set the bar quite low. If Brown, Smith and Dallas Goedert are on the field, fantasy managers should not expect Dotson to reliably produce. He could return flex value if Brown and Smith’s soft tissue injuries remain an issue in-season, though, and No. 4 WR Johnny Wilson (knee/ankle) is set to undergo season-ending surgery.

Well, it would be hard to contribute less than 19 catches for 216 yards over a full season, folks! Kubena believes Dotson’s advancement is “notable” and that the ball skills that made him a 2022 first-round pick are “showing up more” in his first full training camp in Philadelphia. We’re not expecting the Eagles to be invested in feeding Dotson after declining his fifth-year option, but it certainly would make sense for him to do better than he did in 2024.

The news doesn’t come as a surprise. Philly acquired Dotson last offseason, but the former first-round pick only totaled 216 yards on 19 grabs during the regular season. Dotson simply can’t earn targets while sharing the field with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. He will continue to run wind sprints as the team’s WR3 for 2025, barring an addition during the draft. Dotson doesn’t hold any fantasy value heading into his fourth NFL season.

Dotson got tackled at the Chiefs’ one-yard line in the second quarter. It would have been his second touchdown all year, after he had one against the Packers in the Divisional Round. A 2022 first-round bust in Washington, Playoff Dotson was acquired for a bag of footballs in August and proceeded to catch 19 passes in 17 games for the Eagles’ dominant but top-heavy offense. Although he was the nominal “No. 3 wideout,” the reality is that role does not exist in a statistical sense in Philadelphia. We wouldn’t consider it a guarantee Dotson is back for 2025, especially since his snaps grew more sporadic as the season progressed. He also earned poor PFF marks for his blocking. The 24-year-old just can’t seem to find his NFL niche.