Over the next four weeks, we’ll be counting down the 20 most important Eagles for the 2020 season.
20: Nate Sudfeld
19. Avonte Maddox
18. Nathan Gerry
17. Dallas Goedert
16. Derek Barnett
15. Jalen Reagor
14. Jalen Mills
13. Brandon Brooks
12. Rodney McLeod
11. Javon Hargrave
10. Miles Sanders
After a really promising rookie season, the Eagles will be relying heavily on Sanders in 2020. It'll be up to Doug Pederson to figure out how much to use him.
It was a really good rookie season for the second-round pick from Penn State. Sanders rushed for 818 yards (4.6) and also caught 50 passes for 509 yards with 6 total touchdowns. Along the way, he amassed 1,327 scrimmage yards, breaking the Eagles’ rookie record.
Year 2 should be even better for Sanders.
Early last season, he wasn’t quite ready to be the Eagles starter. He got off to a slow start and the Eagles had Jordan Howard so they had to go with him. And Howard was playing well until he suffered a stinger. That injury might have ended up being a blessing in the long run. Because that’s when Sanders exploded.
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Sanders became the Eagles’ starter coming out of the bye week in Week 11 and took his game to a new level. And then in the four-game win streak to end the season, Sanders averaged 112 scrimmage yards per game.
There’s a reason the Eagles fell in love with Sanders during last year’s draft. He has all the makings of an elite feature back: He’s quick, explosive, shifty, has hands out of the backfield and is a willing blocker.
In the past, we’ve seen Doug Pederson utilize a running back by committee approach, but I think a lot of that was because he didn’t have a back that was able to carry the full load. That doesn’t mean Boston Scott and Corey Clement and whoever else won’t get any touches; they will. But without Howard, Sanders is the true, no-doubt-about-it No. 1 back and the Eagles are going to ride him this season.
If Sanders can stay healthy, he should be able to put together a 1,000-yard rushing season and continue to be a huge part of the passing game.
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