The fantasy football season might be over, but there are still ways to enjoy this game, like playoff contests. The Philadelphia Eagles’ backfield has been a source of fantasy points throughout the regular season, but can Miles Sanders, Boston Scott, Jordan Howard, and Kenneth Gainwell be trusted in playoff settings?
Miles Sanders leads the backfield
The Eagles got boat raced by the Cowboys in Week 18, but it doesn’t matter. The Cowboys and the Eagles were locked into their respective playoff spots, with the Cowboys winning the division and the Eagles clinching a Wild Card berth.
Sanders was held out with a hand injury that sidelined him in Week 17, aiming to keep him fresh for their Wild Card matchup. Sanders was knocked out of their Week 16 game with the injury but had been heavily utilized in recent weeks.
In their two games prior, Sanders received 42 carries, turning them into 251 rushing yards at a strong 5.98 yards-per-carry clip.
Shockingly, Sanders has yet to find the end zone this season, but he’s the clear lead option in one of the most run-happy offenses in the NFL.
The Eagles can rotate in three other backs
Behind Sanders, the Eagles have shown they have three capable backs that they trust. Philly has deployed Howard, Scott, and Gainwell in heavy workloads at times this season. However, it can be tricky to figure out who will end up with the most opportunities.
Lately, it looks like Scott is the second option behind Sanders. Scott has seen double-digit carries in six of his last eight games in which he’s been healthy. Additionally, he scored 3 rushing touchdowns between Weeks 16-17.
Gainwell started his first career game in Week 18 as the Eagles rested their starters. He took 12 carries for 78 yards (6.5 ypc) and 1 TD. He also saw 7 targets in the game, catching 4 for 9 yards. Gainwell is elusive and capable of big plays.
Howard has also had his moments in the sun this season and saw double-digit carries in all but one game for which he’s been active this year. Literally, every running back on this roster sees enough workload to be viable for fantasy purposes, which is unlike any other backfield around the NFL.
How to approach Philadelphia’s backfield in playoff contests
There are a few ways to think about playoff contests. One thing to consider is the likelihood that a team can make a deep run in the postseason. Another is whether or not they’ll be able to contribute to your roster on the opening weekend.
This week will be a little different, with only one team from each conference getting the bye. Everyone else will be in action, meaning I’ll be less likely to invest heavily in Wild Card teams and more heavily in better teams that I think can make a run. To me, the Eagles don’t fit that mold.
Yes, Sanders and the other running backs can potentially provide good numbers in the first round of the playoffs, depending on who they face. Still, it’s looking more and more likely that they’ll be lining up across from the Buccaneers’ staunch defense. I’m not trusting the Eagles to get out of the Wild Card round. I still like Sanders if they can somehow pull off that upset, but I won’t value the other running backs highly in playoff contests.