With fantasy football champions crowned, the calendar turns to the 2023 NFL playoffs, and managers dive into playoff-centric fantasy leagues. Philadelphia Eagles RB Miles Sanders will be an early pick as the lead back in one of the NFL’s top rushing offenses, and both Boston Scott and Kenneth Gainwell will be factored in the game plan as well.
With the Wild Card round beginning this week, what are the fantasy values of Sanders, Scott, and Gainwell for the Wild Card round and the playoffs as a whole?
Miles Sanders and Kenneth Gainwell/Boston Scott’s Fantasy Value
Despite telling fantasy football managers not to draft him this year, Philadelphia Eagles running back Miles Sanders had a stellar regular season, finishing fifth with 1,236 rushing yards with 11 touchdowns as the RB13 overall and RB18 in points per game at 13.3 (PPR).
When playing playoff fantasy football, the number of games and the projected path have to be considered, as players with a higher likelihood of playing in multiple games will take precedence over guys who are likely to be one-and-done. Philadelphia comes in as the No. 1 seed and will receive a first-round bye, limiting their maximum number of games to three.
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But for someone like Sanders, that’s more than enough to justify a top-five RB ranking for the 2023 fantasy football playoffs. Both Boston Scott and Kenneth Gainwell will draw some attention too. Scott rushed nine times for 54 yards and a touchdown in the season finale against the New York Giants, which was his first time recording more than seven opportunities in a game.
Meanwhile, Gainwell rushed for 35 yards on five carries and caught his lone target for seven yards but has yet to have much of an impact the season. Additionally, he hasn’t found the end zone since a Week 12 matchup against the Green Bay Packers.
If your fantasy football playoffs format of choice is Best Ball, I can see some appeal with both Scott or Gainwell in case something happens to Sanders. But outside of that, Sanders is the only Eagles running back I would want on my roster.
Fantasy Outlook for Miles Sanders, Boston Scott, and Kenneth Gainewell in Wild Card Weekend
Unfortunately, if you do select Sanders, Scott, or Gainwell of the Eagles, you won’t get anything during the Wild Card round of the playoffs. Thanks to their success, Philadelphia secured the coveted No. 1 seed, which means they have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs and, more importantly, a first-round bye.
That means if you’re drafting Sanders as a top-five running back, you’re getting a goose egg this week. However, Philly is my pick to make it to the Super Bowl, so he could make up the missed game, assuming they make a deep run in the playoffs.
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There is risk involved when you are projecting close matchups. One mistake, and that player is gone for good (or at least until next year’s draft season). Based on the playoff picture, Philadelphia would likely play the winner between the Dallas Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With the Minnesota Vikings likely winning over the New York Giants, they could go to San Francisco to play the 49ers.
Whether it is Dallas or Tampa is fine by me for Sanders and fantasy. They are both in the same tier of matchups in terms of strength. Since Week 12, Dallas has been No. 3 in EPA/rush and No. 5 in success rate, whereas Tampa is No. 7 in EPA and No. 5 in success rate while sitting 11th in DVOA, with Dallas sixth.
There are no easy matchups this time of year, but Tampa does sit 15th in points allowed over the last four games, and given the Eagles’ success this year, even against tough opponents, I still would have comfort with Sanders for fantasy and with Scott or Gainwell for Best Ball leagues.