Do you want the bad news or the good news first? We’ll start with the bad news, and that is tight end Zach Ertz is going to miss “multiple weeks” with a knee injury, according to ESPN’s Chris Mortenson. The good news is that Eagles TE Dallas Goedert makes his long-awaited return to the lineup and instantly becomes one of the hottest fantasy football waiver wire additions for Week 7. What can fantasy managers expect from Goedert for the remainder of the 2020 NFL season?
Dallas Goedert Injury Update
This article was originally published on October 20th. On October 22nd, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported that TE Dallas Goedert (ankle) is on track to potentially return in Week 10. Keep reading for more insight on Dallas Goedert’s return to the Eagles’ lineup in a few weeks and how that he be able to help your fantasy team.
Dallas Goedert’s return could not come a moment too soon for a reeling Eagles offense
There is bad luck, and then there is terrible luck plus self-inflicted wounds. That is the best way to summarize the 2020 Philadelphia Eagles, who currently sit at 1-4-1, yet somehow are second in the NFC East. It almost seems as if it’s a race to six wins and whoever gets their first will win the division.
With injuries piling up, the Eagles need all the help they can get right now. Hopefully, Goedert’s return is a much needed shot in the arm for an offense that can’t get out of its own way.
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Goedert, who has missed the last three weeks on IR with an ankle fracture, could step in and instantly become the top receiving option for Carson Wentz, something that Ertz was unable to do.
However, it is not a guarantee that Goedert will play against the New York Giants on Thursday Night Football. While the team did activate him off the IR, it’s up to head coach Doug Pederson at this point if he wants to push him out or wait until Week 8. Knowing how important every game is for the team right now and the lack of reliable offensive weapons, I don’t see how you can give up another game, especially in the division.
Dallas Goedert’s fantasy outlook is great, even if he misses this week
Let’s say that the team chooses to wait a week; fantasy players won’t be afforded that luxury when it comes to acquiring Goedert. Currently rostered in only 28.3% of leagues, I expect that to be closer to 75% by the time Thursday hits. It is a rare occurrence that you can go and find a legitimate TE1 on waivers mid-season.
In 2019, Goedert proved to the Eagles that they already have the team’s replacement should they choose not to bring back Ertz, who has just one year remaining on of his contract. Catching 58 of his 87 targets, Goedert had 607 receiving yards alongside five touchdowns and finished the season as the TE10. That is despite playing just 66% of the snaps compared to Ertz’s 80.5%.
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In 2019, no team ran more 12-personnel than the Eagles. 52% of their offensive snaps, including 58% of their passing plays, came with both Ertz and Goedert on the field. In 2020, they are again leading the league with 42% from this grouping, even while Goedert has been on the sidelines.
Goedert continued to look good in the first two weeks this year, catching 12 of 17 targets for 131 yards and one touchdown. Through two games, Dallas Goedert was the TE5 while Ertz was just TE31, catching three passes for 18 yards and a touchdown. Prior to his Week 3 injury, Goedert was the team leader in receptions, yards, and fantasy points per game.
With Ertz set to miss at least three weeks, Dallas Goedert’s fantasy outlook makes him a top priority for fantasy managers this week on the waiver wire. He will be a TE1 moving forward, even when Ertz does make his return to the field.
If Dallas Goedert is active for Thursday, he will be a top-10 option at the position
With players like Mark Andrews, Mike Gesicki, Irv Smith Jr, and Trey Burton on a bye, fantasy managers will be scrambling for other options. That is not even considering that both Ertz and Jonnu Smith will likely be out this week due to injuries.
People will be scrambling for a replacement, and because of this, Dallas Goedert’s fantasy outlook is even greater. Knowing the Eagles are desperate at WR, I could see him being a top-five play and do what Ertz could rarely do in this offense, which is to handle the spotlight when all eyes are on him.
In a must-win game to make the playoffs last year, Wentz targeted Goedert a team-high 10 times. Much like this game, they had no one else at wide receivers, and it is another must-win situation for the Eagles. However, it does sound as if they will be getting back DeSean Jackson soon as well as rookie WR Jalen Reagor, who suffered a UCL tear in his thumb during Week 2.
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Adding players like this only helps to free up someone like Goedert to work across the middle while both Jackson and Reagor use their speed to force defensive back to keep them sit back and keep them both contained. Wentz is going to throw to his safety blanket, especially knowing that he doesn’t have Miles Sanders behind him this week, so he will need to step up and have one of, if not, his best game this Thursday on a short week.
After seeing how efficient and hyper-targeted Goedert was in his first two games, I expect more of the same once he makes his return to action. Even if you don’t need a new starting tight end in fantasy, do yourself a favor and get him on your team if he is avaliable.
Dallas Goedert’s fantasy potential means that I’d be willing to throw however much FAAB I needed to, so I can make sure he is on my roster moving forward, especially knowing how little depth there is at the position overall.
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Tommy Garrett is a writer for PFN covering Fantasy Football. You can read more of his work here and follow him at @TommygarrettPFN on Twitter.