Week 6 at Washington
Carson Wentz continued to play pretty well for the Eagles despite a loss in Week 5. Wentz didn't rack up the yards, but did add two more TDs along with his first INT of the year. He finished with 238 yards and now has 7 TDs on the season.
Wentz is averaging just 251 yards so far this year as the Birds try to use the run game to take pressure off their rookie QB. Wentz comes in 18th this week in an average matchup against the Redskins who are much worse against the run. It's likely owners can expect much of the same for Week 6 - about 250 yards and a TD or two making him a lower end QB2 option. The Redskins are 16th in allowing fantasy points to QBs and the Birds will continue to use their four options at RB to help the offense, all while capping Wentz's fantasy potential for now.
Week 5 at Detroit
When we last saw Carson Wentz, he was torching the Steelers defense for 301 yards and two TDs back in Week 3. It was considered Wentz's big test after knocking off Cleveland and Chicago in Week 1 and 2.
Wentz certainly passed his test with flying colors and is starting to creep onto the fantasy radar as a QB2 option. He gets the Lions this week, who are 32nd in allowing fantasy points to QBs (and even allowed backup Brian Hoyer to put together a nice game in Week 4). It will be hard for Wentz to get into the QB1 conversation, as the Eagles just don't have top-notch WRs. But in a real nice matchup (on paper), Wentz should be a usable QB2 option.
Week 3 vs. Pittsburgh
Carson Wentz threw for 190 yards and another TD last week in the Eagles win over the Bears. A potential dropped TD pass by Jordan Matthews would have boosted Wentz's fantasy totals.
Wentz continues to look good in his short career, although he's probably not ready for every week starts in typical fantasy leagues just yet. He doesn't have a lot to work with at WR as the Birds are trying to bring along youngsters Dorial Green-Beckham and Nelson Agholor. As the season goes on, we should start to see more chemistry.
Wentz has a real nice matchup this week against the Steelers at home, but is still down our QB list at 25th, making him just a low-end QB2 option. But the Steelers are just 23rd in allowing fantasy points to QBs and at some point the Birds will likely either need to keep pace with the Pitt offense or play from behind which could force Wentz to throw more. He has a chance to out-play his rank in the right situation, but there are probably still safer options.
Week 2 at Chicago
Carson Wentz was impressive in his NFL debut in Week 1 - he threw for 278 yards and two TDs without an INT. It was a favorable matchup against the Browns, much like Week 2 is against the Bears.
The Bears are 30th in allowing fantasy points to QBs but the unknowns of Wentz keep him down our QB list again for this week. For the most part, the Eagles kept things pretty simple for Wentz in Week 1 even though they said the entire playbook was open for him. However, he only really stretched the field a couple of times, one being a nice TD pass to Nelson Agholor. Wentz will be without TE Zach Ertz who has a displaced rib so that will hurt in the short, safe passing game. Wentz is more of a lower-end QB2 option again but with a very favorable matchup. In fact, Wentz's first four games are all favorable before things get tougher in the middle of the season.
Week 1 vs. Cleveland
Ever since draft day, the Eagles plan was to red shirt Carson Wentz and give Sam Bradford the job. That plan was in place until about a week before the season when the Birds traded Bradford to Minnesota and then announced Wentz would start. Wentz played in one preseason game before rib injury sidelined him. However the team has seen enough of him in workouts and camp to jump him right over Chase Daniel.
Wentz gets a pretty friendly matchup in Week 1 at home vs. Cleveland but he's still way down our list at 29th. There are a lot of unknowns about Wentz right now. Even the Eagles can't be sure of his strengths until they see more live game action. While there is fantasy upside there, he can't be considered more than a stash option for somewhere down the line. He's surrounded by young receivers but none of them are considered studs so there are going to be some growing pains and high points along the way, but for now he's best left on the bench or on waiver wires.
Fantasy Upside
Second overall pick Carson Wentz seems to have all the attributes to become a franchise QB for the Eagles. He's got size, mobility and a great arm. Before he was drafted, Wentz was said to have the floor of Blake Bortles and the ceiling of Ben Roethlisberger.
Fantasy Downside
If the Eagles have their way, Went will not play at all this year and will learn from Sam Bradford. Given Bradford's injury history, that doesn't possible. But the Eagles also paid Chase Daniel a lot of money and right now, he's likely the QB2 if something happens to Bradford, especially early on in the season. Even if Wentz does find his way onto the field this year, the Eagles WRs are a big question mark heading into the season.
Bottom Line
Wentz should probably be a top pick in your dynasty league if you're looking for a future at QB, but in terms of redraft fantasy leagues, I'm not sure Wentz is going to justify a draft pick. If the Eagles season gets off to a poor start, it will be hard to keep Wentz on the sideline, but I think the odds are against him appearing in a game before the halfway point unless there are injuries to the position.
