Week 6 at New York Giants (Thursday)
Going on the road for Thursday Night Football is always a tough ask. The game having the fifth lowest over/under in Vegas this week isn't promising, but Jay Ajayi going on IR with a torn ACL should mean a 2-man RBBC between Clement and Wendell Smallwood. Clement is the bigger back, and the favorite to assume red zone / goal line duties, per various beat reporters. Consider him a FLEX in a risky RBBC for Thursday night, as he returns from a quad injury.
Week 4 at Tennessee Titans
This game has the third-lowest total on the week, implying a low-scoring game. Jay Ajayi is battling a back issue but turned in a full practice Thursday after missing Wednesday. He should be fine for Week 4, meaning Clement will see less volume than last week. He's likely not going to be a high-volume option. Against a top-10 defense in aFPA to RBs, Clement will have to find the end zone to return flex value in Week 4.
Week 3 vs. Indianapolis Colts
Philadelphia has an attractive 27-point implied team total this week, which should lead to positive game script for the running backs. The Colts are also just 25th in PPR points allowed to the running back position through two weeks. With Darren Sproles out last week, Clement out-touched Jay Ajayi 11 to 8, with Wendell Smallwood also chipping in eight touches. This is always going to be a running back by committee in Philly, but monitor the injury reports. Ajayi and Sproles both missed practice Wednesday and Thursday. If both are ruled out, Clement becomes an RB2 with volume upside this week in a plus matchup.
Week 2 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Doug Pederson continues to say Jay Ajayi will receive even more work than the 15 carries he had in Week 1. That's encouraging considering he only played 40 percent of snaps, but it's not encouraging for the rest of this backfield, as there just is not enough volume to go around to warrant fantasy starting consideration. That goes for Clement, too.
Week 1 vs. Atlanta Falcons (Thursday)
Clement had a big performance in the Super Bowl, but Thursday night against the Falcons (5th in aFPA versus RBs last year), he is not expected to see enough volume to warrant fantasy consideration. Jay Ajayi is the only startable running back in this backfield on Thursday night.
Fantasy Upside
Corey Clement was a Super Bowl hero for the Eagles. He's back in the mix in a crowded backfield this season, but is an attractive attrition play if something were to happen to Jay Ajayi.
Fantasy Downside
The Eagles decided to bring back Darren Sproles, despite Clement's contributions late in the season. From a fantasy perspective, Clement also only posted double-digit PPR points in two weeks last season. That's hard to swallow for redraft leagues.
2018 Bottom Line
Consider Clement a deep sleeper in an attractive offense, but this is a three-headed backfield entering 2018. Only if it becomes a two-headed RBBC will Clement be worth starting in leagues.
Super Bowl vs. New England Patriots
What matters in this different one-game format is not so much how many points we project each player for but how much each player costs per point. In FanDuel's half-point PPR format, here's how we value the running backs in terms of dollar/FanDuel point: Rex Burkhead>Jay Ajayi>Dion Lewis>LeGarrette Blount>Corey Clement>James Develin.
As for DraftKings' full PPR scoring, here's how we value the running backs in terms of dollar/DraftKings point: Jay Ajayi>Rex Burkhead>Dion Lewis>James White>LeGarrette Blount>Corey Clement>James Develin.
NFC Conference Championship vs. Minnesota Vikings
Corey Clement was third in line for touches last week behind Jay Ajayi and LeGarrette Blount. His volume can't be trusted against a tough Vikings rush defense.
Divisional Round vs. Atlanta Falcons
The Eagles have the third-lowest implied team total in Vegas this week at 19 points as an underdog. Plus, Corey Clement has barely seen any work over the last month. Look elsewhere for sleeper options this week.
Week 17 vs. Dallas Cowboys
The Eagles have locked up home-field advantage in the postseason, and head coach Doug Pederson has indicated his offensive starters will not play the entire game Week 17. It's impossible to know how much Corey Clement will play. Plus, Dallas is top-10 in aFPA vs. RBs. Clement is not a starting consideration in Week 17.
