Week 1 vs. Atlanta Falcons (Thursday)
Sproles saw significant time on the field before his early-season injury last season, 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 fantasy option in this backfield on Thursday night. Those in PPR leagues should keep an eye on Sproles usage though, as Doug Pederson asked all offseason when GM Howie Roseman would bring him back.
Fantasy Upside
Doug Pederson said he constantly went to GM Howie Roseman's office this offseason to ask when the team was re-signing Darren Sproles. Sproles only played two games last year but played 59 percent of the snaps. These two facts are notable.
Fantasy Downside
Sproles is in his mid-30s and it's fair to question whether he can stay healthy for an entire season. He's also in a three-man committee with Jay Ajayi and Corey Clement. It's unlikely he will see touches consistently week-to-week to warrant redraft league consideration.
2018 Bottom Line
Sproles will continue to get work in obvious passing-down situations and special teams as a returner, but volume will be what holds him back from contributing this season.
Week 3 vs. New York Giants
Sproles is a FLEX consideration yet again in PPR leagues, after seeing his snap count increase from 49% to 69% percent in Week 2, again leading the Eagles in snaps and further increasing his hold on the role. The Giants are the fourth-toughest in our aFPA vs. PPR RB rankings. In two games against the Giants last year, Sproles averaged 12.2 PPR points. Expect 10-15 touches, and hopefully, he'll best the 2 receptions he recorded last week.
Week 2 at Kansas City Chiefs
Darren Sproles is a FLEX consideration again this week, but only in PPR leagues. His 7 touches last week just weren't enough to add value in standard leagues; however, 5 of those touches were receptions, leading to 9.5 PPR points. Even more encouraging were the 8 targets. It is a top-10 match-up in our aFPA vs. RBs rankings, but a negative game script is likely to occur on the road, leading to more opportunities for Sproles to be on the field.
Week 1 at Washington
Sproles is locked into his pass-catching role in the Eagles offense, and after adding more weapons at WR, this offense may go more spread allowing Sproles to get on the field more. Sproles was already RB26 in PPR leagues last season and now faces a Washington team that was bad against PPR RBs (28th in PPR points allowed to the position). If you're in a deep league, Sproles is a borderline FLEX/RB3; however, in most leagues, you likely drafted better RBs.
Fantasy Upside
Darren Sproles continues to outperform his ADP year-after-year going into his potential swan song season. Last season, Sproles was not even one of the first 40 RBs taken in drafts, but he finished as the RB24. Rookie Donnel Pumphrey is also not expected to cut into Sproles' workload, nor will recently signed LeGarrette Blount, who is traditionally not considered a good pass-catcher. Sproles was actually pretty consistent in PPR leagues, posting a top-24 RB week 50% of the time, something fewer than 20 RBs did. Sproles looks set up once again to outperform his ADP.
Fantasy Downside
If you play in a standard league, ignore Sproles. He will not be of much help to you, as he only finished as the RB30 in those leagues and was 43rd at his position in standard fantasy points per game scoring.
2017 Bottom Line
Sproles' ADP sits in the 11th round, just outside the first 40 RBs taken in drafts. Target him there in PPR leagues. He's not a flashy pick, but he's a dependable pick to help round out your roster. He should once again give you a return on that not-so-heavy investment.
Week 17 vs. Dallas
Darren Sproles had seven rushes for 40 yards and a TD last week, adding two catches for 23 yards. With Ryan Mathews and Wendell Smallwood done for the year, the bulk of the workload could now fall on Sproles this week.
Ironically, back in Week 8, Sproles carried 15 times on the road at Dallas and finished with 86 yards rushing that day. Byron Marshall could steal some work, but this is shaping up to possibly be a day where Sproles gets about 15 or so touches. It's a tough matchup, as the Cowboys are ninth in allowing fantasy points to RBs. Mathews is 24th on our RB list this week (even in standard formats), so he's a lower-end RB2 option.
Week 14 vs. Washington
Darren Sproles ran seven times for 14 yards and a TD last week and added six catches for 35 yards. It's the third time in four games Sproles has caught five or more balls.
The Eagles RB situation remains one to probably just stay away from. Wendell Smallwood didn't do much with Ryan Mathews out, and now Mathews could be back this week. Sproles is probably the safest play among the Eagels backs, but is still best used in PPR leagues. Sproles gets a nice matchup this week against the Redskins, who are 26th in allowing fantasy points to RBs. Sproles was pretty much a non-factor in a Week 6 matchup earlier this year, but comes in as an RB3 option this week.
Week 13 at Cincinnati
Darren Sproles carried three times for six yards, but added five catches for 48 yards last week. The Eagles couldn't keep pace with the Packers, so it limited Wendell Smallwood's carries and helped Sproles in the passing game.
If Ryan Mathews can't go this week against Cincy, that's likely how the workload will be divided again with Smallwood getting carries and Sproles a change of pace and receiving back. Cincy is 15th in allowing fantasy points to WRs, so it's a decent matchup. Sproles seems best-suited for deeper PPR leagues, though.
Week 11 at Seattle
After carrying the ball 15 and 13 times in Weeks 7 and 8, Darren Sproles had just two carries for 19 yards and eight catches for 56 yards last week against the Falcons.
Leading up to the game, the team said Sproles was the team's RB1, but that wasn't the case as Ryan Mathews had a line of 19-109-2 running the ball. Apparently, Mathews has a tooth issue which limited him to four and five carries in Week's 7 and 8. With now resolved, Mathews is expected to be more involved, which makes sense because Sproles probably couldn't hold up with double-digit carries every game. This week, it's just not a good matchup as the Eagles travel to take on the Seahawks, who are fifth in allowing fantasy points to RBs. Sproles could be involved in the short passing game again, so he has some potential in deeper PPR leagues.
