Week 12 at Tennessee Titans
With the ground game nearly non-existent in the loss at Indy last week, Nick Foles threw for nearly 300 yards and two TDs. Everything seems to be good with his collarbone, as he attempted 47 passes, completing 70% of them. Foles will be on the road again but has a good matchup against a Titans defense that is in the bottom third against the pass. Jacksonville’s Gardner Minshew threw for just over 200 yards and two scores in the earlier meeting with Tennessee this season, so Foles is more of a QB2 start.
Week 11 at Indianapolis Colts
After breaking his left clavicle in his first regular-season game with the Jaguars, Nick Foles will be back at QB for the team on Sunday at Indianapolis. The bye week gave Jacksonville’s WRs a chance to get healthy, so Foles will have his full complement of weapons. However, he’ll be facing the No. 9 pass defense in the Colts, which will be out to wreak havoc. Foles is a QB2 play in his return to action.
Week 1 vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Nick Foles makes his official debut for the Jaguars on Sunday at home. As a backup the past three seasons with the Chiefs and Eagles, he’s appeared in 15 regular-season games, tossing 15 TDs and six INTs. Foles resurrected his career in ’17, taking over for the injured Carson Wentz and winning the Super Bowl with Philadelphia. The Chiefs allowed the second-most passing yards last year, but expect a conservative game plan from Jacksonville, utilizing Leonard Fournette and the ground attack to try to keep the high-powered Kansas City offense off the field. Foles is more of a QB2 play in the opener.
Fantasy Upside
The Jaguars had Nick Foles as their top free-agent target, and they didn't waste any time reaching an agreement with the veteran signal caller on a four-year, $88 million deal. Originally drafted by the Eagles in the third round in 2012, Foles bounced around the league before returning to Philly in 2017. It was a move that at the time received little attention but proved to be one of the most important in Eagles history, as Foles took over for Carson Wentz down the stretch that season and helped the team to its first Super Bowl title (while being named Super Bowl MVP). He proved that it was no fluke by saving the Eagles' season for a second time this past year. Now, with Foles as their starter, the Jaguars have a competent passer who has completed 62 percent of his passes in 54 career games, with 68 touchdowns and 33 interceptions. He has the sixth-best career post-season passer rating (98.8) in NFL history.
Fantasy Downside
Even with John DeFilippo (who served as Foles' QBs coach in Philadelphia in 2017) taking over as Jacksonville's offensive coordinator, this will be a run-first and run-heavy attack. In addition, the Jaguars' receiving corps is among the league's least impressive.
2019 Bottom Line
As Profootballtalk.com put it, "Though it often isn't pretty, Foles gets it done. He's cool under fire, and he finds motivation in those who doubt him." Expect him to continue finding a way to get it done -- and to make his new team better in the process -- this season.
Week 19 at New Orleans Saints
Just how charmed the Nick Foles-led Eagles are will be tested this week, as the Super Bowl MVP and winner of four consecutive games travels to New Orleans where Philadelphia lost by 41 in Week 11. The Birds have the third lowest implied team total this week at 21.75 points. The Saints rank 14th in aFPA to QBs, and with negative game script expected, Foles should find himself in the middle of the pack among fantasy QBs this week.
Week 17 at Washington Redskins
The Eagles offensive starters will be full-go in Week 17, as Philadelphia hopes to sneak back into the playoffs with a win and Vikings loss. With Nick Foles at the helm, this offense has posted back-to-back weeks of 30 points or more. Vegas has set a lower implied total for Philly this week at 24, despite the Eagles being installed as 6.5-point favorites. Washington is just middle of the road in aFPA to QBs this season, and with other bigger name fantasy QBs resting in Week 17, Foles enters low-end QB1 consideration.
Week 16 vs. Houston Texans
Jolly Ol' St. Nick Foles brought presents yet again to Philadelphia fans last week, and with playoff hopes still alive, Foles may come down the chimney yet again. Against Houston, Philly has an implied team total of 23.75 points, a little better than average for the Week 16 slate. The Texans rank just 19th in aFPA to QBs, putting Foles on the streaming option list for those in need. It's risky, but the Texans are one of the more pass funnel defenses in the NFL. Do you still believe in St. Nick?
Week 15 at Los Angeles Rams
The defending Super Bowl champs continue to suffer major injuries to starting positions, with the latest in the form of a back injury for Carson Wentz. Insert the Super Bowl MVP against his former team, as Nick Foles comes back to the spotlight. The Rams are just around league average in aFPA to QBs this season, and this game has an over/under of more than 50, but the Eagles have an implied team total of less than 20. Don't get cute. Nick Foles is too risky of a streaming option in Week 15.
Week 2 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay may seem like a favorable matchup after allowing 40+ points to the Saints, but a closer look causes concern. Las Vegas betting odds indicate a low-scoring affair, with a total of only 44 points in this game. Tampa Bay was also about average last season in aFPA to QBs at 17th. The Eagles without top wideout Alshon Jeffery may continue to utilize a balanced offense with their backup quarterback. His poor Week 1 fantasy performance pushes him down to the bottom of rankings, even in 2QB leagues.
Week 1 vs. Atlanta Falcons (Thursday)
The opener to the 2018 NFL season will feature the Super Bowl MVP also beginning the season as the Eagles starting quarterback with Carson Wentz still recovering from last season's knee injury. In five full games last season (including the postseason), Foles averaged more than 19 fantasy points per game, which would have been top-five at the position. There is some negative regression expected for Thursday night, especially with top wideout Alshon Jeffery not expected to play. Foles is a streaming option, however, against a Falcons team that was below league average in aFPA versus QBs.
