Issue #273: NFC East
By Derrick Ernst
May 07, 2026
Ground Rules
It is time! For those who weren’t around last year, I spent eight consecutive issues going division-by-division, team-by-team, discussing who’s worthy of fantasy consideration. Today marks the start of running it back. Unless something more pressing breaks onto the scene, each of the next eight issues will feature a different division and my thoughts on players within it.
If you need a refresher on how rosters and depth charts are stacking up, ESPN offers up a clean homepage for you to keep an eye on your favorite team(s): NFL depth charts for all 32 teams
Before getting started, I came across this. Apparently I wasn’t the only one who thought the NFL Draft lacked a level of pizazz that we’ve seen from prior drafts.
I’m not familiar with Brandon Walker, but I agree with his take. I think a lot of it had to do with the lack of “big” names, but when there’s consensus with something like that, it usually means the draft class will turn out to be a winner. Next year’s class is supposed to be generational, especially amongst QBs and WRs. That could mean the opposite of what it’s supposed to. Just saying.
DAL
Last year offensive stat rankings:
Points/gm: 27.7 (5th in NFL)
Pass yds/gm: 266.3 (2nd in NFL)
Rush yds/gm: 125.6 (8th in NFL)
“Core Four” fantasy assets:
QB: Dak Prescott
RB: Javonte Williams
WR: CeeDee Lamb
WR: George Pickens
Honorable mentions:
TE: Jake Ferguson
K: Brandon Aubrey
It’s no surprise that you want to own fantasy assets from DAL. If I had to guess, DAL has likely had at least one top-5 fantasy finisher at QB, RB, or WR over the last decade. You may be asking yourself how to best identify which position will thrive most in ’26. Traditionally I’d say WR, but given how well J. Williams did last season, I may say RB given the value he’ll likely be to draft. Unless there’s injury to Lamb, I want no part of Pickens this season. As I said last issue, I think ’25 will mark the top of Pickens’ career.
Dak gets A LOT of heat with naysayers screaming that he doesn’t deserve his contract. It’s mostly due to postseason play (or lack thereof), but we don’t care about the playoffs in fantasy — our season is already long over. Dak’s script is simple, if he can stay on the field, he’s at a minimum, a top-12 fantasy QB. Over the last six seasons, he’s played in 16+ gamesonly three times. Dak is practically the CMC of QB’s. I almost put Aubrey as a “Core Four” asset in place of Pickens. In his three seasons in the league he has finished as K1, K1, and K3, respectively. He also has the most 60+ yards FG’s of all-time. That is difference-making.
NYG
Last year offensive stat rankings:
Points/gm: 22.4 (16th in NFL)
Pass yds/gm: 204.4 (21st in NFL)
Rush yds/gm: 129.1 (5th in NFL)
“Core Four” fantasy assets:
QB: Jaxon Dart
RB: Cam Skattebo
WR: Malik Nabers
Honorable mentions:
TE: Isaiah Likely
I’m going to try my best to be objective. I was fully expecting NYG to add another premier RB to their team via the draft, but they chose not to. Sky’s the limit for Mr. Skattebo. Both he and Nabers are progressing well from injury (to my knowledge) and will be ready for the start of the season. While I’m all for drafting Skattebo, you need to draft him with the mindset that he’ll miss time at some point throughout the year. He’s the kind of runner that will put up numbers, but also has a high likelihood of hitting the IR at any point. This shouldn’t scare you, just something to be aware of.
Speaking of running, in 12 games as starter last year, Dart rushed for 500 yards and had 9 TDs. Disregard some fumbles, that’s almost 9 fantasy PPG! I think it’ll be this season with Harbaugh that we’ll begin seeing Dart’s true potential. Look what he did for Lamar. I’m not saying Dart is Lamar, but even if he’s a fraction of him, that’s big for fantasy. We all know what Nabers is capable of. Given the early fantasy mock drafts I’ve seen, he has something like a R4 ADP. If that holds, I’m begging you all to not leave R4 without him. He may be fantasy’s biggest steal of ’26!
PHI
Last year offensive stat rankings:
Points/gm: 22.1 (19th in NFL)
Pass yds/gm: 192.8 (23rd in NFL)
Rush yds/gm: 118.2 (16th in NFL)
“Core Four” fantasy assets:
QB: Jalen Hurts
RB: Saquon Barkley
WR: DeVonta Smith
TE: Dallas Goedert
Honorable mentions:
WR: Makai Lemon
WR: Hollywood Brown
*Assuming AJ Brown will be traded.
Is it just me or has something felt “off” about Philly for years but yet they keep finding their way? Even when they won the SB people were finding reasons to fade the team. Exhibit A: They had some pretty mediocre output last season but still easily won their division.
Let me make this very clear, Brown will be irreplaceable if/when traded. D. Smith and newcomer M. Lemon are virtually the same player. An inch and ten pounds separates them physically. Not like it was world-renowned to begin with, but Hurts’ passing game will suffer without the presence of Brown. Excluding his rookie season, Hurts had his worst fantasy performance in ’25 and that was with Brown on the field for 15 games of it. The name of PHI’s game this season will be running the ball. As expected, Barkley was considered to have a “down” year in ’25 because he failed to put up all-time numbers. He’ll be thought of by the fantasy community to be on the decline. I’d expect him to buck that with a performance reminiscent of his historic ’24. Plus, having a top-end O-Line helps the cause too.
WSH
Last year offensive stat rankings:
Points/gm: 20.9 (21st in NFL)
Pass yds/gm: 184.1 (24th in NFL)
Rush yds/gm: 134.7 (4th in NFL)
“Core Four” fantasy assets:
QB: Jayden Daniels
RB: Jacory Croskey-Merritt
RB: Rachaad White
WR: Terry McLaurin
Honorable mentions:
RB: Jerome Ford
WR: Antonio Williams
It’s never good when you don’t know where to start and that’s how I’m feeling with WSH. The player I’m most intrigued with here is R. White. I don’t think JCM has a stranglehold on RB1 duties and his play was pretty volatile last season. Without a TD, he was fantasy bust on a week-to-week basis. With A. Ekeler (and C. Rodriguez) gone, White will assume third-down and pass-catching duties. That feels more like a player I want in WSH’s backfield, especially given the lack thereof of WR options. McLaurin had his breakout season in Jayden’s rookie season. That ultimately came by way of scoring 13 TDs — a career high (his career average/season is 6). Speaking of Jayden, he still feels like an experiment — not something you want in your fantasy QB. Could we see a year 3 breakout? Yes. Could we see a year 3 bust? Yes. Maybe it’s best to let another manager in your league take him to find out?
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