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Hayden Epinette looks at Philadelphia Eagles running back Miles Sanders' dynasty value to see if he is a strong fantasy football option for 2021 and beyond.
We continue with our evaluation of the dynasty league value of high-profile players in our Dynasty Price Check series. Should you trade them or trade for them? Are they being overvalued or undervalued by dynasty players?
We've already covered players like Robby Anderson, which you can read here, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire, which you can find here, as well as Jerry Jeudy, which you can find here.
Today, we'll be looking at Philadelphia Eagles running back Miles Sanders.
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Player Profile
Size: 5-11, 211 lbs
SPARQ-x: 120.3 (76th percentile)
40-Yard Dash: 4.49 (80th percentile)
Source: Player Profiler
Sanders was taken by the Eagles in the second round (53rd overall) in the 2019 draft after a breakout junior season at Penn State. His 1,413 scrimmage yards and nine touchdowns helped him become the second running back taken, after fellow standout Josh Jacobs. Sanders has excellent athleticism, as his 40-yard dash and 76th percentile SPARQ-x score show. That foundation, combined with the fact that he'll be just 24 years old next season, makes him a strong dynasty asset. He was a bit of a one-year wonder in college, but that can be attributed to the presence of superstar tailback Saquon Barkley in the same backfield.
As a rookie in 2019, Sanders began the season splitting time with Darren Sproles and Jordan Howard. From Week 11 onward, however, he started all seven games, averaged 88 scrimmage yards per game, and scored four total touchdowns. His 172-yard, two-score performance versus Washington in Week 15 served as the high point of his debut season. By dazzling with his elusiveness and speed, Sanders ensured that expectations would be high entering 2020.
2020 Review
| 2020 | 12 G | 164 CAR | 871 RUSH YDS | 5.3 YPC | 52 TGT | 28 REC | 197 REC YDS | 6 TD |
Sanders's 2020 season had lots of good news and bad news. He missed four games due to injuries, but he still managed to surpass 1,000 scrimmage yards. He elevated his YPC to an elite level (from 4.6 to 5.3), but his receiving numbers fell significantly (from 509 yards to 197). He increased his snap share by 23 percent, but he quadrupled his number of drops.
Thankfully, Sanders put up enough good games to finish as the RB23 in PPR despite missing a quarter of the season. Even when he played, though, many managers found themselves disappointed in his lack of work in the passing game, which was sorely missed compared to his rookie campaign. His production also became increasingly dependent on big plays, such as this one against New Orleans:
MILES SANDERS GOES 82 YARDS. #FlyEaglesFly
?: #NOvsPHI on FOX
?: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/3alYfT3slD pic.twitter.com/2F2SGtyePt— NFL (@NFL) December 13, 2020
That run accounted for 82 of his 115 rushing yards that game. Versus Baltimore, 74 of his 118 yards came on one play. Against Pittsburgh, 74 of his 80 yards were on one attempt. While those plays can be huge for fantasy managers, that kind of production leads to inconsistent performances. His 15-yard game against Seattle and his 31-yard showing against Green Bay are proof of that.
Team Context
There have been lots of major changes in Philly already this offseason. One is that head coach Doug Pederson was let go. The organization brought in former Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni to take over head coaching duties. Given how strong Colts rookie tailback Jonathan Taylor looked late last season, Sanders managers should be excited about this switch.
Another big development was the trade of quarterback Carson Wentz to Indianapolis. Wentz struggled mightily last season before being replaced by Jalen Hurts. Hurts will likely be the team's starting quarterback for 2021, but the team could still draft a passer with the sixth pick in this year's draft. With enticing options like Zach Wilson, Justin Fields, and Trey Lance available, the possibility of a rookie being added to the mix can't be ruled out.
Finally, the Eagles let go of veteran wideouts Alshon Jeffrey and DeSean Jackson. Neither made much of an impact last season due to injuries, but the loss of two weapons will always affect an offense. How Philadelphia rounds out their receiving room remains to be seen, but the draft could be an option here as well. Prospects like Ja'Marr Chase, Jaylen Waddle, and DeVonta Smith are potential selections at sixth overall.
Dynasty Price
The FantasyPros consensus dynasty rankings place Sanders at the RB12 spot entering 2021. The Eagles runner is right behind Cam Akers and Aaron Jones and just ahead of Ezekiel Elliott and Josh Jacobs. Akers finished 2020 very well and now the Rams offense is poised to take off with Matthew Stafford under center. Jones is a free agent, so his outlook is up in the air until we learn of his destination. Elliott had a down year last season, but the presumed return of Dak Prescott should help his production. Jacobs finished as the RB8 and should continue his success. What I'm getting at is that Sanders managers have a lot of solid options to go after if they decide to make a move.
Outlook
Ultimately, I think that you should try to acquire one of those four above guys for Sanders. There's a lot of uncertainty around Sanders with the new-look offense, and while things could pan out, that's hardly a sure thing. Akers should be the top target; he averaged 104 scrimmage yards over his last five games, and he should only improve as he gets more experience. Managers are also very low on Elliott right now because of his letdown last year, but he's still young and has a track record of great success. Trading for Zeke would also be a wise move.
Another option would be to flip Sanders for both a player and a draft pick. If you can nab, say, David Montgomery and an early-second rounder, go for it. Don't get too cute though. Sanders is still a great option, so don't just trade him to trade him. Only make a move if you can get a suitable package in return. Otherwise, hang on to the Eagles back and hope Sirianni and Hurts set him up for success.
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