Joe Milton III Poised to Make First Career Start
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Joe Milton III is expected to make the first start of his NFL career in a Week 9 matchup against the divisional-rival New York Giants. Milton was signed to Philadelphia's roster off of the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad on Oct. 16. The Eagles placed starting quarterback Jalen Hurts (blood clots) on injured reserve one day later after it was discovered that Hurts had multiple blood clots in his lungs. With Hurts expected to miss the remainder of the 2026 season, the Eagles turned to Tanner McKee at quarterback. McKee started the previous three games, which were all losses for the Eagles. The McKee experiment appears to be over. Despite Philadelphia head coach Nick Sirianni saying earlier in the week that the team would stick with McKee, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo and ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Wednesday that Milton will be starting for the Eagles in Week 9. Philadelphia is looking for a spark as it is currently amidst a six-game losing streak. However, Milton's first assignment looks difficult. The Giants allow just 184.9 passing yards per game, which is the third-best in the NFL. Conversely, according to Pro Football Reference, New York gives up 19.6 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, which ranks 26th in the league. Milton has played in five career games between the New England Patriots and Dallas Cowboys. He has completed 37 out of 53 passes (69.8%) for 424 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Milton has also recorded 66 rushing yards and an additional touchdown. Milton ranks as RotoBaller's No. 25 quarterback for Week 9. There is no need to add Milton to your bench or start him until he proves his value.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Saquon Barkley Hopes to Get Going in Matchup Vs. Giants
It's been a frustrating season for Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley - and the team as a whole - as hamstring and back injuries have limited his availability and impact in 2026 thus far. The Eagles are 2-6 and have lost six consecutive games, and will need to rely on Barkley to be effective if they are going to break out of their slump. He will look to get going in a Week 9 matchup against the New York Giants. Barkley hasn't played more than 22 snaps in a game since Week 3, when he played 36. Barkley injured his hamstring in a Week 4 loss to the Los Angeles Rams after playing just four offensive snaps. He missed Week 5 and Week 6 due to the hamstring issue. Barkley returned in Week 7, but was limited to 10 offensive snaps after suffering the back injury during a loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Most recently, Barkley played 22 snaps in a loss to the Washington Commanders in Week 8. Since returning to the lineup, Barkley has combined for 20 rush attempts for 92 yards (4.6 yards per carry) and two touchdowns, while adding three receptions for 33 yards (11 yards per reception), over the past two games. The volume has not been high for Barkley over the past two weeks, but he did find the end zone in back-to-back games. Due to multiple injuries in the backfield, the Eagles elevated Elijah Mitchell and Jaydon Blue from the practice squad last week. Mitchell earned 15 total offensive touches against Washington, compared to 12 for Barkley and one for Blue. Notably, the Eagles are expected to bench Tanner McKee and start Joe Milton III at quarterback in Week 9. The ground game is going to be crucial for the Eagles against a New York defense that struggles to defend the run, allowing 128.1 rushing yards per game (26th in the NFL). According to Pro Football Reference, the Giants allow 16.8 fantasy points per game to running backs (14th in NFL). Barkley ranks as RotoBaller's No. 16 running back for Week 9 and fantasy managers will need to be patient with Barkley.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Saquon Barkley Good to Go for Week 9
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (hamstring, back) is good to go for his team's Week 9 matchup against the New York Giants, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. Barkley was limited again in practice on Friday due to hamstring and back issues, but he will not carry an injury designation into the weekend. The 29-year-old has been battling injury issues since suffering a hamstring strain in Week 4 against the Los Angeles Rams. He's been relatively productive even while playing a reduced snap share over the last two weeks, recording 125 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on 23 touches across Philadelphia's last two games. Barkley's profile carries risk due to his uncertain health and the Eagles' injury-ravaged offense, but the star running back profiles as a high-end fantasy RB2 in Week 9 against the Giants.
Source: NFL Network - Mike Garafolo
Source: NFL Network - Mike Garafolo
Dallas Goedert Looks to Remain Productive with New QB
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert will once again have a new quarterback to work with, as Joe Milton III is expected to start in a Week 9 matchup against the New York Giants. Milton will be the third different quarterback to start for the Eagles this season, as Jalen Hurts (blood clots) is out for the 2026 season and Tanner McKee has been benched after three games. Despite missing two games earlier this season, Goedert has remained heavily involved in Philadelphia's offense no matter who has been under center, with 26 receptions (on 36 targets) for 258 yards and two touchdowns. Most recently, Goedert caught all four of his targets for 30 yards (7.5 yards per reception) in a 27-10 loss to the Washington Commanders in Week 8. Over the past two games, the Eagles have been playing without their top two wide receivers, DeVonta Smith (hamstring) and Dontayvion Wicks (ankle), leading to ample opportunities for Goedert, but Philadelphia struggled to get the passing game going under McKee. Still, in the three games that McKee started, Goedert drew 19 targets and amassed 15 receptions for 139 yards (9.27 yards per catch). It will be interesting to see if Goedert's volume remains that high with Milton at quarterback. The Week 9 matchup for Goedert doesn't look easy on paper, as the Giants boast one of the best passing defenses in the NFL, allowing just 184.9 passing yards per game (third in the league). Moreover, the Giants only give up 6.2 fantasy points per game to tight ends, according to Pro Football Reference (eighth-best in the NFL). RotoBaller notes that Goedert averages 8.5 fantasy points scored per game in half-PPR scoring formats, which ranks 13th among NFL tight ends. Additionally, RotoBaller ranks Goedert as its No. 12 tight end in Week 9 (half-PPR). Goedert is as consistent as they come in regard to fantasy football tight ends, but he is a shakier play in Week 9 due to the quarterback situation and the stout New York defense.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Dontayvion Wicks Not Seen at Friday's Practice
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (ankle) was not present for the portion of practice open to the media on Friday, according to Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Wicks and fellow wideout DeVonta Smith (hamstring) have missed practice all week and are likely to be officially ruled out on the Eagles' final injury report on Friday. The 25-year-old generated a ton of buzz during training camp and the preseason as a riser in Philly's new offense with A.J. Brown out of town, and he opened the regular season as the clear WR2 behind Smith. However, the Eagles' offense was slow out of the gates, and now that starting quarterback Jalen Hurts (blood clots) is done for the year, it will be an uphill battle for Wicks to return to fantasy relevance once he gets healthy. Fantasy managers should not expect Wicks to play this weekend against the division-rival New York Giants, and his next chance to play won't come until Week 11 against the Pittsburgh Steelers (the Eagles have their bye in Week 10). In six games so far in 2026, Wicks has caught only 19 of 32 targets for 284 yards and one touchdown.
Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer - Jeff McLane
Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer - Jeff McLane
DeVonta Smith Remains Out of Practice on Friday
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring) was not seen during the portion of practice open to the media on Friday, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer's Jeff McLane. Both Smith and Dontayvion Wicks (ankle) have not practiced all week and look to be on the verge of being officially ruled out for the Week 9 divisional clash against the New York Giants on Sunday. It has been a disappointing season thus far for the 27-year-old Smith, who has taken over as Philly's No. 1 receiver this year with A.J. Brown in New England. But with Smith hurt and starting quarterback Jalen Hurts (blood clots) out for the rest of the season, Smith's fantasy football value has tanked at the midway point of the year. With Smith and Wicks unlikely to play again this weekend, look for rookie first-rounder Makai Lemon, Darius Cooper, and Hollywood Brown to once again serve as the team's top three wideouts for new quarterback Joe Milton II against New York. The Eagles have a bye next week, so hopefully both Smith and Wicks will be ready to return in Week 11 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer - Jeff McLane
Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer - Jeff McLane
Saquon Barkley Back at Practice on Friday
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (hamstring, back) is present on Friday at practice for the second straight day, according to Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Barkley did not practice on Wednesday, but he was limited on Thursday and is back on the field on Friday, putting him on track to play this weekend when the Eagles take on the division-rival New York Giants at home on Sunday. The 29-year-old missed two games with a hamstring injury but returned in the Week 7 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. He has not been anywhere close to 100% in the last two weeks while also dealing with a compensatory back injury, and he has been seen constantly stretching on the sideline while not playing his normal allotment of offensive snaps. Barkley should be active in Week 9 against the Giants, but how much he plays and how effective he will be is a major question mark. The good news is that he has been effective when on the field over the last two weeks, carrying the ball 20 times for 92 yards and two touchdowns while adding three catches for 33 yards as a receiver. Barkley's risk of an in-game setback is very real, which lines him up as an extremely volatile low-end RB2 for fantasy managers this weekend if he is active.
Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer - Jeff McLane
Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer - Jeff McLane
Dallas Goedert's Declining Targets Raise Concerns Entering Week 9
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert has seen his involvement in the passing game steadily decline over the past three weeks. Goedert caught six passes for 61 yards on eight targets in Week 6, followed by five catches for 48 yards on seven targets in Week 7. He managed just four receptions for 30 yards on four targets in Sunday's loss to Washington. Goedert also hasn't found the end zone since scoring twice in the season opener. The Eagles have struggled offensively with Tanner McKee at quarterback and will now turn to Joe Milton III, who is set to make his first NFL start Sunday against the Giants. The quarterback change adds another question to Goedert's outlook, especially with his targets already dropping. RotoBaller ranks him TE12 for Week 9, keeping him in the starting conversation despite his recent struggles.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Dontayvion Wicks Absent Again on Thursday
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (ankle) missed another day of practice on Thursday and is trending in the wrong direction to play in Week 9 on Sunday against the division-rival New York Giants. Wicks is heading toward missing a third straight game, as is teammate DeVonta Smith (hamstring), who has not practiced or played since injuring his hamstring in the Week 6 loss to the Carolina Panthers. The 25-year-old Wicks was a buzzy player during training camp and the preseason as one of the primary beneficiaries of A.J. Brown being traded to the New England Patriots in the offseason. So far in 2026, in his first year in Philly, Wicks has failed to deliver on that promise, catching 19 of his 32 targets for 284 yards and just one touchdown in six games played. And with Jalen Hurts (blood clots) out for the remainder of the season, the likelihood of Wicks becoming an every-week fantasy starter is remote. Wicks is now only rostered in 14% of Yahoo leagues as he looks unlikely to return this weekend. The Eagles have their bye in Week 10, so if Wicks is not cleared this week, his next chance to play will not come until Nov. 22 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Source: Philadelphia Eagles
Source: Philadelphia Eagles
DeVonta Smith Absent From Thursday's Practice
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring) missed another practice on Thursday and is trending toward missing a third straight game due to a hamstring injury in Week 9 against the division-rival New York Giants. Smith has not practiced since injuring his hamstring in the Week 6 loss to the Carolina Panthers, and he will likely need to return to practice in some capacity on Friday to avoid being ruled out for a third straight game this weekend. Additionally, fellow wideout Dontayvion Wicks (ankle) missed another practice as well. If both Smith and Wicks miss another game, rookie first-rounder Makai Lemon and Darius Cooper should continue to operate as Philly's top two receiving options for new starting quarterback Joe Milton II, who will be making his debut with the Eagles against the G-Men. Smith's fantasy stock has dropped drastically ever since it was announced that starting QB Jalen Hurts (blood clots) would miss the rest of the year. The good news is that Smith could have a higher fantasy ceiling once he returns now that the more athletic Milton is the team's starter under center. Smith has been a disappointment so far this year as the Eagles' WR1, catching 26 of his 41 targets for 310 yards and two touchdowns in only four games played.
Source: Philadelphia Eagles
Source: Philadelphia Eagles
Saquon Barkley Practicing on Thursday
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (hamstring, back) is practicing with the team on Thursday, according to Brooks Kubena of The Athletic. Barkley did not practice on Wednesday, so this is a good sign that he is trending in the right direction for the team's Week 9 game this Sunday against the division-rival New York Giants. Fantasy managers will want to check back for the 29-year-old's official practice status, but Barkley will most likely be limited as he continues to manage hamstring and back injuries. Barkley missed Weeks 5 and 6 with a hamstring injury before returning in the Week 7 Monday night loss to the Dallas Cowboys, when he immediately tweaked his hamstring and added a back injury. He played just 15% of the offensive snaps in that game, but he was effective with his nine touches, totaling 71 scrimmage yards and a rushing touchdown. Barkley played 32% of the snaps in the Week 8 loss to the Washington Commanders on Sunday night, carrying the ball 13 times for 30 yards and a touchdown while adding a 24-yard reception, but he was seen stretching all game and was not on the field late in the game. If Barkley continues to play through his hamstring/back injuries, he could continue to yield valuable playing time to Elijah Mitchell, making him a volatile RB2 for fantasy managers, at risk of another setback this Sunday if he is active.
Source: The Athletic - Brooks Kubena
Source: The Athletic - Brooks Kubena
Jalen Hurts Makes Appearance at the Eagles Practice Facility on Wednesday
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (blood clots) made an appearance at the Eagles facility for the first time since being placed on injured reserve for blood clots in his lungs. According to Tim McManus of ESPN, it marked the first time some of the players had seen him since he was placed on IR. The 28-year-old sat during meetings but did not address the team. "I've talked to him and am in constant communication with him and know he's resting and recovering," Sirianni said. "I miss him like crazy. But nothing new on that front. I know he's resting and recovering, and we're all still praying for him and hoping for a speedy recovery," said Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni. Hurts is being held out of football activities and has been ruled out for the season, but the issue isn't expected to be long-term. Tanner McKee replaced Hurts in Week 6, but after struggling and going 0-3 in his three starts, the Eagles will turn to Joe Milton in Week 9's matchup against the New York Giants.
Source: Adam Schefter of ESPN
Source: Adam Schefter of ESPN
Dontayvion Wicks Not Seen at Practice on Wednesday
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (ankle) was not spotted at practice on Wednesday, per Brooks Kubena of The Athletic. Wicks has been sidelined since Week 6 due to an ankle injury, and he appears to be at risk of remaining out for Philadelphia's Week 9 matchup against the New York Giants. Across six games before getting hurt, the 25-year-old recorded 19 catches for 284 yards and a touchdown on 32 targets. With Eagles WR1 DeVonta Smith (hamstring) also battling injury, Wicks could have a chance to play a lead role in the Philadelphia passing game if he makes it back to the field before Smith. If neither Smith nor Wicks can play in Week 9, Eagles rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon would likely be the team's WR1 against the Giants.
Source: The Athletic - Brooks Kubena
Source: The Athletic - Brooks Kubena
DeVonta Smith Absent from Practice on Wednesday
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring) was not seen at practice on Wednesday, per Brooks Kubena of The Athletic. Smith has been battling a lingering hamstring injury that has caused him to miss two straight games and four of the Eagles' last five. The 27-year-old has been highly productive when active, recording 26 catches for 310 yards and two touchdowns on 41 targets across four games. However, with Philadelphia in the midst of a six-game losing streak and their season spiraling out of control, the team has little incentive to rush Smith back out on the field. If Smith remains sidelined in Week 9 against the New York Giants, Eagles rookie wideout Makai Lemon and veteran tight end Dallas Goedert would likely be the top pass-catchers for new Philadelphia QB1 Joe Milton III.
Source: The Athletic - Brooks Kubena
Source: The Athletic - Brooks Kubena
Saquon Barkley Absent from Practice on Wednesday
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (hamstring, back) was not spotted at practice on Wednesday, per Brooks Kubena of The Athletic. Barkley has been battling injury issues for multiple weeks. The 29-year-old has played a limited snap share in each of the Eagles' last two games, but he's been relatively productive in his opportunities, recording 20 carries for 92 yards and two touchdowns over the last two weeks. Given that Barkley has been on the field for the Eagles lately, he may just be getting a rest/injury management day off on Wednesday. If Barkley has suffered a setback, Eagles backup running backs Elijah Mitchell and Jaydon Blue could be in line for increased workloads in Week 9 against the New York Giants.
Source: The Athletic - Brooks Kubena
Source: The Athletic - Brooks Kubena
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