Commanders vs. Eagles Start 'Em, Sit 'Em - Jalen Hurts, D'Andre Swift, A.J. Brown, Devonta Smith, Brian Robinson Jr., Terry McLaurin

Welcome to our Commanders vs. Eagles fantasy football start 'em, sit' em matchups analysis article for Week 4 of the 2023 NFL season.

Read our matchups analysis, player breakdowns, and lineup recommendations for the matchup and set those winning lineups. Good luck RotoBallers!

Washington Commanders at Philadelphia Eagles

Spread: Eagles -9.5
Implied Total: Commanders (16.75) vs. Eagles (26.25)
Pace: Commanders (23rd) vs. Eagles (29th)
Commanders Off. DVOA: -15.4% Pass (27th), 10.9% Rush (6th)
Eagles Off. DVOA: 11.0% Pass (17th), 22.1% Rush (2nd)
Commanders Def. DVOA: 12.7% Pass (21st), -11.0% Rush (15th)
Eagles Def. DVOA: 1.3% Pass (14th), -52.8% Rush (1st)

Matchups We Love

Jalen Hurts (QB, PHI)

Hurts continues to make mistakes and win ugly. It's impacted his fantasy value a little, too. He currently sits at QB9 on the season. Whether it's the transition to a new play-caller or a ramp-up period following their Super Bowl loss, he hasn't looked comfortable. Hosting the Commanders, who were manhandled by the Bills, is another shot at a big game.

Good lord was this a beautiful throw by Jalen Hurts pic.twitter.com/95XKzyL0uh

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) September 26, 2023

Eagles WRs

The squeaky wheel narrative proved true for A.J. Brown, who dominated the Buccaneers with nine catches for 141 yards on 14 targets. Despite a perceived letdown over the first two weeks, his targets per route run (31%) and yards per route run (2.57) are both better than DeVonta Smith's. There will be ebbs and flows as to who leads the team each week, but they're both elite.

Matchups We Hate

Commanders Passing Attack 

Sam Howell was under attack all day against Buffalo. Unfortunately, the Eagles' defensive front is as good, if not better. Part of the blame lies with Howell, who's been sacked 19 times, and holds the ball too long. It's hard to imagine things going well for him in this one.

That takes us to the pass-catchers. Terry McLaurin was okay, but otherwise, no one else made their mark. The tight end position continues to be a focal point for Howell. They've turned a 12% target share into 27% of Howell's completions as a group. Cole Turner actually led the team with seven targets against the Bills. Furthermore, the Commanders have the third-lowest wide receiver target share in the league. It's bad news for Jahan Dotson, who without a quarterback change seems destined for mediocrity. McLaurin is the safest play as a top-36 wideout and Logan Thomas, who practiced in full, is worth a shot if he's active.

UPDATE: Thomas is good to go and should resume his role as the starter.

Brian Robinson Jr. (RB, WAS)

It was the first time all season the Commanders never held the lead, which negatively impacted Robinson Jr.'s workload. He only ceded two carries to Antonio Gibson, but despite another fumble, Gibson saw all five backfield targets. Robinson ranks 11th in elusive rating, seventh in missed tackles forced, and 12th in rushing yards over expected per attempt. He's a talented runner, but the matchup is brutal, and there's a risk he's game-scripted out.

Other Matchups

Dallas Goedert (TE, PHI)

Goedert repeated his high-volume, low-production performance from Week 2. It's frustrating that he's not seeing the downfield usage we became accustomed to last year, but 15 targets in two games at tight end is too many to overlook.

Eagles RBs

D'Andre Swift solidified his role as the starter while proving his offensive outburst wasn't a one-hit wonder. Philly should have no problem establishing a lead and pounding the rock against the Commanders, setting Swift up for another top-15 outing. Kenneth Gainwell's opportunities were similar (8% fewer snaps, two fewer carries, four fewer routes, and the same number of targets), but the result was only 48 total yards. He's a volume-reliant flex option who needs to find the end zone to pay dividends.

D'ANDRE SWIFT HURDLE 😳

(via @NFL)
pic.twitter.com/gFdzPat3LQ

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 26, 2023

Boston Scott practiced in full on Thursday, indicating he'll suit up. Assuming he officially clears the concussion protocol, he's more of a nuisance than anything.

UPDATE: Scott is good to go, increasing the odds of fewer touches for Swift and Gainwell. It's not enough to change their outlook, but it'll be worth watching to see how involved he is.

Notable Injuries

Jeff Wilson Jr. (abdomen)
Salvon Ahmed (groin)

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