NFL: Los Angeles Rams at Philadelphia Eagles
Oct 4, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Will Shipley (28) in a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
The Philadelphia Eagles carry a depleted offense into London for Sunday’s 9:30 a.m. ET game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, leaving fantasy football managers to sort through backups and returning starters against the NFL’s second-best scoring defense.
Philadelphia ruled out running back Saquon Barkley and wide receivers DeVonta Smith and Hollywood Brown, and Tank Bigsby is on injured reserve. Tight end Dallas Goedert returns from a knee injury, while quarterback Jalen Hurts and wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks are available despite late additions to the injury report.
The Eagles went 0-for-12 on third down and didn’t score on their final six possessions in last Sunday’s 24-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Since then, right tackle Lane Johnson retired, Pro Bowl center Cam Jurgens was traded to the Baltimore Ravens and new starting center Drew Kendall was ruled out with a knee injury.
MORE: Lane Johnson retirement creates major fantasy concerns for Jalen Hurts, Eagles offense
Jalen Hurts fantasy outlook in London
Eagles Week 5 fantasy football start/sit
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) plays against the Los Angeles Rams | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Hurts ranks QB14 in my rankings after completing 12 of 24 passes for 93 yards and two touchdowns against the Rams. His legs haven’t covered for the passing struggles, because the 28-year-old is averaging 26.3 rushing yards per game and hasn’t topped 25 since Week 1.
Jacksonville has allowed 1,150 passing yards through four games, but only three passing touchdowns against six interceptions. The Jaguars rank 17th with 20.6 points per game allowed to quarterbacks, and they haven’t given up a first-half touchdown this season.
Verdict: Sit Hurts in one-QB leagues if you have a healthy top-12 option. He’s still a starter in superflex formats.
MORE: Week 5 fantasy football QB start-sit: Jalen Hurts, Tyler Shough in major danger
Should you start Will Shipley?
Shipley is expected to be the primary back with Barkley out and Bigsby on injured reserve. The third-year back from Clemson said his preparation hasn’t changed.
“I’ve been preparing like a starter since the first game of my rookie year against Green Bay in Brazil,” Shipley said this week.
Volume won’t guarantee production, though, because Jacksonville has held running backs to 190 rushing yards on 67 carries (2.8 yards per attempt) with one rushing touchdown. The Jaguars also haven’t allowed a 75-yard rusher in 21 straight games. They have given up 27 catches to backs, so receiving work keeps a floor under him in PPR formats.
Verdict: At RB31, Shipley is a volume-based flex, not a confident RB2.
MORE: Week 5 fantasy football waiver wire FAAB: Will Shipley, Keon Coleman, Tyreek Hill
Dameon Pierce fantasy outlook vs. Jaguars
The Eagles promoted Pierce from the practice squad Wednesday after placing Bigsby on injured reserve. Philadelphia also signed running back Carson Steele, so the 5-foot-10, 215-pound former Houston Texans starter could split backup carries.
“He’s an NFL starting running back that’s on our practice squad,” head coach Nick Sirianni said Wednesday.
Verdict: Pierce ranks RB57 and has no defined role against a defense allowing 2.8 yards per carry to backs, so keep him on the bench.
MORE: Week 5 fantasy football RB start-sit: Aaron Jones, Cam Skattebo, Tony Pollard
Why start Dontayvion Wicks this week?
Eagles Week 5 fantasy football start/sit
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (13) makes a catch against the Chicago Bears | Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images
Wicks sits at WR36, and the matchup pushes him into lineups. Jacksonville allows 37.3 PPR points per game to wide receivers, ninth-most in the NFL, along with a league-high 842 receiving yards to the position.
Wicks drew a 14.8% target share for 18 yards against the Rams while cornerback Trent McDuffie covered him on more than half his routes. He held a 17% target share in the three games before that. He was limited in practice with a hamstring injury but carries no game designation.
“He’s tough as they come and really been pleased with him,” Sirianni said Friday.
The Jaguars have allowed one receiving touchdown to wideouts, so his value rests on catches and yards.
Verdict: Start Wicks as a WR3 or flex.
MORE: Week 5 fantasy football WR start-sit: Marvin Harrison Jr., Mike Evans, Wan’Dale Robinson
Makai Lemon Week 5 fantasy outlook
Lemon drew an 18.5% target share against the Rams, including a 13-yard catch on fourth down, but the former USC receiver finished with 27 yards. He hasn’t topped six PPR points in a game this season.
Goedert’s return adds another target competitor, and Jacksonville hasn’t allowed a receiving touchdown to slot receivers.
Verdict: At WR43, Lemon is a deep-league flex and a bench player in 12-team leagues.
MORE: Fantasy football PPR rankings for NFL Week 5: Puka Nacua is back!
Is Dallas Goedert a streaming option?
Eagles Week 5 fantasy football start/sit
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (88) runs for a touchdown against the Washington Commanders | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Goedert practiced fully on Friday after missing two games with a knee injury suffered in Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans. He caught two touchdowns in the season opener against the Washington Commanders.
“You only get 17 of these a year, so you want to play as much as you can,” Goedert said Thursday.
With Smith and Brown out, the veteran tight end could absorb short-area targets. However, Jacksonville allows 9.4 PPR points per game to tight ends, seventh-fewest, with 12 catches and 131 yards surrendered through four games.
Verdict: Goedert ranks TE27, so sit him behind a top-12 tight end. He’s a defensible streamer over uncertain options because of his target share and touchdown chances.
MORE: Fantasy football Week 5 TE start-sit: Isaiah Likely, Dalton Kincaid
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Matt De Lima
Matt De Lima brings 15+ years of elite sports media experience to the table. From covering the gridiron to the hardwood, this Virginia Tech graduate has established himself as a versatile editor and writer for heavy hitters like Sports Illustrated and DraftKings. A twice-nominated FSWA finalist, Matt combines a digital-first philosophy with an eagle eye for breaking news, consistently delivering the engaging coverage today’s audience demands across the NFL, NBA, MLB, and beyond.
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