Zach Ertz

The Philadelphia Eagles created $5.756 million in cap space in 2019 by converting $7.195 million of tight end Zach Ertz's contract into a bonus, according to Field Yates of ESPN.

According to Over the Cap, the team had roughly $21.8 million in cap space before the move. That figure ranked 13th in the league.

As Yates mentioned, this contract restructure gives the Eagles more breathing room to make transactions if needed.

Philadelphia followed up a Super Bowl-winning campaign with a 9-7 regular-season record and a wild-card victory over the Chicago Bears last season. The Eagles nearly upset the 13-3 New Orleans Saints in the NFC Divisional Round before losing 20-14.

Eagles executive vice president of football operations Howie Roseman ran point on a busy offseason.

Per Spotrac, former Jacksonville Jaguars defensive lineman Malik Jackson signed a three-year, $30 million deal. The Eagles also traded for Tampa Bay Buccaneers wideout DeSean Jackson and restructured his contract for three years and $27.9 million.

Furthermore, Philadelphia extended offensive linemen Jason Kelce and Isaac Seumalo and traded for Chicago Bears running back Jordan Howard.

The Eagles also converted $13.4 million of offensive tackle Lane Johnson's contract into a bonus, which created $8.2 million of cap space.

That move—plus the Ertz restructure—can help Roseman add more pieces.

Per Chris Wesseling and Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com, a handful of top-100 free agents are still looking for landing spots.

Of note, former Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, Detroit Lions edge-rusher Ezekiel Ansah and Washington Redskins linebacker Zach Brown are available.

We'll see if the Eagles stay active in free agency, but for now, the team looks strong heading into next year. Vegas Insider gives Philadelphia 8-1 odds to win the NFC, which is tied for third on the conference ledger.

Wide receiver DeSean Jackson said he returned to the Philadelphia Eagles because they're "chasin' some jewelry."

On Saturday, TMZ Sports provided comments from Jackson, a second-round pick of the Eagles in the 2008 NFL draft who spent the first six years of his career with the franchise.

"We're tryin' to stack it up on the wall, man!" he said.

The three-time Pro Bowler added: "They got some good things going on. I'm just happy to be an addition to that."

Jackson, who requested a trade from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in October, was dealt to Philly in mid-March, with the teams also swapping late-round 2019 draft picks.

The 32-year-old Los Angeles native saw his role reduced in Tampa last year. He tallied 41 receptions for 774 yards and four touchdowns across 12 appearances. Although it was the second-lowest catch total of his career, he still led the NFL with a per-catch average of 18.9 yards.

"S--t, the city's a good place, man. It's just unfortunate—like I was just talking to Jameis [Winston]—it didn't work out or whatever," Jackson told TMZ about his time with the Bucs. "But the city's a good place, man. We just wasn't able to get it done on the field."

The Cal product also spent three years with the Washington Redskins from 2014 through 2016.

In Philadelphia, he'll join one of the league's most versatile pass-catching groups alongside fellow receivers Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor, as well as tight ends Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert.

Coincidentally, that could mean Jackson's role ends up being similar to last season with the Bucs. It's unlikely he'll hit the 100-target plateau, which he reached four times in six years during his first stint in Philly, but he can still provide ample value as a big-play threat for quarterback Carson Wentz.

Jackson called Wentz a "baller" during his conversation with TMZ.

Sunday's second pair of NFL divisional-round showdowns should keep the points flowing.

The two games feature three future Hall-of-Fame quarterbacks, and don't forget about Philip Rivers. Just kidding, but Nick Foles could produce plenty of fantasy points as a sizeable road underdog.

Plenty of marquee names will compete when the New England Patriots face the Los Angeles Chargers. Daily fantasy football (DFS) contestants, however, should judiciously target the NFC clash between the New Orleans Saints and Philadelphia Eagles.

The Saints and Eagles respectively ended the season 29th and 30th in passing defense. As a result, OddsShark shows that bookmakers anticipate more scoring in the Big Easy. All of the highlighted plays hail from this matchup.

           

Sunday Divisional-Round Schedule and Odds

Los Angeles Chargers at New England Patriots (-4, 47.5 O/U): 1:05 p.m. ET on CBS

Philadelphia Eagles at New Orleans Saints (-8, 51.5 O/U): 4:40 p.m. ET on Fox

         

Top Fantasy Picks

Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints

The quarterback choice is obvious for DFS participants solely playing Sunday's slate. Pay up for Drew Brees, who gets the postseason's weakest secondary inside the Superdome.

While the Eagles rank a decent No. 15 in Defensive-adjusted Value over Average (DVOA) against the pass, according to Football Outsiders, they yielded the NFL's third-most passing yards per game (269.3) during the regular season. Take away two matchups against Washington, which had already lost quarterback Alex Smith, and Philadelphia has surrendered 339.4 passing yards per bout to its last seven opponents.

Brees compiled 363 of them while also tallying four passing touchdowns in Week 11's 48-7 laugher. The dominant display was nothing new for the soon-to-be 40-year-old, who posted 2,251 passing yards, 21 touchdowns, one pick and a 133.3 quarterback rating in seven home starts.

An aggressive Eagles pass rush did not muster a single sack in the blowout loss. Per Dave Spadaro of the team's official site, defensive end Chris Long addressed the challenge of pressuring Brees.

Having notched at least 17 fantasy points in every Superdome showcase, Brees is a safe selection who warrants the hefty investment in cash contests. 

               

Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints

The Saints are heavy favorites at home, where they garnered 37.0 points per game with Brees. They should manufacture enough scoring opportunities for the quarterback and his running backs to coexist.

Some will see this as a justification to deploy Mark Ingram, who stomped the Eagles to 103 rushing yards and two scores on Nov. 18. He has since collected 297 yards and two scores on 69 touches in six games.

Because of his lower floor, Ingram works better for tournament lineups. Alvin Kamara, on the other hand, carries a towering floor and ceiling to trust anywhere.

Touchdowns will reign supreme in a microscopic slate. That makes it imperative to play the second-year rusher, who found pay dirt 18 times in 15 games.

That garish outcome was no fluke. Per Pro Football Reference, he tied Saquon Barkley for the second-most red-zone rushes (50). Only teammate Michael Thomas secured more receptions (24) inside the 20 than his 21.  

The Eagles concluded the season seventh in rushing defense before stuffing the Chicago Bears to 65 yards on the ground. Yet they also tied the Indianapolis Colts for the second-most catches ceded to running backs (6.9 per game). 

Snagging 81 catches during the season, Kamara should far exceed Week 11's one target. He also converted that opportunity into a 37-yard touchdown, so expect a busy day from the second-year standout.

             

Nelson Agholor, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

Michael Thomas is the top wideout on Sunday's slate. Yet you already get that the Saints offense is good. The Eagles defense, not so much. Besides, money will get tight when trying to play them all.

Luckily, there are plenty of cheap wideouts to target from the same contest.

Activated from injured reserve in Week 16, Ted Ginn Jr. promptly caught five of eight targets for 74 yards. Dating back to last season and including the playoffs, the speedster is averaging 69.5 yards in his past 10 home games.

He's justifiably drawing interest as a cheap DFS pivot. So is Golden Tate, who turned his eighth Wild Card Weekend target into a game-winning touchdown. That timely play is drawing gamers away from Nelson Agholor, who has caught 13 of 19 targets for 188 yards and three touchdowns in the past three games.

The 25-year-old managed a tame three catches for 32 yards against a stout Bears secondary, but no team permitted more receiving yards (209.1) and fantasy points (36.2) per game to wideouts than the Saints.

Although the wide range of outcomes works better in tournaments, Agholor is likely to register a significantly lower ownership rate than Tate, who has compiled 36.0 yards per game with the Eagles. 

                 

Zach Ertz, TE, Philadelphia Eagles

Those playing the entire divisional-round slate could have played Travis Kelce or saved some salary on Eric Ebron. On Sunday, however, there's no viable alternative to Zach Ertz.

Rob Gronkowski recorded 45 combined yards—including zero in Week 16—over his final three games. Even under point-per-reception (PPR) scoring, he reached a double-digit output just five times. The Chargers boast the NFL's top DVOA against tight ends.

Benjamin Watson, meanwhile, has recorded six yards or fewer in five games. Including Wild Card Weekend, Antonio Gates is averaging 2.0 catches for 23.0 yards per contest. If he returns from a torn ACL to play his first game in more than a year, Hunter Henry is at best a tournament flier.

That leaves Ertz, who gets a Saints defense ranked No. 4 in DVOA against tight ends. They stymied him to 15 yards on a season-low two catches and three targets in Week 11.

This would normally be a situation to fade, as Philadelphia's receivers are again better situated for success against the Saints. Yet given the lack of viable Sunday alternatives, managers will have to trust more typical volume from Ertz, who set the single-season record for receptions (116) at the position.

                    

Note: Fantasy football scoring data obtained from Yahoo Sports unless otherwise noted. DVOA courtesy of Football Outsiders.  

The Los Angeles Chargers are trying to do it the old-fashioned way. They are trying to earn their way to their first Super Bowl championship.

As the No. 5 seed in the AFC and the top wild-card team, they could have gone into the playoffs feeling sorry for themselves. They had the same record as AFC West winner and the top-seeded Kansas City Chiefs, but they were not rewarded because the Chiefs won the tiebreaker as a result of a better divisional record.

That forced the Chargers to go to Baltimore for the AFC Wild Card Game, and they got the best of the top defense in the league and advanced to the divisional playoffs.

The second step is getting the opportunity to play the perennial AFC powerhouse New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium Sunday. The assignment is a difficult one, and they will be rewarded with another trip to Kansas City if they are successful. The Chiefs picked up a 31-13 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in the divisional playoffs.

The Patriots have not had the dominant season they have enjoyed in previous years, but they earned the No. 2 seed in the AFC and have Tom Brady, Julian Edelman, James White and Rob Gronkowski.

They also have the confidence that goes with being the league's most dominant team over the last 15 years. The Patriots are not likely to beat themselves, while the Chargers can look at their lineup and realize they belong on the same field as Bill Belichick's team.

Philip Rivers, Melvin Gordon and Keenan Allen form a terrific offensive trio for the Chargers. Rivers threw for 4,308 yards with 32 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Gordon ran for 885 yards and 10 touchdowns in 12 games, while Allen caught 97 passes for 1,196 yards and six scores.

The Chargers have enough firepower to stay on even terms throughout the game with the Patriots and then find a way to pull it out in the late stages of the fourth quarter.

     

Sunday, January 13

Los Angeles Chargers at New England Patriots

When: 1:05 p.m. ET

TV: CBS

Odds and Over/Under: NE -4, 47.5

Prediction: Chargers 30, Patriots 24

                

Philadelphia Eagles at New Orleans Saints

When: 4:40 p.m. ET

TV: Fox

Odds and Over/Under: NO -8, 51.5     

Prediction: Saints 35, Eagles 22

Point spread information courtesy of OddsShark.

       

Philadelphia at New Orleans

The Saints were the best team in the NFL during the regular season, winning the NFC South title and gaining the No. 1 seed in the conference with a 13-3 record.

The Eagles are the defending Super Bowl champions, but they played like a team destined to miss the playoffs well into the second half of the season.

They bottomed out in Week 11, when they were overpowered 48-7 by the Saints and their record slipped to to 4-6. However, Doug Pederson's team rebounded in an impressive manner, winning the last three regular-season games to earn a spot in the playoffs. The Eagles took advantage of that opportunity by winning their wild-card matchup on the road against the Chicago Bears.

Philadelphia quarterback Nick Foles is hoping to rekindle the magic he had a year ago when he led the Eagles to a Super Bowl victory. If that is going to happen, the Eagles are going to have to raise their level of play dramatically.

New Orleans can light up the scoreboard with Drew Brees at quarterback, Alvin Kamara at running back and Michael Thomas dominating at the wide receiver spot.

Brees has completed 74.4 percent of his passes this season, and he has an impressive 32-5 TD-to-interception ratio. Kamara is one of the most versatile running backs in the league with 883 rushing yards and 709 receiving yards. Thomas has had a remarkable year with 125 receptions for 1,405 yards and nine touchdowns.

The Eagles will try to counter the Saints' offensive power with tight end Zach Ertz and wide out Alshon Jeffery. Ertz had a powerful season with 116 receptions for 1,163 yards and eight touchdowns, while Jeffery caught 65 passes for 843 yards and six touchdowns.

The Eagles should make it much closer than their Week 11 blowout loss, but they are going to come out on the short end of this game.

That will allow the Saints to host the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC title game. If the Eagles pull of the major upset, the Rams will host Philadelphia in the NFC title game.

         

Prop Bet

We go to the Chargers-Patriots divisional playoff game for our prop bet.

OddsChecker offers handicappers the opportunity to bet on the first touchdown scorer in this game. New England rookie running back Sony Michel is the favorite to score the first touchdown at 6-1, while Chargers running back Melvin Gordon is the second choice at 7-1.

James White and Julian Edelman of the Patriots follow at 8-1, while top Chargers receiver Keenan Allen follows at 10-1.

We are not going with any of these obvious choices. 

The pick here is Los Angeles wideout Mike Williams, who has odds of 12-1. Williams had 10 touchdown receptions in the regular season, and that was four more than Allen. We are not saying we think Williams is a better all-around receiver than Allen, but he does have a nose for the end zone, and he will score the opening TD in this playoff game.

NFL fans will be overwhelmed by the first three divisional-round games before the Philadelphia Eagles kick off against the New Orleans Saints at 4:40 p.m. ET on Sunday. 

The good news, though, is that this matchup contains enough star power on both teams to power everybody through—starting with two former Super Bowl MVPs in Saints quarterback Drew Brees (2009-10) and Nick Foles (2017-18). 

While the Saints are the largest favorite in the divisional round and have already beaten the Eagles 48-7 in Week 11, significant changes have happened in Philly since then. The Eagles finished the regular season 5-1 after losing in New Orleans.

The most recent and significant momentum boost came on Wild Card Weekend, when the Chicago Bears improbably missed a 43-yard field goal with five seconds left.

ESPN's Adam Schefter laid out just how unlikely it was for Philadelphia to walk away from Chicago with a win:

Bears were +2 in turnovers Sunday vs. Eagles. Home teams that were +2 in the playoffs the past 40 years were 112-4.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 7, 2019

It will be just as if not more improbable for the Eagles to knock off the NFC's No. 1 seed. 

8 teams remain! #NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/KiRo75Q45Y

— NFL (@NFL) January 7, 2019

Odds (courtesy of OddsShark)

Philadelphia Eagles at New Orleans Saints (-8) | O/U 51.5

      

Stat Predictions

Drew Brees

It would be easy to predict Brees will break yet another statistical NFL record, but it seems he has already broken all of them—or, more accurately, he broke four all-time records in the 2018 regular season. 

So, instead, we'll focus on Brees' potential stats in the context of this specific game.

Against the Eagles in Week 11, Brees posted pristine numbers: 363 yards and four touchdowns on 22-of-30 passing. Brees did not throw a pick and was not sacked. Philly's offense is much different than the last time these teams played, but the defensive personnel has mostly been the same. 

Since Week 12, according to CBSSports, Avonte Maddox, Rasul Douglas and Cre'Von LeBlanc in the secondary have kept opposing passers to 82-for-129 passing, 956 yards, three touchdowns and three picks for a combined passer rating of 84.0.

Brees at home in the Superdome will be the Eagles defense's biggest test, but they do have a chance to redeem their putrid Week 11 performance. 

Prediction: Brees completes 30-of-40 passes for 320 yards, four touchdowns and one interception.

       

Nick Foles

Foles did not play spectacularly against the Bears in the Wild Card Round, but he did enough. He finished the game having completed 25 of his 40 passes for 266 yards, two touchdowns and two picks. 

On Sunday, he will be facing a Saints defense that finished the 2018 regular season ranked 14th in total defense and forced 24 turnovers, good for 13th in the league.

If Foles posted good-enough numbers against the regular season's third-best defense, what kind of magic can he pull against a middle-of-the-road unit?

Since taking over under center for an injured Carson Wentz—again—in Week 15, Foles has accumulated 1,228 yards, eight touchdowns and five interceptions on 112-of-153 passing (73.2 percent).

Prediction: Foles tosses for three touchdowns, two picks and 250 yards on 24-of-35 passing.

        

Michael Thomas

Thomas is Brees' No. 1 option, and it's not even close. The 25-year-old receiver finished the 2018 regular season with the most receptions of any receiver in the league (125) for 1,405 yards and nine touchdowns. The next closest? Running back Alvin Kamara, who had 81 catches and 709 yards in the air. 

In Week 11, the Eagles held Thomas to just four catches on four targets, but those four receptions went for 92 yards and a touchdown. The leading pass-catcher in that game was rookie Tre'Quan Smith, who exploded for his best game of the season to the tune of 157 yards and one touchdown on 10 catches.

Thomas has shown up in big games for the Saints. In Week 9, Thomas went off for 211 yards on 12 catches—including the game-sealing touchdown that handed the Rams their first loss of the season and produced the celebration heard around the country.

Hit the burners then brought out a burner 🔥

(via @saints) https://t.co/aFtKmwCt8F

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 5, 2018

Then in Week 16, Thomas hauled in 11 balls for 109 yards and a touchdown. It is probably not a coincidence that both of those games were at home in New Orleans, just like this one will be.

Prediction: Thomas catches 10 passes for 115 yards and a touchdown

        

Zach Ertz

Ertz has had a historical 2018. Most notably, the 28-year-old broke the NFL all-time record for regular-season receptions for a tight end with 116. Those 116 catches added up to 1,163 yards and eight touchdowns.

However, Ertz has seen a bit of a dip in production since Foles took over for Wentz. Foles has been spreading the ball around to between seven and 10 different receivers per game.

Regardless, Saints tight end Dan Arnold knows what kind of challenge his opponent presents.

Arnold told Nathan Brown of The New Orleans Advocate the following regarding Ertz: "If people roll down safeties and treat him more as a receiver, he's going to be able to beat them with length. On a linebacker, he's going to beat you with speed. No matter who it is, he has the advantage." 

Prediction: Ertz is as reliable as ever for eight catches, 60 yards and a touchdown

     

Alvin Kamara

Kamara started 2018 as one of the hottest playmakers in the league, but against the Eagles, he was kept out of the end zone and held to just 71 yards on 13 carries—5.5 yards per carry.

Kamara didn't score in four games between Nov. 18 and Dec. 17, when he ran in the Saints' only touchdown in a 12-9 loss to Carolina. Overall, he finished the regular season averaging 4.6 yards per carry. 

Last weekend against the Bears, the Eagles defense contained Jordan Howard to 35 yards and Tarik Cohen to zero yards. The longest rushing play for Chicago was an end-around featuring wide receiver Taylor Gabriel. 

Kamara's last appearance was in Week 16 against the Steelers, and while he had two rushing touchdowns, he only had 23 yards on the ground—exceeded by four catches and 82 yards in the passing game. 

When predicting his statistics against the Eagles, receiving yards and scores may be more probable than rushing despite his position.

Prediction: Kamara is relatively contained for 50 yards and one touchdown on the ground but makes a dent with seven catches and 75 yards through the air

     

Alshon Jeffery

No Eagle has benefitted more from Foles' presence in the pocket than Alshon Jeffery.  

Since Week 15, Jeffery has totaled 22 catches for 383 yards but only one touchdown. His production hasn't, as you can see, resulted in points, but it has undoubtedly opened up the Eagles attack. 

This is a Saints defense that finished the regular season ranked 29th in pass defense. Steelers wide receivers Antonio Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster each went over 100 yards receiving against the Saints. Even when beating the Rams, wide receiver Brandin Cooks went for 114 yards. 

In other words, Jeffery will have ample opportunity to make a dent downfield. 

Prediction: Jeffery finishes with five catches—a couple big-yard catches—for 100 yards but no touchdowns

The NFL playoff action continues on Sunday with the conclusion of Wild Card Weekend, with two games set to take place.

The Los Angeles Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears will all be looking to advance to the divisional round.

                                         

Wild-Card Sunday Schedule

No. 5 Los Angeles Chargers at No. 4 Baltimore Ravens, 1:05 p.m. ET
TV: CBS
Live Stream: CBS All Access or FuboTV

No. 6 Philadelphia at No. 3 Chicago, 4:40 p.m. ET
TV: NBC
Live Stream: NBC Sports Live or Fubo TV

Where to Watch: NFL playoff games, studio shows and more are available through fuboTV.

                        

Predictions

Baltimore 21, Los Angeles 17

Philadelphia 31, Chicago 28

                      

Why the Ravens Will Beat the Chargers

Sometimes rookie quarterbacks can struggle in their playoff debuts, but that won't be the case for Baltimore's Lamar Jackson.

After taking over the starting job midseason, Jackson went 6-1 as a starter to lead the Ravens to their first AFC North title since 2012. And his only loss was an overtime defeat on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs, the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

Jackson may have only passed for 1,201 yards and six touchdowns during the regular season, but he also totaled 695 yards and five scores on the ground. Most importantly, he led the Ravens to victory on all but one occasion.

"He's very genuine, he's loyal, he's humble and he's passionate," Baltimore safety Eric Weddle said recently about Jackson, according to the Baltimore Sun. "Those are qualities in such a young kid you don't ever see. He's all about team. He's all about getting better and trying to lead us."

The Chargers have a veteran quarterback in Philip Rivers, but the 37-year-old doesn't have as much playoff experience as many players at his age. Rivers has played in nine postseason games over his 15-year career, with the most recent coming in the 2013 season.

Baltimore beat Los Angeles on the road on Dec. 22, and on Sunday the Ravens will have home-field advantage.

Jackson will make some big plays, and Baltimore's defense will again do a strong job of shutting down Rivers and the Chargers offense.

               

Why the Eagles Will Beat the Bears

Chicago may be the favorite heading into the matchup, but Philadelphia has past postseason success in its favor.

The Eagles won the first Super Bowl in team history last year, with backup quarterback Nick Foles guiding them through the playoffs. With Carson Wentz dealing with another injury, Foles will again be starting for Philadelphia in its first postseason game this year.

It took an Eagles win and a Minnesota Vikings loss in Week 17 for Philadelphia to get back to the playoffs this season. But the Eagles had a strong finish, winning five of their final six games of the regular season.

"I think there is an, I've-been-there type of confidence, that Nick can carry into the game," Eagles offensive coordinator Mike Groh said, according to Steve Serby of the New York Post. "Not only Nick, but the rest of the guys in our locker room that were part of this team last year."

The Bears have a strong defense—like they do many times when they make the playoffs—and that could be a challenge for Philadelphia's offense.

But Foles will rely on tight end Zach Ertz and the Eagles' other top playmakers to again have success, and it will be enough for them to hold on late and advance to the divisional round.