Eagles (-225) @ Lions (+5.5); Total of 48.5

We’ve got a matchup featuring one of the most talked about QBs all offseason vs. a QB whose name has barely been mentioned. We’ll have to await the debut of Lions’ top WR draft pick, Jameson Williams, but we will get our first look at the three defensive players that they added with three of their top four selections in 2022. It’s headlined by Aidan Hutchinson, and it’ll be interesting to see if he will struggle out of the gate to begin his career. The Eagles took a different approach during draft season as they traded out of the first round to acquire AJ Brown from the Titans and his opening night performance will be the focus of many Eagles’ fans.

Eagles

QB

Jalen Hurts’ reality value doesn’t line up with his fantasy value in standard four-point per passing touchdown scoring, and perhaps that presents a flaw in the way we play fantasy. That’s an entirely different conversation that we won’t get into here. Hurts’ rushing ability makes him an unquestioned QB1 on a weekly basis, and the youth on the Lions could work against them in this matchup. Start with Hurts with confidence as he could end up as the top-scoring QB on the week (although it’ll be a challenge to beat out Josh Allen’s near-perfect Thursday).

WR/CB

Like we discussed in the opening, all eyes will be on AJ Brown and that holds true with the Lions secondary. Like the rest of the Lions defense, their CBs are very young and have not proved their draft capital correct so far through their careers. Their slot-corner, Mike Hughes, graded out best in coverage according to PFF but Philly’s top-two receivers happen to play on the outside. AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith should both be able to eat against Jeff Okudah and Amanii Oruwariye. Start both Brown and Smith with confidence, although Brown is the clear-cut WR1 on this roster.

TE

Dallas Goedert no longer has to share the field and tight end target share with Zach Ertz and that elevates him to one of the better TE options out there. The Lions allowed 8.6 fantasy points per game to TEs in 2021, and that seems like a reasonable expectation for Goedert in this week’s season opener.

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