Dallas Goedert

For all the talk of Goedert emerging as the Eagles’ top tight end last season, he finished just 17th in targets at the position (with 76 in 15 games). He had five fewer targets all year than Zach Ertz saw in 11 games with Arizona after being jettisoned by the Eagles midseason. In fairness to Goedert, he made the most of the limited volume, finishing outside the top 10 in catches (56) and touchdowns (four) but fifth among tight ends with 830 yards. He also saw a notable uptick in use after Ertz was traded; Goedert had at least six targets in six of 10 games after the move after no such games in the first six weeks while Ertz was around. Goedert became quarterback Jalen Hurts' second-favorite option after rookie wide receiver DeVonta Smith, though the tight end presumably drops to No. 3 this season with A.J. Brown acquired by the Eagles in a draft-day trade. The good news is that Philadelphia's offense, and especially the passing game, should improve from last year, potentially giving Goedert more opportunities in the red zone — an area where he oddly saw just six targets each of the last two seasons. The bigger question is whether Goedert gets enough targets overall to take another step forward following last year's modest progress.

Goedert was the closest thing the Eagles had to a reliable pass catcher last season, averaging 4.2 receptions for 47.6 yards in 11 games. Meanwhile, Zach Ertz had 10 fewer catches and 189 fewer yards in the same number of games, essentially falling off a cliff in his age-29/30 season. Reports early in the offseason suggested Ertz was likely to be traded by spring, but the Eagles apparently aren't in a hurry, if they even intend to deal him at all. Goedert will be a key part of the passing game, regardless, but the upside scenario becomes more likely if Ertz is removed from the picture. Eagles wideouts don't exactly provide fierce competition for targets, and Goedert seemed to work well with QB Jalen Hurts last season, catching 16 of 24 passes for 186 yards in his final four games. The combination of a young QB and a new coaching staff could be tricky, but Goedert at least figures to be a central figure in the offense during the fourth and final season of his rookie contract.

Given the demands of his position and his FCS college pedigree, Goedert's smooth transition to the NFL comes as a pleasant surprise. His 525 rookie-year snaps yielded 33 catches and four TDs, instantly make the South Dakota State product one of the better No. 2 tight ends in the league. Goedert kicked it up a notch last year in his sophomore season, with Philadelphia's disastrous situation at wide receiver allowing him to jump up to 781 snaps (70.9 percent), eighth most among tight ends. The Eagles became a two-TE base offense, utilizing 12 personnel on a league-high 52 percent of snaps, including 66 percent after a Week 10 bye. Goedert nearly doubled his target total from the previous season, but his YPT dipped by six-tenths of a yard and he scored just one more TD than he had as a rookie. Zach Ertz also suffered a big efficiency drop, so it isn't necessarily a bad thing for either tight end to see the Eagles deploy their draft capital toward some receivers who can actually draw safeties away from the middle of the field. On the other hand, superior WR personnel could shift the Eagles back toward more three-wide formations, which in turn would cost Goedert snaps and routes. His solid blocking gives him a reasonable case to poach playing time in single-TE sets, but it isn't clear if the Eagles would seriously consider taking Ertz off the field for more than a handful of plays per game.

Goedert's rookie season was excellent, especially when you consider that he landed on a team that already has an all-world tight end in Zach Ertz. The second-round pick out of South Dakota State made the most of his limited opportunities, hauling in 75 percent of his targets for 7.6 YPT and four touchdowns on 33 receptions. Of course, Ertz is still in the prime of his career, and the Eagles also threw significant resources at their receiver spots, signing DeSean Jackson in March and then drafting J.J. Arcega-Whiteside in the second round. There are too many mouths to feed for Goedert to project for a primary role in the 2019 offense, but if Ertz encounters any injury problems, the second-year pro is good enough to command immediate, proactive FAAB bids. Goedert is a much better long-term prospect than he is an immediate one, though it's hard to see when the door might open in Philadelphia.

Despite the presence of offseason signee Richard Rodgers, Goedert should slide immediately into second on the Eagles' tight end depth chart now that Trey Burton and Brent Celek have moved on to greener pastures. The team traded up three spots to nab the sure-handed tight end, showing just how much they like him. Regarded as the most "pro-ready" tight end in the draft, he should get first crack at whatever targets Zach Ertz yields during the season. However, it remains to be seen if the South Dakota State product can make the jump from the FCS, especially when it comes to blocking. It also bears repeating that tight ends frequently take seasons to develop into forces for fantasy teams. Goedert's greatest value arises as a handcuff to Ertz should the veteran miss any time due to injury.