Advanced stats and analytics will be utilized to identify favorable matchups and players to avoid. The purpose of this article is to paint a picture of how the teams play and matchup with one another in less than 1,000 words.
As the season continues, less emphasis will be put on last season and early season’s stats. Vegas trends will also be implemented to help predict the game flow. I’ll conclude the article with a Cliff Notes section and give the readers my prediction for the game.
Welcome to the newest edition of Thursday Night Showdown. I’ll be guiding you through the important aspects to watch in each Thursday night matchup.
Without further ado, let’s see what the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Philadelphia Eagles have in store for us.
Vegas Trends
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Tampa Bay’s last 5 games.
- Tampa Bay are 12-1 SU in their last 13 games.
- Tampa Bay are 0-4-1 ATS in their last 5 games against an opponent in the NFC East.
- The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Philadelphia’s last 15 games.
- Philadelphia are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games against an opponent in the NFC South.
- Philadelphia are 6-0 SU in their last 6 games played on a Thursday.
Tampa Bay
Brady and Fournette
Tom Brady is playing like he’s 25 again. Brady has sliced defenses with 13 (No. 2 among qualified quarterbacks) Money Throws, and has averaged 27.3 (No. 2) Fantasy Points Per Game. The unstoppable force meets the immovable object of the Eagles No. 3-ranked pass defense. Start Brady no matter what.
Tom Brady 2021 Passing Opportunity & Productivity Metrics
Leonard Fournette is a bell-cow, like it or not. He’s received 71.3 (No. 11) Weighted Opportunities and 24 (No. 7) targets on a 10.9-percent (No. 21) Target Share. He’s compiled over 100 total yards in each of his last two games. He’s a smash start against the league’s third-worst rush defense.
An Elite Receiving Core
If you’re looking for a consolidated Target Share, this is not your team. Mike Evans leads the group with a 20.5-percent (No. 40) Target Share. Despite lower target volume, he has been consistent. He’s scoring 18.5 (No. 11) Fantasy Points Per Game, and his 15.8-percent (No. 26) Hog Rate shows solid per-snap usage. Start Evans this week, even against No. 10-ranked cornerback Darius Slay.
Mike Evans 2021 Opportunity & Productivity Metrics
Chris Godwin has averaged a quiet 16.4 (No. 16) Fantasy Points Per Game. He’s earned a 19.1 (No. 45) Target Share on 206 (No. 1) Routes Run. Tampa has been getting him the ball in space, leading to his 181 (No. 3) Yards After Catch. This week, he goes against Avonte Maddox, who has a +20.7 Coverage Rating. Godwin is another start.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gl1X2O15uSU
Antonio Brown has been the apple of Tom Brady‘s eye, who’s given him a 27.1 (No. 18) Target Rate. On a per snap basis, his 19.2 (No. 7) Hog Rate shows that he’s getting the most opportunity out of Buccaneer receivers. His matchup, Steven Nelson (-15.3 Coverage Rating), is the juiciest of the three. Brown is set up to explode yet again.
Philadelphia Eagles
Jalen Hurts And The Eagles Backfield
Jalen Hurts doesn’t have accuracy problems. He has a 7.5 (No. 17) Accuracy Rating and 12 (No. 4) Money Throws. The Konami Code QB can do it all. The Eagles offense may be struggling as of late, but it hasn’t affected Hurts’ fantasy production. He’s averaged 25.0 (No. 7) Fantasy Points Per Game and now faces off against the league’s worst pass defense. It’s wheels up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hs3DyBFM1cI
Are the tides turning in the Eagles backfield? Miles Sanders saw his highest Snap Share and tied his highest target total on Sunday. This is great news since he is the better of the two backs and has been efficient on low touch totals. He has an 8.3-percent (No. 6) Breakaway Run Rate and averages 3.86 (No. 8) Yards Created Per Touch. Still, Sanders is a sit against the best rush defense in the NFL.
Conversely, Kenny Gainwell saw his lowest touch total last week. He’s been heavily involved in the passing game with a 12.3-percent (No. 12) Target Share. He’s also been effective on low touch totals. However, with a bad matchup and a small Opportunity Share, he belongs on the bench.
Kenny Gainwell Opportunity, Productivity, & Advanced Receiving Metrics
The Pass Catchers
Devonta Smith has, admittedly, been a product of opportunity, not efficiency. His 39 (No. 17) targets and 43.8-percent (No. 6) Air Yards Share offset his mediocre efficiency metrics. His matchup, however, is Richard Sherman (-44.9 Coverage Rating). This is a smash spot for the rookie.
Devonta Smith Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
Dallas Goedert has only received an 11.1-perent (No. 25) Target Share, but he’s still managed to post a 22.2-percent (No. 9) Dominator Rating. He’s also efficient, with 2.56 (No. 6) Fantasy Points Per Target. Play him in a favorable matchup.
Neither Jalen Reagor nor Quez Watkins are seeing enough targets to be trusted in fantasy. Reagor has seen 25 (No. 55) targets and Watkins has seen 17 (No. 75) targets. Watkins is a solid DFS choice. His matchup is Ross Cockrell (+6.7 Coverage Rating) and Tampa is susceptible to deep shots.
Cliff Notes
- Start your Buccaneers.
- Don’t fade good quarterbacks because of “bad matchups.”
- Ronald Jones stinks.
- Jalen Hurts is an auto-start.
- Sit Eagles running backs.
- Start Devonta Smith.
Conclusion
Buccaneers players have been startable all year in fantasy, and that isn’t changing tonight. Tom Brady seems to be dedicated to improving this offense every week. Jalen Hurts and the Eagles will put up a fight. Tampa’s pass defense is porous, and Hurts’ dual threat ability should help open up the offense.
On short weeks, it’s generally advisable to favor the side of the defense when it comes to Vegas totals. This games total of 52.5 points is a little too high. It’ll come down to the wire, but I like the under this week. As for Tampa’s 7 point spread, I like Philly to put up a fight and cover +7.
Prediction: Buccaneers 28-23
