LANDOVER, MD – DECEMBER 15: Miles Sanders #26 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs against the Washington Redskins during the first half at FedExField on December 15, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
The Eagles have seemed ready to lean on Miles Sanders this year, but if they wind up signing someone like Carlos Hyde it would torpedo the second-year back’s fantasy upside.
The Philadelphia Eagles have seemed ready to roll with Miles Sanders as their lead back this year, even with their history of using a backfield committee. On that note, according to NFL insider Adam Caplan, the Eagles are interested in Carlos Hyde.
Hyde spent last season with the Houston Texans. He set a career-high for rushing yards with 1,070 (on 245 carries), and while he didn’t catch many passes (16) he does have a 59-catch season in his career with the San Francisco 49ers in 2017.
In fantasy terms from Week 11-17 last season, Sanders was RB8 in full-point PPR and RB10 in standard scoring. In more raw stats, he averaged nearly 20 touches (19.8) and 88 total yards per game over that span. Take away Week 17, when he left injured, and Sanders was RB3 in full-point PPR from Week 11-Week 16 as he topped 80 percent of the snaps in four of those six games.
Hyde has played at least 50 percent of his team’s snaps in three of the last four seasons, with a at least a top-24 (RB2) finish as a fantasy running back to correspond with those seasons. Last year he finished as RB23 in standard scoring and RB30 in full-point PPR. As a parallel to Sanders’ surge, Hyde was RB26 in full-point PPR from Week 11-Week 16 last year.
Hyde is a replacement-level back, but he’s also not someone who is generally going to be acquired or signed to get a very sparse workload (for better or worse). The size (230 pounds) makes him a solid complement for Sanders, with an eye on a solid share of short-yardage and goal-line work.
On one hand, if the Eagles sign Hyde or another veteran back, Sanders could become a value pick to target in fantasy drafts based purely on lingering potential. But Hyde, in particular, would be in line to take away just enough work to torpedo the buzz around Sanders and his RB1 upside.