Brandon Graham, a 15-year Eagles staple and two-time Super Bowl champion, retires but stays in the game through media. His first move after football is a new podcast, The Unblocked Podcast featuring Brandon Graham, with Episode 1 dropping Wednesday. He has already shown up in Philly media and on podcasts, signaling a veteran voice who will keep influencing the sport well beyond his playing days.

Philly’s own podcasting wave mirrors the Kelce brothers’ New Heights success, signaling a trend of aging stars shaping football conversations from the mic. Graham’s retirement adds a veteran lens to the 2025 season and keeps fans engaged with his evolving media presence around the league.

Zack Baun’s late-effort tackle on Miles Sanders changed the game for the Eagles in a dramatic fashion. Baun hit a top speed of 20.68 mph in pursuit, beating Sanders to the spot at the 11-yard line and foiling a would-be Dallas go-ahead score. The sequence culminated five plays later with a Cowboys fumble, tipping the game Philly’s way. The moment underscored Baun’s relentless hustle, a hallmark that helped elevate him from special-teams role to All-Pro-caliber linebacker.

The night also highlighted Philadelphia’s defensive energy—Baun’s pursuit, Reed Blankenship’s praise, and a captain’s mindset fueling the unit despite some early miscues. The storylines tie into fantasy implications for IDP managers as Baun’s speed and willingness to chase the ball point to upside in upcoming matchups, especially in tackle-heavy formats. Hustle, it seems, can shift outcomes and metrics alike.

In short, Baun’s sprint-down became the defining highlight, reinforcing how a single play can redefine a season-long narrative for a defender and a fantasy folder alike.

Jalen Carter’s suspension before any snap looms over the opener, jolting the Eagles’ defense and fantasy plans. Dallas answers with Prescott-led drives, but a Pickens roughness penalty and a late fumble by Miles Sanders swing momentum toward Philadelphia. Reed Blankenship’s presence and Jake Ferguson’s late roughness call become pivotal moments as the game stays tightly contested into the third. This clash reshapes weekly fantasy expectations for both teams’ skill players.

Dallas Lamb and George Pickens form the Cowboys’ aerial punch as Week 1 kicks off, while the Eagles debut a re-tooled secondary featuring Quinyon Mitchell and Adoree' Jackson opposite Reed Blankenship and Sydney Brown. With Slay and C.J. Gardner-Johnson in new destinations, Philadelphia leans on safety help and nickel coverage, likely matching Lamb to Mitchell and Pickens to Jackson. Jalen Tolbert and Jakorian Bennett provide additional splash in a game where volume and matchup-driven plays could fuel fantasy scores on both sides.

Marcus Epps returns to Philadelphia two weeks before Week 1 against Dallas, joining Vic Fangio’s defense and a high-expectation safety room. Coach Nick Sirianni’s optimism centers on his intelligence and quick learning, with Christian Parker and Joe Kasper driving the install. Reed Blankenship’s captaincy adds continuity as Epps acclimates.

Blankenship credits Epps with shaping his 2022 rookie year, and the veteran’s leadership could speed up the transition. Epps’ prior ACL setback in 2024 and a Patriots stopover are part of a winding path, but the plan is to integrate rapidly and push for Week 1 contributions in a pivotal divisional clash.

For fantasy and IDP fans, the immediate impact hinges on the Eagles’ usage of Epps in Fangio’s scheme and how quickly he communicates with Blankenship. If the speed is there, Epps could carve a notable role as a versatile back-end defender with a real Week 1 ceiling.