Dallas struggled to spark an efficient ground game while Baltimore rode a stingy run defense to a 31-13 preseason win. Cooper Rush took the week’s spotlight on his personal revenge tour, but the offense stalled behind a depleted, understudy-heavy lineup. Joe Milton’s day was rough, highlighted by a late-end interception and a safety miss, while Dak Prescott watched for vibes rather than snaps. The Ravens pressured the Cowboys’ run game and exposed the gap between Dallas’ top-line stars and their August rotations, underscoring depth concerns that fantasy managers will watch closely as rosters take shape. On defense, Dallas leaned on Parsons’ presence, yet the interior line and run-stopping remain a work in progress, especially against heavy, front-loaded fronts. In fantasy terms, think depth pieces early, with late-round upside dependent on injuries and opportunity as the season nears.

Among the notable talking points: the Cowboys’ backfield produced limited production behind Rico Dowdle and Miles Sanders, highlighting potential depth-chart pivots and opportunistic carries for Deuce Vaughn and Malik Davis if the offense wants to avoid a repeat of last year’s run struggles. The defense showed flashes via Odighizuwa and Smith, but interior disruption and rotation integrity must improve if Dallas is to threaten a high-tier run-stuffing profile. With one tune-up left before Week 1, the emphasis is squarely on who seizes the lighter-volume chances and who can sustain it when the real games begin.

Jalen Carter checks in at No. 43 on the NFL Top 100, a signal the Eagles see him as a cornerstone piece in a defense that already features a disruptive front. In Year 2 he logged 4.5 sacks, 45 pressures, and a team‑high in QB hits, earning second‑team All‑Pro and becoming the youngest DT from Philadelphia to reach the Pro Bowl at age 23. A 2023 move up from No. 10 to 9 to land him helped shape a peak front for a title defense that wants more splash plays and interior disruption.

The storyline extends beyond Carter. Philadelphia’s secondary overhaul brought Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean to the fore, with Mitchell allowing zero regular-season TDs and DeJean delivering a historic Super Bowl pick‑six. Jordan Mailata anchors the O‑line, while the club is pegged for a potential franchise‑record number of Top 100 players, trailing only the 2019 Dallas Cowboys. With Hurts, Brown, Barkley, and Johnson all expected to be top names as the rollout continues, Philly could surge into the top tier of teams in the list as the top 10 is revealed on Sept. 1.

Fantasy and betting angles lean into Carter’s ceiling as a high‑impact IDP asset, while the Eagles’ offensive firepower keeps Hurts, Brown, and the blockers in play for fantasy rosters. The mix of elite skill, line play, and defensive overhauls makes Philadelphia a team to watch as the Top 100 unfolds over the next two weeks.

The Week 1 showdown between the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field is shaping up as a statement game to start the season. The Eagles sit as seven-point favorites with a 66.4% win probability per ESPN’s Football Power Index, driven by their top-tier defense and disruptive youngsters like Jalen Carter, Zack Baun, Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. Dallas, under a retooled leadership led by Brian Schottenheimer, opens with questions around offense and cohesion after a 7-10 finish last year, with a contract holdout clouding Micah Parsons’ status. The line and Over/Under (46.5) reflect Philadelphia’s talent edge and Dallas’s uncertainty.

History at the Linc tilts heavily in Philadelphia’s favor: Dallas has struggled in recent big-game moments, and the banner-raising aside adds emotional weight. Still, Dak Prescott has a strong 9-4 record in this rivalry when he takes the field, suggesting the Cowboys can stay competitive. Week 1 volatility means rosters and injuries could move lines quickly, but the Birds’ championship core and a relentless Philly defense set the floor for another formidable performance in a high-stakes opener.

Philadelphia navigates Week 2 of the preseason with top-shelf talent and quality depth across most units, even after Landon Dickerson's knee procedure leaves the interior a touch thinner for a few weeks. The Eagles project to lean on a stout offensive line room, with capable backups prepared to slot in, while the quarterback room remains a strength with Hurts, McKee and an unsettled battle for the third spot behind them.

At running back, the drop-off from Barkley in theory is mitigated by a rotating group led by Hurts and a still-developing committee. Wideouts behind Brown and Smith are a work in progress, but the coaching staff has options ready, including large targets and versatile slot players. Defensively, depth at edge isn’t as abundant as the interior, but veteran depth and young pass-rushers add insurance. Linebackers and the safety corps look solid, with youth and experience blending well as preseason play continues.

Overall, the Birds carry a roster that emphasizes health and depth, with internal competitions sharpening the ladder at guard, quarterback and edge. If the injury bug bites, Philadelphia’s front office has prepared multi-positional backups who can step in with minimal disruption.

Philadelphia opened 2025 with a 34-27 preseason win over Cincinnati, riding a second-quarter burst and sustaining momentum through the later periods. Jalen Hurts signaled his rare, player-friendly connection with Eagles fans by sticking around after practice for autographs, underscoring his leadership and community presence. Philadelphia’s defense enters a new era with younger players like Jalen Carter and Cooper DeJean poised to assume bigger roles after the departures of Slay and Gardner-Johnson, while AJ Dillon provides a veteran-backed run option behind Barkley. The broader question remains: can the Eagles replicate success without their seasoned stalwarts, or will the new pieces shape a different kind of NFC contender? Hurts’ off-field advocacy and the franchise’s evolving defense add intriguing layers for fantasy managers monitoring upside in 2025.