ODDS TO WIN THE DIVISION (Draftkings sportsbook)
Dallas Cowboys +140
Philadephia Eagles +160
Washington Commanders +500
New York Giants +800
Not many people believed that the NFC East could compete with the big boys during the 2021 season, and despite two teams getting into the playoffs, both Dallas and Philadelphia were outplayed and exited early. The more things change in the East, the more they seem to stay the same, as the Cowboys enter the year as the favorites to capture the division yet again. Whether or not you believe that any of these teams are contenders to be playing deep into the playoffs, this division always seems to produce some exciting drama and competitiveness. Entering the 2022 season, there are slightly unexpected quarterback battles, coaching changes, and a myriad of questions for all four ballclubs. Will we see a repeat of the Cowboys and Eagles fighting for supremacy or can the Commanders or Giants make the leap in this clustered division?
Dallas Cowboys
2021 Record – 12-5
2021 Record Against the Spread – 13-5
KEY ADDITIONS:
(WR) James Washington, (LB) Dante Fowler, (OT) Tyler Smith
KEY SUBTRACTIONS:
(WR) Amari Cooper, (OG) Connor Williams, (OT) La’el Collins, (DE) Randy Gregory
The head coach of the Dallas Cowboys will always be under scrutiny, as will the quarterback position for “America’s Team”. Despite Jerry Jones proven record of sticking with coaches and players for longer than he should, the feeling around the Cowboy camp is that head coach Mike McCarthy really needs to prove he can be an asset to this team, and not a liability. The fact of the matter is, no matter how much talent has come through Dallas over the past two decades, the team has not been able to be anything more than an “almost-ran” in the NFC. While some of the big names remain on the roster, this team looks different, and possibly less talented than previous versions.
Let’s start with some of the good news regarding the Cowboys offense, which focuses on quarterback Dak Prescott entering the year healthy, something that was not the case a season ago. With all due respect to the other QB’s in the NFC East, Dak is the most proven and reliable quarterback in the division. In more positive news, he’ll have left tackle Tyron Smith also starting the season healthy, which is a huge deal on this offensive line. A season ago, the line struggled with Smith out of the lineup, something they hope they can avoid this year. The rest of the offensive line is where the questions start coming in. Zack Martin is still there anchoring the right interior of the line, but despite a mediocre season off of his own injury troubles, massive right tackle La’el Collins is no longer holding down the right tackle position. Terence Steele looks like he’ll get that job to start the year, which is a little worrisome as he was very up and down when forced into action. The Cowboys will also be starting rookie Tyler Smith at left guard, and how well he can hold up could have a significant impact on the offense as a whole. The running back position has been interesting the past couple of seasons, as Jerry Jones is insistent on working his overpaid bell-cow Ezekiel Elliott, despite the fact pretty much everyone in America recognizes Tony Pollard should be getting more touches. Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore is searching for ways to get both in the lineup and use the speed and elusiveness of Pollard, something Elliott really does not possess. The bigger concern to start the season is how in-tune Dak Prescott will be with a receiving corp that he hasn’t had a lot of practice with. One of their biggest strengths a season ago, the team had to part ways with Amari Cooper, and Cedrick Wilson left via free agency. The team locked in Michael Gallup, which was a little strange as he’s coming off of a major surgery and will miss some time to start the season. That leaves the talented CeeDee Lamb as the real only proven weapon at receiver for the Cowboys, as they’ll be looking to rookie Jalen Tolbert and free agent James Washington to step up. Until these receivers can earn the trust of Prescott, it wouldn’t be shocking to see tight end Dalton Schultz on the receiving end of a lot of targets early in the season.
The defense of the Dallas Cowboys could best be described as a boom or bust unit during the 2021 season. The team had more than their share of big plays, highlighted by cornerback Trevon Diggs and rookie star Micah Parsons at linebacker. While it’s always great to have big playmakers on that side of the ball, things can go south quickly if the homerun plays start to dry up. When you look at the depth chart of this defense, it really is a built on big plays. The stars who shine like veteran Demarcus Lawrence, and the earlier mentioned Parsons and Diggs can rack up sacks and turnovers. The rest of the unit is a lot shakier as the run defense could be an issue with depth being a possible challenge at the tackle positions. Leighton Vander Esch can help in the run game, however he hasn’t looked nearly as dynamic as he did before some major neck and back injuries. Perhaps the biggest loss that hasn’t been widely talked about is pass rusher Randy Gregory left for the Denver Broncos. The team is hoping that situational pass rushing veteran Dante Fowler, Jr. can help, but that’s a fairly big fall off from Gregory. The Cowboys like their secondary, but this group isn’t the most consistent in the league. Diggs actually does not grade out well with his coverage and was beaten on several occasions, it was his great ball skills helped overlook those deficiencies. In fact, opposite corner Anthony Brown is probably the steadier of players at the position. The safety position will be key for this defense as Jayron Kearse, Donovan Wilson and Malik Hooker all have physical talents, and need to mask some of the other mentioned holes.
2022 Strength of Schedule – 22nd Hardest – Based on Vegas Projected Win Totals (SharpFootball)
Team Win Total Odds – 10 Wins (over -110, under -110)
BetCrushers Projected Record – 9-8
Boasting multiple players that could be Pro Bowl candidates is why the Cowboys are the favorite to capture the NFC East. We’re not quite as warm on the team this season, mainly due to what looks like it will be a weakened offensive and defensive lines. It may be a little tougher in the passing game as well without the proven receiving unit the team had the past two seasons. Perhaps the best news for the Cowboys is their relatively soft schedule and division should afford them a legitimate shot at a wild card at the very least, if they aren’t able to hold serve and win the division.
Possible to Wagers To Play – Against the Spread, Team Totals
The Cowboys were one of the top teams against the spread in 2021, and for that reason we’re looking at a regression back to the mean this season. We’ll be looking to fade the Cowboys, particularly on the road to start the season, until they prove they belong in the upper tier of teams. Additionally, for a team that is regarded as a high-powered offense, keep an eye on going under their team total if the passing game or offense sputter early in the season. There is always money to be made with the Cowboys.
Fantasy Players To Watch – Tony Pollard (RB),
Dalton Schultz is one of the hottest names at tight end heading into the season, and he should see a lot of targets. At this point he’s really just too hyped up to really find much value with in standard leagues or DFS. We’re also not going all in on CeeDee Lamb until he proves he can be the man when double-teamed and others are keying on him. Our fantasy take for the Cowboys is a little different as Tony Pollard seems to have the most upside of anyone on the roster. Should he get the nod at some point, either to injury or an ineffective Ezekiel Elliott, he has proven he can be a star. He’s not a bad guy to stack on your bench if you have the spot, or could even be a valuable daily fantasy play even if he is sharing time with Elliott.
Philadelphia Eagles
2021 Record – 9-8
2021 Record Against the Spread – 8-9-1
KEY ADDITIONS:
(WR) A.J. Brown, (S) Anthony Harris, (LB) Haason Reddick, (CB) James Bradberry, (DT) Jordan Davis, (LB) Nakobe Dean
KEY SUBTRACTIONS:
(S) Rodney McLeod, (CB) Steven Nelson, (LB) Alex Singleton
Despite a dry spell during last season, the Philadelphia Eagles got hot at the right time and then backed their way into the playoffs. Head coach Nick Sirianni is confident that his team is ready to take the next step, and actually make a run if they can get back into the playoffs in 2022. The Eagles have quite a bit to be optimistic about heading into the season, and that could include flying under the radar a bit. Our complete overview is written out below, but this team’s future really rests on how well their quarterback can lead a talented roster?
There were times a year ago where the Eagles offense looked as potent as any team in the league, and there were times when they looked downright inept, particularly throwing the ball. If there is one area they need to improve it is in fact the consistency of the passing game. The team addressed this concern big time in the offseason, which we will get to in just a moment. Let’s first start with an area that should be dominant on this offense, which is boasting what is arguably the top offensive line in the league. With seven players on the unit that could be very good starters across the league, this group is a bullying bunch that has a nice blend of experience and youth. They’re also very versatile, with skills in both the run and pass blocking. The running piece of for Philly was a little deceiving, as Jalen Hurts took care of a lot of the work on the ground. The team is fine with utilizing that skill as a weapon, however they have to get the running backs more involved, something they did later in the season. Miles Sanders is fighting through a hamstring injury during the preseason, however it’s definitely a stable with Kenneth Gainwell and the fiesty Boston Scott. If the Eagles can effectively run the ball with their backs, this passing game could have the breakout season they’re looking for. The jury is clearly still out on Jalen Hurts, but it shouldn’t take long for the world to find out if he can be the guy in Philadelphia. One of the biggest off-season acquisitions was bringing mega-talented A.J. Brown over from the Titans to form one of the top potential tandems in the league with 2nd year talent Devonta Smith. With a sneaky good Quez Watkins manning the third wide receiver slot, and Dallas Goedert playing tight end, this team is going to be tough to defend. Can Hurts take the step needed to make this a top offensive juggernaut?
The defense was definitely up and down a season ago as well but played solidly overall. Their overall defensive EPA finished 8th, however they had some really favorable matchups along the way. This year’s group has a lot to be optimistic about, starting with the return of Fletcher Cox along the defensive line. It looked as though the veteran DT might be gone, but the team managed to bring him back, along with defensive end Brandon Graham, offering some leadership and production at the position. With Javon Hargrave, and physical freak rookie Jordan Davis, they should have just enough depth to be strong again versus the run. The team wasn’t great at rushing the passer, however the quiet addition of free agent Haason Reddick could help in that area, as the team go much more athletic at the linebacker position. Part of that athleticism was getting perhaps the steal of the entire draft as Nakobe Dean fell all the way to them at the 83rd pick in the draft. The team also got a steal in their secondary as they were able to bring James Bradberry over from the rival Giants to play corner opposite Pro Bowler Darius Slay. With additions like Jaquiski Tartt and K’Von Wallace, this secondary is as deep as it has been and if the pass rush can get home, they’ll get some turnovers from this bunch. As a whole, this defense has some stand out players, and the complimentary players might make the difference if they develop into an even stronger team.
2022 Strength of Schedule – 31st Hardest – Based on Vegas Projected Win Totals (SharpFootball)
Team Win Total Odds – 9.5 Wins (over -150, under +125)
BetCrushers Projected Record – 11-6
Hopefully you follow us on Twitter where we recommended hammering the futures season win total for the Eagles when it was set at a disrespectful eight wins. Even as this number has climbed to 9.5 wins at most sportsbooks, we’re still very excited about what this team can do, specifically in a weak division and conference. Oh, and in case you didn’t catch it above, this team has what’s expected to be a pretty cake schedule from start to finish. As you can see, we’re expecting a nice season in Philadelphia, and wouldn’t be surprised to see this team make a deep playoff run. Jalen Hurts is clearly the question mark, but even an average effort from Hurts makes this team dangerous.
Possible to Wagers To Play – Futures, Against the Spread
We’re beyond bullish on this Eagles team and you can find a lot of futures wagers to bet on if that’s your thing. Win total, division winner, and NFC champion just for starters. After a trick week one matchup with the Lions, unless it’s a rout, you can expect some nice value with this team in the early weeks in the season. This team should finish the season with a nice record against the spread, particularly in the first half of the season.
Fantasy Players To Watch – Devonta Smith (WR)
There are a lot of options on this Eagles offense including Jalen Hurts, who should finish as a top six quarterback in the world of fantasy football. A.J. Brown should thrive, and Dallas Goedert is a great weapon at tight end. The guy who could quietly be a difference-maker is the speedy Devonta Smith at the wide receiver position. Smith has a year of experience and some chemistry with Hurts, and will be seeing a lot of single coverage that makes him a homerun threat each week. The only position we’d steer clear of on this offense is the three-headed monster at running back.
New York Giants
2021 Record – 4-13
2021 Record Against the Spread – 6-11
KEY ADDITIONS:
(QB) Tyrod Taylor, (RB) Matt Breida, (OG) Mark Glowinski, (DE) Kayvon Thibodeaux, (OT) Evan Neal
KEY SUBTRACTIONS:
(S) Jabril Peppers, (CB) James Bradberry, (CB) Logan Ryan, (OG) Will Hernandez
The Joe Judge experiment failed miserably in New York, and the team pulled the cord quickly, retooling with the offensive-minded Brian Daboll as their new head coach. Daboll brings a fresh perspective and a successful background, however this team is in a rebuilding state entering the 2022 season. For starters, the Giants will need to determine whether or not quarterback Daniel Jones can lead this team, or if they’ll try to squeak out a couple of extra wins with Tyrod Taylor, and look to the future in the offseason. Either way, this depth chart has some holes, and it’s tough to imagine them making a lot of noise in a crowded NFC East.
If it seems like we’re being harsh on the Giants, we’re really just relying on both the film and the analytics when it comes to this offense. They finished dead last in offensive EPA, and scoring points was an absolute struggle throughout the 2021 season. The team does get Saquon Barkley back healthy to start the season, and he has looked strong and fast in the preseason. They also have some exciting young receivers in Kadarius Toney and Wan’Dale Robinson to go with veterans Sterling Shepard, Darius Slayton, and beleaguered Kenny Golladay. Additionally, they added rookie offensive Tackle Evan Neal and free agent center Jon Feliciano to help repair an offensive line that was often overwhelmed in the running and passing game. Are these changes enough to help whoever is taking snaps under center? There’s a legitimate quarterback controversy heading into the season, and it won’t be surprising if both Daniel Jones and Tyrod Taylor see time during the season. Taylor’s a proven player in the league and realistically gives the team a better chance to win each week, however his ceiling is a known entity, and the Giants are winning playoff games with Taylor at the helm. They’ll likely need to give Jones the steering wheel so they can make a truly accurate assessment of if he can be the man in New York. (Spoiler alert, we never have believed that he is).
From a building standpoint, the Giants are trying to mold a team the right way, they just have a really long way to go. They’re adding some pieces around Leonard Williams, most notably their other top pick, Kayvon Thibodeaux, who they hope will provide the pass rush that has been lacking. The linebacker corp is led by Blake Martinez, who is a capable, if not spectacular inside backer. The combination of Tae Crowder, Carter Coughlin and Darrian Beavers will round out what could best be considered an average grouping at the position. There are also some liabilities in the secondary, as the team is relying on a lot of unproven guys at corner, after Adoree’ Jackson. The loss of Jabril Peppers will be felt as well as the combination of Julian Love and Xavier McKinney will be asked to do a lot, and likely won’t be able to pick up the slack. There is also a serious lack of depth on the defensive side of the ball, which doesn’t help in the grand scheme of things.
2022 Strength of Schedule – 32nd Hardest – Based on Vegas Projected Win Totals (SharpFootball)
Team Win Total Odds – 7 Wins (Over -110, under -110)
BetCrushers Projected Record – 6-11
There are some recognizable and some talented names on this roster when you think about guys like Saquon Barkley, Kadarius Toney and Leonard Williams. However, there are far too many unknowns and liabilities on both sides of the football, and this team just doesn’t seem to have it yet. Brian Daboll has a plan, but this is definitely a three year plan as it’s too much to ask with this depth chart, particularly when you don’t have the quarterback position figured out yet. If you’re a Giants fan, keep an eye on 2023 and beyond, and buckle up for another frustrating year in 2022.
Possible to Wagers To Play – Against the Spread
The Giants finished last season at just 6-11 against the spread with a 4-13 record, and yet they still enter this season with a win total hovering around seven. If Daniel Jones gets the nod, it’s pretty safe to say this team is already overvalued, and should be faded, particularly on the road. Conversely, if Tyrod Taylor earns a start, he’ll likely keep the team competitive, and you may want to consider wagering on them, specifically at home.
Fantasy Players To Watch – Kadarius Toney (WR)
For as healthy as Saquon Barkley looks in training camp, the combination of his injury history, and this offensive line and quarterback combo will steer us clear for the time being. The only real option we’re considering is 2nd year wideout Kadarius Toney. He had his own injury issues in his rookie season, but he also displayed the type of speed and athleticism that a large percentage of the league does not possess. With a crowded receiver room, he’s the one player that should stand out and gives you the explosive plays that can win games for your fantasy team. As a side note, we’d suggest potentially utilizing him in daily fantasy football, and not in season-long leagues, as he’s clearly a boom or bust type of player.
Washington Commanders
2021 Record – 7-10
2021 Record Against the Spread – 7-9-1
KEY ADDITIONS:
(QB) Carson Wentz, (OG) Trai Turner, (WR) Jahan Dotson
KEY SUBTRACTIONS:
(OG) Brandon Scherff, (LB) Matt Ioannidis, (TE) Ricky Seals-Jones
The football team in Washington finally has a new name, and they’ll also start a new quarterback as they hope to improve upon their 7-10 record from a year ago. The Commanders have high hopes entering the season as they hope that Carson Wentz is the missing piece to help elevate a talented, if somewhat thin roster. That tactic didn’t necessarily work for the Indianapolis Colts, but the Commanders claim to be all in on the inconsistent signal-caller. Can Washington find their way back into the playoffs, or will the Wentz experiment have similar results yet again?
We’re never ones to put a whole lot of stock into preseason football games, however the Commanders offense has looked less than impressive with their starters playing. Carson Wentz has looked like, well, Carson Wentz as he’s made some both some impressive throws and been wildly inaccurate. There are many teams who have questions at the QB position, and Washington is right near the top. Wentz has some weapons to work with, as he has a three-headed monster at running back with Antonio Gibson, J.D. McKissic and rookie Brian Robinson. If you’re looking for a breakout player, Robinson is definitely a candidate, as he could earn a lot of playing time as the season progresses. Star number one wide receiver Terry McLaurin was paid handsomely in the offseason, and he should benefit from having some help this year. The team drafted Jahan Dotson, and a healthy Curtis Samuel give Wentz a solid trio to work with. In addition to the questions swirling around Carson Wentz, the offensive line has a lot to prove. It’s a patchwork group of veterans that could be productive, or could struggle. Guys like Charles Leno, Jr., Andrew Norwell and free agent acquisition Trai Turner are better run blockers than pass protectors, so game script could play a factor in how well they can perform.
You could make the argument that no group underperformed as much in 2021 as the defensive line of the Commanders. Chase Young was lost for the season, and was really not overly productive before going down with a torn ACL injury. Things boiled over late in the year when tackles Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne got into a heated scuffle on the sidelines. Make no mistake about it, this defensive line is still the key to the success of the defense as a whole. The back seven are veterans, but all would best be described as average players individually, and as a group. Jamin Davis has the biggest upside, and he could provide a boost if he can improve his play. Circling back to Chase Young, it’s unclear his exact return timeframe, and it’s certainly unknown how productive he will be off of surgery. Regardless, Allen, Payne and Montez Sweat need to be the dominant force that they were collectively drafted to be. This defense should keep them in games, but will they do enough to impact games?
2022 Strength of Schedule – 26th Hardest – Based on Vegas Projected Win Totals (SharpFootball)
Team Win Total Odds – 8 Wins (over +100, under -120)
BetCrushers Projected Record – 8-9
The season win total of 8 seems smack dab where it should be and that’s what we’re expecting from this team. They’re the type of team that can certainly beat any team on any given week, however, they’ll also beat themselves at times. The most interesting thing to watch with the Commanders is clearly the quarterback position as Wentz will giveth and taketh away. What we want to find out is whether or not he survives the entire season, or if we end up seeing Taylor Heinecke, or even rookie Sam Howell at some point along the way?
Possible to Wagers To Play – Teasers
With a stout defense and a feisty quarterback this team should not be getting blown out in many games. If Washington is getting 1.5 points or more, teasing them to get over the key touchdown number will be a strong wager.
Fantasy Players To Watch – Brian Robinson (RB)
There are actually a few interesting players to keep an eye on for fantasy purposes on this Washington bunch. First and foremost it’s a solid bet to grab Terry McLaurin as he should have another even more productive season with Wentz slinging it around. As we mentioned above, we’re keeping a close eye on rookie Brian Robinson who already appears poised to steal some carries from Antonio Gibson. If you have room to stash a player like that on your bench, he could be the type of guy that puts up quality production that many people aren’t even aware is out there.
