The Philadelphia Eagles have had DeMarco Murray struggle to start the season and the running back is looking to get more carries moving forward for Chip Kelly on offense. Kelly likes the rotation of Ryan Mathews and Darren Sproles and fantasy football owner should keep an eye on how the splits continue heading into Week 5 of the schedule.
Murray was the leading rusher in the NFL last season and this year he has put up a paltry 47 yards on just 29 carries. Murray missed one game with an injury and as Pro Football Talk points out, at this point last year with the Cowboys, Murray had 99 carries and 534 yards rushing, a far greater total than he has now. Murray spoke with the Philadelphia Inquirer after the loss last week and was asked if he was touching the ball enough and said "No, I'm not," and added "I don't think I am," according to Zach Berman.
Murray added that he "knew" all three players (Murray, Sproles, Mathews) would be getting carries and said that he "knew" he "was going to be the lead guy." Chip Kelly said after the loss last week that he has to "do a better job" making the play calls and that he thinks the roster has enough talent to win the division. Sam Bradford has been up and down to start the season and he will be looking to get into a rhythm starting in Week 5
Mathews comes in with 132 yards rushing this season and five catches for 44 yards and he had his best game of the season in Week 3 against the Jets. Mathews had over 100 yards rushing in that game and Sproles also got in on the action with Murray out, touching the ball 15 times and scoring on a punt return. Sproles is a solid option in PPR leagues and all Murray owners in fantasy should try and handcuff Mathews.
The team also received some good news on linebacker Kiko Alonso, as Pro Football Talk reports that Alonso did not injure his ACL and could return this season. PFT writes that when Alonso was injured in Week Two, the initial reports had the possibility that the linebacker injured the same ACL that kept him out all of last season. It looked like Alonso would miss the entire year, but according to Alonso, the injury did not end up being as serious as initially expected.
Alonso spoke with the Philadelphia Inquirer and said he visited Dr. James Andrews and it "confirmed" what Alonso thought: there was no injury to the ACL. Alonso said he "knew it wasn't that bad" based on how it felt and that the doctors "cleaned out" the injury. Alonso is a key part of the defense for the Eagles and he comes in as the piece that was traded for LeSean McCoy. The Eagles have DeMeco Ryans, Jordan Hicks and Mychal Kendricks, but Kendricks has been banged up as well. PFT reports there is no timetable for his return, but it could be at some point this season.
Check here for more on the Eagles, Murray, Kelly and the running backs./
