Will Shipley Involved Heavily In Passing Attack In Preseason Week 2
Philadelphia Eagles running back Will Shipley took five carries for 15 yards and caught all four of his targets for 31 yards during the team's 14-13 win over the New England Patriots. Kenneth Gainwell again got the start Thursday night with the second-team offense but was replaced much earlier this week by Shipley, who saw snaps with No. 2 quarterback Kenny Pickett. The rookie only saw one target last week, but was targeted by both quarterbacks throughout the game and was far more efficient with them than Gainwell. While Shipley may open the season as the No. 3 on the depth chart, he can easily push for passing down snaps and earn more playing time as the season rolls on unless Gainwell can step it up compared to last year. Neither will retain any fantasy relevance in redraft leagues unless Saquon Barkley misses time.
Philadelphia Eagles running back Will Shipley took seven carries for 23 yards and caught his lone target, taking it for a seven-yard score at the end of the first quarter against the Baltimore Ravens. Veteran Kenneth Gainwell got the start ahead of the rookie Friday night and was more efficient with his carries. However, Shipley was put into the game early, indicating that the No. 2 role going to Gainwell is not a foregone conclusion. The 21-year-old also saw work as a returner on the kickoff team, a role that Gainwell also occupies. The rookie has been on the veteran's heels so far this summer and could carve out a passing downs role if he can continue to impress in practice.
Philadelphia Eagles rookie running back Will Shipley was getting some first-team red-zone work in training camp practice on Tuesday. For some context, Shipley also split first-team work with Kenneth Gainwell on Monday with primary back Saquon Barkley away from the team for personal reasons. Shipley, a fourth-rounder out of Clemson, is competing with Gainwell for the No. 2 job in Philly in 2024 in camp and the preseason. Gainwell obviously has much more experience than Shipley and familiarity in the Eagles' offense, but the 21-year-old Shipley has more immediate and long-term upside in deeper fantasy formats as a handcuff option for Barkley if he wins the No. 2 job. If Barkley were to miss time due to injury in his first year with the Eagles, Shipley would be a highly sought-after waiver-wire pickup in fantasy.
Philadelphia Eagles rookie running back Will Shipley was selected in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft despite the team already having Saquon Barkley and Kenneth Gainwell on the roster. The Eagles weren't pegged as a team that could take a running back before the last few rounds, but the Clemson product was clearly on the radar. According to Eagles reporter Eliot Shorr-Parks, the 21-year-old is flashing as a receiver and could take reps from Gainwell in 2024. Shipley caught 85 passes for 602 yards and two touchdowns in three seasons as a Tiger, so his success as a pass-catcher in practice is not much of a surprise. He could be a high-end fantasy football handcuff in a great offense, especially since Barkley has missed eight games over the last three seasons and is entering his age-27 season this year.
Will Shipley
• RB
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Eagles
