Hopefully, Sunday night’s overtime win over the Dallas Cowboys was a step in the right direction for Chip Kelly and the Philadelphia Eagles. Highly-priced offseason acquisitions like Sam Bradford, DeMarco Murray, and Byron Maxwell have started to play much better as of late, and the Eagles sit just a half-game back of the New York Giants at the midpoint of the 2015 season.
There hasn’t been one star for the Eagles this year. The wins have come courtesy of collective all-around performances from a number of players. Likewise, the losses can be blamed on often the same group.
So picking the five most valuable players from a 4-4 team doesn’t have the same thrill as picking a few from the entire league. Still, these are the players whose contributions to the Eagles have meant the most, ranked in reverse order.
Just missed: RB Ryan Mathews
Ryan Mathews has been the Philadelphia Eagles’ best running back in 2015, and he’s done so at a thrifty price of just $2 million against the cap.
Mathews’ 6.1 yards-per-carry average is the second-highest mark in the NFL this season, trailing just Karlos Williams. Mathews has found the end zone five times. When DeMarco Murray missed Week 3 with an injury, Mathews filled in superbly as the lead back, rushing 24 times for 108 yards plus two catches for 20 yards and a touchdown.
As a complement to Murray, Mathews has averaged over four yards per carry in each of his last six games. He’s helped the Eagles boast the No. 2 ranked rushing offense in the league after a horrid start to 2015.
5. Jordan Hicks
Jordan Hicks’ recent torn pectoral muscle is a travesty because the third-round rookie was an absolute defensive playmaker.
In eight games, Hicks has amassed the following statistics: two interceptions, a forced fumble, three fumble recoveries, three passes defensed, and a sack. He’s leading the Philadelphia Eagles with 42 tackles. His recent 67-yard pick-six against the Dallas Cowboys jumpstarted the Eagles to a huge Sunday night win.
Hicks’ play was even more important considering the injuries that Mychal Kendricks and Kiko Alonso have suffered through this season.
4. Jordan Matthews
Jordan Matthews has had an up-and-down season, not one that Philadelphia Eagles fans expected after a promising 67-872-8 rookie campaign. But without Matthews, this wide receiver corps would be in big trouble.
The outside receivers have been disastrous. Nelson Agholor was supposed to produce immediately as a rookie, but he has just five catches all year. Riley Cooper and Miles Austin have a combined 23 receptions all season, and neither is likely to be on the 2016 roster.
Matthews’ drops have been problematic since a Week 1 loss to Atlanta where he couldn’t secure a late pass that was intercepted. But he was perfect against the Cowboys, securing nine grabs for 133 yards and the game-winning touchdown. The Eagles need that production from Matthews, who is still on pace for a 96-1,062-4 season.
3. Jason Peters
Has Jason Peters’ play slipped a bit this season? Perhaps, but that’s to be expected from an NFL player entering his 12th campaign. But he’s still rated as the sixth-best offensive tackle in the league, per Pro Football Focus. And while he missed last week’s win over the Dallas Cowboys due to a back injury, the Philadelphia Eagles would have been in big trouble this season without Peters.
He’s far and away their best offensive lineman. He’s a force as both a pass blocker and run blocker. A former college tight end and undrafted NFL free agent, Peters’ career has been nothing short of remarkable, and his importance to the Eagles is even more important with Evan Mathis gone and Jason Kelce struggling.
2. Malcolm Jenkins
Chip Kelly has always been a fan of safeties that can cover, and the success of Malcolm Jenkins is a big reason why. Signed as a free agent in the 2014 offseason, Jenkins has turned into one of the best safeties in the whole league.
Pro Football Focus rates Jenkins as the best safety in the whole NFL this year. He’s been tremendous in both coverage and stopping the run. Jenkins’ versatility is evident in that he frequently lines up directly over slot or even outside receivers, which is a rarity for safeties. Jenkins’ success has helped a Philadelphia Eagles safety tandem that could have been awful in 2015 actually be one of the best in the league.
1. Fletcher Cox
A case could be made for a handful of selections as the most valuable player on the Philadelphia Eagles, but who better to go with than the best overall player on this roster?
Fletcher Cox broke out in 2014 and he’s continued his success in ’15. Cox plays two-gap 3-4 defensive end, a seemingly thankless role that often requires taking on double teams and opening up holes for the outside linebackers to get to the opposing quarterbacks.
But that hasn’t stopped Cox from getting his sacks. He’s leading the Eagles with five sacks. He’s tied for the NFC lead with three forced fumbles. Cox has also recovered two fumbles, and he’s the most talented defensive player on a team with the sixth-best overall defensive DVOA in the league.
