Buy or Sell: Sam Bradford

Sam Bradford
ADP: 140.2
QB: 24

Few teams have had as interesting an offseason as the Eagles. One of the moves included giving up a second, Nick Foles and then some to acquire frequently injured Rams QB Sam Bradford.

If that wasn’t interesting enough, reports seemed to indicate that Philadelphia coach Chip Kelly was trying to use Bradford at various points to acquire the rights to Marcus Mariota or other QBs, leaving questions over whether he really wanted the one-time Oklahoma signal-caller.

That likely leaves fantasy football players leery of Bradford – as if ACL injuries in back-to-back seasons wasn’t enough to do that already. But if he can stay healthy – and the Eagles, at least in 2014, had a much better offensive line with which to protect their QB – he may have the opportunity to build on some numbers that were actually pretty good in 2013.

So is he worth a flyer in fantasy? Or should you let him sit there and move on with other options?

Buy: Vomhof

First off, let me be clear: I don’t think you should reach for Sam Bradford early in your fantasy draft. But I do think he could present a nice value if you miss out on the top guys or opt for a late-round quarterback strategy.

The Eagles have had one of the league’s top offenses under Chip Kelly the past two seasons. In 2014, they ranked third in points per game, fifth in yards and sixth in passing.

If you combine the stats Foles and Mark Sanchez put up last season, they ranked as the No. 8 fantasy QB last year, just behind Matt Ryan and ahead of guys like Tom Brady, Tony Romo, Philip Rivers and Cam Newton.

But this isn’t just about the Eagles, it’s also about Sam Bradford. While he has struggled with injuries, he actually looked pretty darn good the last time we saw him on the field.

In 2013, he tossed 14 touchdowns in seven games, while averaging 241 yards a game. And, as a former No. 1 overall pick, there’s no question that he’s got the talent to succeed in a Chip Kelly offense.

Keep an eye on Bradford’s health during the preseason, but if his knee is good to go and he’s looking comfortable on the field, I think he’s a solid value.

Bottom line: You’re likely to get QB1 production out of a guy who’s being drafted as a mid-QB2.

Sell: Andy

Philadelphia ranked third in the NFL in scoring last season and fourth the year before. They’ve done so with three different starting QBs during that time span. So, what’s not to like?

Well, the reason there have been three is injuries. Mike Vick started the 2013 season, lasting about a half-dozen games before he got hurt. He gave way to Foles, who kept the job through the first eight games in 2014, when he got hurt. The much-maligned Mark Sanchez picked up the reins the rest of the season.

Then you’ve got Coach Kelly’s propensity for banishing the receivers who help him achieve those rankings. The last two seasons DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin have led the team in yards and then been let go, Jackson by trade and Maclin through free agency.

So who’s left? Jordan Matthews, whom many experts say can’t be an outside receiver; Nelson Agholor, a rookie with high upside but no tenure and Riley Cooper, Miles Austin and Josh Huff.

Wow.

Let’s sum it up. That means Sam Bradford, coming off two torn ACLs, will be starting (maybe?) at QB for a team that has had its QB hurt (system problems anyone?) and has gotten rid of its top weapons in successive seasons. Even Coach Kelly hasn’t seemed overly enamored with Bradford, who has, at times, seemed like more of a trade chip than a guy who got any real commitment.

The Eagles will score points. But I’m skeptical Bradford will be around to see all of them. I’ll pass.

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