News & Info/Headlines

As Philadelphia Inquirer staff writer Zach Berman reminded readers on Thursday, Chip Kelly has insisted since the Eagles acquired Darren Sproles that he views him first as a rusher, not just a running back who catches passes.

That doesn't mean the Eagles need to forget about Sproles as a pass catcher, though.

Sproles was not targeted with a pass in Sunday's win. He was targeted on at least 9 percent of the Eagles' passes in the first four games of the season. There has been a sharp decline from Week 2, when 19 percent of the passes went in his direction. The reason is that opponents do not necessarily view Sproles the same way Kelly does, and have played him more as a pass catcher than as a rusher.

"A lot of times in the last couple of games he's been double-covered," Kelly said Wednesday as the team prepared to host the Giants on Sunday. "You can't tell Nick [Foles], if he's doubled, throw it to him because you want to get him a catch. If they are going to double him, then we need to go somewhere else."

Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur said there were a few plays when the Eagles wanted to go to Sproles. There was one pass that went to tight end Zach Ertz in which Sproles was the top option, but the Rams had two players covering him.

Sproles said defenses are "in-and-outing" him, so a defender is waiting for him when he cuts inside or outside on a route. Sproles said defenses are responding as if the Eagles are going to pass when he enters the game.

That's why Sproles notices a difference when starting running back LeSean McCoy is in the game. It also helps explain why it seems Sproles has more room to run than McCoy does.

"Same offense, but when he's in the game, they've got a lot of people in the box," Sproles said. "When I come in the game, they think I'm running routes."

That allows for better rushing totals. Sproles has averaged 6.9 rushing yards on 25 carries this season, the second-best average of any player in the NFL with at least 20 carries.

Sproles is on pace for 80 carries and 51 receptions. That would mark his highest number of carries since 2011 but his fewest receptions since 2009. Those numbers are skewed by a small sample size, although the Eagles need to find a way to use one of their most dynamic players in a way that can make him most dynamic.

Sproles totaled 15 offensive touches in Week 1 and 11 touches in Week 2. Since then, Sproles has had five, three, and seven touches.

The problem for fantasy owners is obvious; until the touches go up, Sproles isn't going to be a reliable enough producer to get in your lineups.