Will

Shipley

Fourth-round rookie Shipley mustered 34 regular season touches behind All-Pro Saquon Barkley and longtime committeeman Kenneth Gainwell. 14 of those handles came with Barkley resting in Week 18. Still half a year shy of his 23rd birthday, Shipley has youth on his side as he looks to settle into a reserve/special teams role behind Barkley, who remains in his prime. Gainwell is headed to free agency but has long been a coaching staff favorite. Shipley would have his work cut out for him to earn the No. 2 role if Gainwell re-signs.

The Eagles have made clear that they are resting their core offensive players which leaves room for interpretation as to whether backup RB Kenneth Gainwell is included in that bunch. Gainwell likely starts in Week 18 but if Shipley is cleared, it would be unsurprising to see Shipley take over at some point. The shifty rookie could use the in-game repetitions. He, unfortunately, has no fantasy floor though.

Shipley was upgrade to a full participant after getting a limited session in Wednesday. The rookie tailback will likely be able to play in Week 18 against the Giants, and with Saquon Barkley sitting out, he could be in for a healthy amount of carries in the season finale.

Gainwell saw little usage with Saquon Barkley still the workhorse back. He saw five carries for 19 yards, and his only target on the day was nearly intercepted. Gainwell has little fantasy relevancy as long as Barkley was healthy. The Eagles’ third running back, Will Shipley, rushed two times for -3 yards, though Shipley had a touchdown called back for a holding penalty.

It was reported Tuesday that Shipley was working with the first-team offense in the red zone. Eagles beat writers have said the rookie has shown explosiveness and pass-catching chops during training camp, and worked as the team’s lead back when Barkley was held out of practice on Monday. Shipley, who had 1,182 rushing yards and 15 scores at Clemson in 2022, could start the season as Philly’s No. 2 backfield option, and might see lead back duties should Barkley, 27, miss time in 2024.

Moore also listed presumed backup Kenneth Gainwell and rookie Will Shipley as players that could be deployed in various areas of the formation, adding “that will be a huge advantage for us.” Moore described the offense as requiring an outlet for the quarterback underneath, an area of the field that all three backs can help “create horizontal space, and every once in a while, get them vertical.” Moore’s previous offenses have harbored running back production through the air, something that could help offset the potential for decreased total touchdowns from the position considering the presence of quarterback Jalen Hurts and the famed “tush push” when close to the goal line. The fact that Moore also mentioned Gainwell and Shipley when discussing the utilization of running backs in the pass game places a theoretical cap on the weekly upside of his starter, returning a weekly range of outcomes that should be more condensed about Barkley’s median expectation.

Saquon Barkley managers need not panic. The Eagles didn’t sign Barkley to a three-year, $37.750 million contract to play him behind Gainwell. Instead, these early reps should serve as a reminder that, for now, Gainwell is the preferred option as Barkley’s backup, giving him some value as a late-round handcuff in fantasy. We’re barely through the first week of camp, and a lot can change over the next several weeks. Gainwell is the longest-tenured Eagles back and will presumably work ahead of rookie Will Shipley until Shipley gets acclimated to the offense.

A four-star recruit and one of the country’s most sought-after running backs, Shipley (5’11/206) committed to Clemson over Alabama, Penn State, and many other Power Five schools. After a productive freshman season that saw him score 11 touchdowns, Shipley erupted for 1,182 yards and 15 scores on 210 carries in 2022. He also added 38 grabs for 242 yards through the air. Shipley’s numbers took a hit in his final season. His efficiency stats fell across the board and he took a backseat to Phil Mafah in the backfield, resulting in a 167/827/5 rushing line. Shipley hits the hole hard and navigates space well but doesn’t have home run speed or elite tackle-breaking numbers. The fact that he was relegated to backup duties in college suggests he will play the same role in the NFL.

Shipley (5'11/205) also chipped in with three catches for 17 yards, as Clemson heavily relied upon their five-star all-purpose tailback due to the struggles of QB D.J. Uiagalelei, who was replaced by consensus top 2022 quarterback recruit Cade Klubnik. His biggest play was a pivotal 50-yard rushing score that he took off right tackle and outlasted the trailing defenders for a third quarter touchdown that put Clemson up for the first time all game at 22-21. It was Shipley’s highest career single-game rushing total, with the promising sophomore currently viewed as a top-5 2024 Devy running back option despite his lack of prototypical NFL size at 5'11/205.

The Tigers offense has struggled all year but Shipley (5'11/200) has been a constant bright spot. This game was the epitome of that. Consistently, Shipley was running behind an offensive line that failed to open up holes. He was able to get some yards with creativity, including his touchdown run. He took a dive play up the middle, saw that there was no hole and bounced it to the right and sprinted to the pile on for an easy score. One of the best freshman running backs in the country this season, he finished with 739 yards and 11 touchdowns on the season.