Travis Fulgham was the hero Philly needed at the beginning of the 2020 season. With a Week 1 collapse at Washington, a fluttering offense, and injuries all over, the UDFA out of Old Dominion seemingly came out of nowhere and became one of the top receivers in the LEAGUE for 5 consecutive weeks. And now? He has received a total of 13 targets with 4 catches for 32 yards since the bye week.
Let’s take a look at the numbers:
Week 4 vs San Fran: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 57 yards, 1 TD
https://twitter.com/kyleyoung_NEB/status/1312952293961203712?s=20
Week 5 vs PIT: 13 targets, 10 receptions, 152 yards, 1 TD
#Eagles WR Travis Fulgham, who was only promoted to the active roster 10 days ago, had 152 yards on Sunday against the #Steelers
TE Zach Ertz has 145 yards *total* through 5 games this season.https://t.co/NBTl665l27
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 12, 2020
Week 6 vs BAL: 10 targets, 6 receptions, 175 yards, 1 TD
10 Targets 6 Receptions for 75 yards and 1 TD 🔥🔥🔥
The next best WR on the Eagles was Greg Ward with 4 Targets and 2 Receptions.
Here's every target from WR1 and future Pro Bowler Travis Fulgham vs the Ravens: pic.twitter.com/OV17utb3J2
— “Salary Cap Guru” Traw (@Whatshis40) October 19, 2020
Week 7 vs NYG: 11 targets, 5 receptions, 73 yards
https://twitter.com/R4GE1929/status/1319499468463636480?s=20
Week 8 vs DAL: 7 targets, 6 receptions, 78 yards, 1 TD
#Eagles QB @cj_wentz to @TravisFulgham for the 4th time this year!!!! Fulgham is 🔥🔥🔥🔥#Eagles regain that lead 15-9 over the #Cowboys! #DALvsPHI #FlyEaglesFly #NFL pic.twitter.com/bD0wKYcQjo
— All About The Birds (@AATBirds) November 2, 2020
Let me add that up for you. From Weeks 4-8 (in which the Eagles went 3-2), Fulgham had:
- 44 targets
- 29 catches
- 4 touchdowns
- 435 yards
If you average those statistics and forecast out for a 16 game season, Fulgham would have been on pace for:
- 140.8 targets
- 92.8 catches
- 12.8 touchdowns
- 1,392 yards
Here is where Fulgham would rank with those forecasted numbers above for NFL single-season records (keep in mind there are thousands upon thousands of receivers who have registered at least one target in the NFL):
- Catches: 180th all-time (tie)
- Yards: 105th all-time
- Touchdowns: 59th all-time (tie)
Fulgham was on pace for a historically good season, especially when you consider his contract: 1 year/$675k with an expected cap hit of $555,882. For a team that is literally in cap hell right now, finding a young, talented, cheap receiver like Fulgham is a gift. There was a time when he looked to be the answer to the Eagles receiver problems: an unexpected hero in a time when all else seemed to be lost for the receiving corps.
And now? The Eagles are losing. And Fulgham has been taken out of the offensive game plan. Things are obviously not right at the moment with the Eagles offense. Bad quarterback play, a decimated line, and uninspired play-calling are a recipe for disaster. But when you have a guy that has proved he can compete with the best of them and elevate a dead offense with 4 catches over 3 weeks, all of those problems become worse.
So Doug, I ask: Where in the world is Travis Fulgham?
*All stats courtesy of Pro Football Reference
**Contract info courtesy of Spotrac