Commanders vs. Eagles: Top Fantasy Bets, Predictions for 2025 NFC Championship

The third meeting of the 2024-25 NFL season between the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders will be the sweetest.

Well, it will be for the victor, anyway.

Whoever wins this rubber match will have secured a spot in Super Bowl LIX. The loser, meanwhile, will be left with an entire offseason spent trying to decipher the value of an objectively successful season that still could have been so much more.

The stakes almost literally could not be higher, so let's dive into the matchup with a few of our favorite fantasy bets before finishing with a game prediction.

*Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.

Fantasy Bet: Saquon Barkley 2+ TDs (+255)

Brandon Sloter/Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 19: Saquon Barkley #26 of the Philadelphia Eagles carries the ball on a running play for a touchdown during the first half of the NFC Divisional Playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams at Lincoln Financial Field on January 19, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images)

Two things stand out from this wager: the ability of Saquon Barkley and the generosity of Washington's run defense. Both are fans of this bet.

Barkley is a multi-score threat every time he touches the field. He has tallied at least two touchdowns seven different times this season. Two of those efforts came against these very same Commanders, who watched him produce 348 scrimmage yards and four scores in the two meetings.

He doesn't need a great matchup to post a monster stat line, but the football gods are giving him one anyway. Washington allowed the third-most rushing yards this season. It also tied for third-to-the-bottom in yards per carry. Running backs can make noise against this defense, which already let Jahmyr Gibbs get loose in the Wild Card round (175 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns).

It's a lot to ask two scores of any skill player, but this is about as intriguing as this wager can look.

Fantasy Bet: Terry McLaurin 80+ Receiving Yards (+164)

Steven King/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 18: Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin (17) runs after the catch during the NFC Divisional Playoff game between the Detroit Lions and the Washington Commanders on Sunday January 18, 2025 at Ford Field in Detroit, MI. (Photo by Steven King/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Philadelphia's defense admittedly held Terry McLaurin beneath this mark in both of the previous matchups. In fact, he didn't even hit that number in the two games combined.

Here's why we think he can snap out of this.

Washington's offensive menu has expanded with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels at the helm, but this passing game still relies heavily on McLaurin. He had 1,096 receiving yards in the regular season. No other Commander reached 660. There was a similarly sizable gap between the number of his targets (117) and that of their next-most targeted wide receiver (64).

Washington, which long ago shattered even optimistic expectations, has nothing to lose here and everything to gain. It'll do everything it can to bring out its best, a process that should include targeting McLaurin early and often.

Prediction: Eagles Ride Rushing Attack to Super Bowl Berth

Brandon Sloter/Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 19: Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles hands the ball off to Saquon Barkley #26 in warm ups prior to the NFC Divisional Playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams at Lincoln Financial Field on January 19, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images)

Like many teams before them, the Eagles have established a formidable playoff identity around explosive rushing and dominant defense. The next time Jalen Hurts throws for 150 yards this postseason will be the first—and Philly is 2-0.

The Eagles have the best running back in the business, and they know it. They'll exploit that whenever and however possible. Barkley hasn't had fewer than 27 touches in any of his last four outings. If his workload changes here, it'll only increase against this leaky run defense.

Containing Barkley is a nearly impossible task. And that's before getting into the defensive tests facing Daniels and Co. The Eagles are about as stingy as it gets. They were second this season in points allowed per game, and they're tied for second in the category during this postseason.

Add a raucous Philadelphia fanbase to the mix, and this all feels like too much for the Commanders to overcome.

Prediction: Eagles 24, Commanders 20

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