Niles Paul's Updated 2014 Fantasy Outlook Heading into Week 3

Washington Redskins tight end Jordan Reed entered the 2014 campaign with top-five upside at the tight end position. As long as he remains sidelined, there's no reason Niles Paul can't approach similar value in his stead.  

And with the way practice has been going, per the team's official Twitter feed, that seems like a realistic scenario in Week 3 against the Philadelphia Eagles:

Paul, a former wide receiver, spent his first three seasons with the Redskins toiling near the bottom of the depth chart making most of his impact on special teams. But when Reed left the opener with a hamstring injury, the backup proved to be ready for an expanded role. 

Head coach Jay Gruden talked about Paul's immense improvement in every facet of the game, via The Washington Times' Tom Schad:

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Niles is one of the most improved players on this team, I believe, not just in the passing game but in the running game. The most impressive thing to me is his blocking ability both in pass protection and in the running game. He is very strong, has improved strength in the weight room with [head strength and conditioning coach] Ray Wright, and it’s just impressive. He’s really, really starting to come on and become a big factor for us.

"

Paul has the opportunity for a full workload of snaps. He has the athletic gifts. He has the trust of the coaching staff. And perhaps most importantly, he has a connection with quarterback Kirk Cousins, who is filling in for the injured Robert Griffin III. 

The duo spent the offseason working together with the backups, and their strong rapport became clear as soon as Cousins was thrown into action Sunday. The Michigan State product attempted 33 throws in Week 2, and 10 of those went to Paul for seven catches, 80 yards and a touchdown. 

Chris Cooley, who knows a thing or two about successful Washington tight ends, noted the obvious partnership:

What's more, Paul's numbers could have been even greater. He had seven receptions for 97 yards by halftime (six and 78 from Cousins), but with Washington sitting on a big lead, there was no reason to keep airing it out. He was also tackled at the 1-yard line earlier in the game. 

There are a few things worth noting for Week 3. The Philadelphia Eagles defend tight ends far better than Jacksonville, and DeSean Jackson's expected return, as per Mike Jones of The Washington Post, will mean one more mouth to feed in the passing game. 

But with Reed out and Cousins at the helm, Paul is a clear focal point of this downfield passing game. His long-term value is muddled at this point, but in Week 3, he will finish as a top-10 tight end in what should be a high-scoring NFC East battle.