During edge localized modes (ELMs), the sheath evolution in front of the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) upper divertor is studied to estimate the sputtered tungsten (W) atoms from the divertor target. A large potential drop across the sheath is formed during ELMs by compared with inter-ELMs, and the maximum of sheath potential drop can exceed one thousand of eV in current EAST operation. Due to the enhancement of the sheath potential drop during ELMs, the W physical sputtering yield from the deuterium (D) ions and the impurity ions on the upper divertor target is found to be significant. It is established that the sputtered W yield during ELMs is at least higher by an order of magnitude than inter-ELMs, and D ions and carbon (C) ions are the main ions governing the W production for the current H-mode with ELMs discharges. With increase in the pedestal electron temperature, the maximum of the D and C ion impact energy during ELMs shows a nearly linear increase, and the D ions have sufficient impact energy to cause the strong W physical sputtering. As a consequence, the D ions may dominate the sputtered W flux from the divertor target when the C concentration is controlled less than one percent for the higher heating power H-mode with ELM discharges in near future.