Jalen Hurts is poised for a breakout season
A player I will be personally targeting this season in my fantasy football drafts is Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts. With Carson Wentz shipped out to Indianapolis, it is time for the Hurts experience to be in full effect in 2021. I do not expect Hurts to win an MVP anytime soon, but he certainly can be the MVP of your fantasy football team this season.
Every year we search for the next breakout QB. Two years ago, it was Lamar Jackson, and last season it was Josh Allen and Dak Prescott until his season-ending injury. I think it is appropriate to temper expectations, but Jalen Hurts will finish as a Top-10 quarterback in 2021.
Run Jalen Run!
Hurts is going to run! Including the Packers game he took over for Wentz, he ran for 205 yards and three touchdowns. He appeared in three full games in his rookie year. In those three weeks (Weeks 14-16), he outscored all QBs except Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson.
In his four starts, he rushed 47 times for 176 yards and three scores. Hurts can run for more than Kyler Murray, and that alone should get our attention. It is realistic to project Hurts at over 800 rushing yards in 2021. Simply put a rushing quarterback in fantasy football is more desirable than a pocket passer sometimes. For instance, I have Hurts ranked ahead of Tom Brady because of his rushing prowess.
The Eagles have shown they are building around Hurts by drafting Heisman winner Devonta Smith in the first round of the NFL Draft. There is concern with Hurts’ passing ability, and he has to improve in that department. He had many terrible throws in those three starts as a rookie. However, the receiving group he was working with was arguably the worse in the NFL. It included rookie Jalen Reagor who missed time, DeSean Jackson, who couldn’t stay on the field, Zach Ertz‘s aging body, Dallas Goedert refusing to step up and breakout, and Travis Fulgham who is realistically a WR 3 or 4 in the NFL.
As a result, Hurts had an abysmal 54.7 catchable percentage, good for the third worse in the NFL. In comparison, Josh Allen has leaped every season, progressing from 58.4 to 65.5 to 73.6 catchable percentage. Hurts has a chance to follow this trend like Allen, given the weapons he is being surrounded with.
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Hurts is a League Winner
Philadelphia now has an entire offseason with the Covid pandemic (hopefully) behind us to customize the offense to Hurts’ strengths. With receiving weapons out of the backfield, the second season for Jalen Reagor (who I like as a possible breakout wide receiver), the addition of first-round pick wide receiver Devonta Smith, and possibly a true breakout season for tight end Dallas Goedert; Hurts can become a juggernaut at the QB position.
One of the keys to winning fantasy football championships is finding talent in the middle-to-late rounds that can finish in the top half of their position if not better. Jalen Hurts may be the key to your success this coming season, as you can find your Top-10 Quarterback with top 5 upside in the double-digit rounds.
