Jalen Hurts (QB, PHI) - 2022 Fantasy Football Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Target Around ~45 Overall

CURRENT ADP: ~65

ANALYSIS: In Hurts' first full season as the Eagles' starting quarterback, he finished as the QB6 with 21.4 fantasy points per game. And that was also Nick Sirianni's first season as head coach in Philadelphia. But let's break down why Hurts could ascend all the way up to the number one overall QB in 2022.

For starters, he's one of the league's premier dual-threat quarterbacks. Last season, he rushed 139 times for 784 yards and 10 touchdowns. His 10 touchdowns matched Ezekiel Elliott, who had 97 more rush attempts than Hurts.

Believe it or not, Hurts had nearly double the number of rush attempts inside the five-yard line as Josh Allen did in 2021 (13 vs. 7). So for starters, Hurts' floor is incredibly high. In fact, one could argue it's nearly impossible for him to finish outside the top-five quarterbacks in 2022 because of it.

It was essentially a tale of two seasons for the Eagles in 2021. Between Weeks 1 and 7, Hurts attempted 34.6 passes per game and subsequently averaged 25 fantasy points per game. Between Weeks 8 and 17, Hurts averaged just 23.8 pass attempts per game. Over that stretch, he produced just 18.3 fantasy points per game. So what happened?

Well, for the first six games of the season, the Eagles had three very solid pass catchers in DeVonta Smith, Dallas Goedert, and Zach Ertz. Then Ertz got traded and the game plan changed from being pass heavy to going full-on ground and pound.

So what'd the Eagles do in the offseason? They went out and replaced Ertz with one of the most elite pass-catchers in the National Football League in A.J. Brown. You don't trade for Brown without the idea you're going to throw the ball more. The Eagles' best players are Hurts, Brown, Smith, and Goedert, all of whom make up the passing attack. It would make sense for them to throw 35+ times per game with those weapons.

So, given Hurts was the overall QB2 between Weeks 1 and 7 (over Josh Allen) in 2021, there's a real possibility he finishes at the very top in 2022 with a trio of elite pass-catchers at his disposal. Do not sleep on Jalen Hurts and his immense upside this season.

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