I told myself not to get carried away. It’s ONE game, Jesse. But oh, what a game it was. Jalen Hurts did more than hold his own in his starting debut—he shined. After weeks of circling the drain with reeling Carson Wentz under center, the explosive Hurts gave Philadelphia’s dormant offense the jolt it so desperately needed, exceeding all expectations with 167 passing yards and a touchdown—delivered to underachieving Alshon Jeffery, of all people—to go with 106 rushing yards in a stunning upset of New Orleans.
Hurts’ effortless transition from dutiful clipboard-holder to immediate NFL difference-maker speaks to his immense poise, a trait birthed from pressure-packed college stints at perennial powerhouses Alabama and Oklahoma. Not every fresh-out-of-school 22-year-old is built for the bright lights, but in slaying the Saints his first day on the job, it’s clear Hurts has a rare affinity for big moments, performing his best when the stakes are highest. The dual-threat Hurts checks plenty of fantasy boxes as well, joining the similarly agile likes of Lamar Jackson, Kyler Murray and Russell Wilson as one of the league’s premier rushers at the quarterback position.
Now that there’s tape on him, will defenses adjust to Hurts’ frantic, hair-on-fire style aesthetic, forcing him to stay in the pocket by employing a QB spy? In evaluating Hurts’ streaming prospects, fantasy players will also have to ask themselves whether they think his rushing output (18 carries in Week 14) is sustainable. Allotting that much rushing work to a quarterback is a dangerous tightrope to walk with Hurts’ risk of injury increasing with each subsequent scramble. There’s also the $128-million elephant in the room—that being Wentz’s impossible-to-unload contract—a financial hurdle that could give Hurts a comparatively short leash. But even with all those factors to consider, Hurts’ exhilarating performance in Week 14 was a rare bright spot in a season that, with precious few exceptions, has not gone the Eagles’ way.
We know there are fewer of you competing at this late juncture in the fantasy season, but if you've made it this far, hopefully there’s knowledge to be gained from this week’s episode of the RADIO.COM Fantasy Football Show featuring myself and Jordan Cohn, the latter handling hosting duties this week in place of first-time father Stephen Andress. Join Jordan and me as we peruse the waiver wire in search of late-season gold, survey the streaming landscape and, as always, offer a sampling of under-the-radar stealth options to help you punch your ticket to next week’s fantasy championship. See you on the other side.
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