Jalen Hurts Set to be a 2021 Fantasy QB1, Next Konami Code King

With Carson Wentz shipped out of town, Jalen Hurts should be on his way to a 2021 fantasy QB1 season.

When the Eagles dealt Carson Wentz to the Indianapolis Colts, not only did they get out from under one of the league’s worst contracts, but they also officially handed the starting quarterback reins over to the electric Jalen Hurts, who could be fantasy’s next great Konami code weapon. Using both his arm and his legs to put up fantasy points, Hurts came off the bench in relief of Wentz to become the QB9 in 2020 fantasy football over the last four weeks — despite not even finishing Week 17. With a full offseason under his belt and the starting position (likely) his, Hurts’ 2021 fantasy outlook should sky-rocket as the Eagles’ full-time signal-caller.

Between Weeks 14-to-17, Hurts averaged 23.9 fantasy points per game, and if you take out Week 17, Hurts trailed only Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson in fantasy points per game with 26.6.

Make no mistake about it, Hurts was below average as a passer, as he was in college, during his brief time as an NFL starter. He completed a pathetic 52 percent of his passes and accounted for five turnovers in four games. But with (hopefully) better weapons at his disposal and a full offseason to work out the kinks, Hurts should improve as a passer. From a fantasy perspective, though, his legs more than make up for his lack of passing talent. The speedster averaged 68 rushing yards per game during those starts, resulting in 272 yards and three touchdowns.

While there’s more to be desired from a passing standpoint, Hurts was more than eager to test defenses down the field. He had the seventh-highest deep-ball rate (13.5 percent) and aDOT (10.8) among quarterbacks. Even without DeSean Jackson, he’ll get a healthy Jalen Reagor back to stretch the field. It’s also likely the Eagles will be big-time spenders at the wideout position in both free agency and the draft.

Although Hurts is the only Eagles quarterback under contract for 2021, there are a few potential question marks that could stand in the way of fantasy stardom.

We don’t know how the new coaching regime, Nick Sirianni and Shane Steichen, will tailor their offense. Will they go all-in on Hurts as their quarterback of the future and build the offense around him? Next, will Sirianni and Howie Roseman draft a franchise quarterback at sixth overall in the 2021 NFL Draft?

If the answers are yes and then no, then we have ourselves the next Konami Code.

Assuming all things go according to plan, The Wolf has Hurts as his QB11 (+4 vs ECR) on his 2021 Fantasy Football Rankings & Big Board.

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