This Year's League-Winning Quarterback Is...

August 7, 2022

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is a top fantasy football option but could he finish as the overall QB1? Ryan Larrison evaluates Hurts' upside in 2022.

Joe Burrow carried fantasy managers during last season's fantasy playoffs. He was the QB1 overall from Weeks 15-17, scoring an average of 28.6 points per game. With many drafting him later in drafts, Burrow supported those who took the shot on him to a fantasy title, while others were even able to pick him up off of waivers.

According to average draft position (ADP), the first 12 quarterbacks are off the board by the middle of round eight this year. People are drafting the position earlier, making it tough to determine who could be that league-winning quarterback in 2022.

However, one player drafted towards the back of those listed in the top 12 has a lot working in his favor for fantasy this year. Jalen Hurts has an ADP of 74th overall and is the eighth quarterback off the board. He is going to be the one to win you a fantasy championship this season. Check out more league-winning fantasy advice with our annual NFL Draft Kit and Cheat Sheet.

Jalen Hurts 2021 NFL Season Recap

Before going down with an ankle injury in Week 12 versus the Giants, Hurts finished outside the top 12 once. He was the QB1 overall from Weeks 1-11. Hurts was still a fine fantasy asset after returning a few weeks later,  but he did not use his legs as much as he did pre-injury, carrying the ball just 17 times in total. Hurts was a phenomenal fantasy quarterback through the first 11 weeks of the season, with a less than stellar receiving corps.

No quarterback finished with a higher percentage of their games played ranked inside the top 12 than Hurts last season. Only Justin Herbert, Josh Allen, and Matthew Stafford finished with fewer than 20% of their games coming in at 16 points or fewer. To be blunt, Hurts was one of the most reliable fantasy quarterbacks in 2021 due to his rushing upside and the less-than-stellar competition he faced for most of the season.

Philadelphia faced seven teams with a record over .500 in 2021, and all of them played the Eagles during Hurts' 11-week run as the top-scoring fantasy quarterback. He performed well against good and bad teams for fantasy, making him matchup-proof. Not bad for a quarterback selected in the later rounds of fantasy drafts last year.

Why Hurts Will Lead You To A Fantasy Title

Hurts accomplished so much last season for fantasy managers, and he did it with a bare-bones receiving corps. Zach Ertz did not contribute much before he was traded in Week Seven. Second-year wide receiver Jalen Reagor had a terrible season, finishing with 33 receptions for 299 yards and two touchdowns. Hurts had rookie standout DeVonta Smith and tight end Dallas Goedert to throw to confidently and no one else.

A.J. Brown is a Philadelphia Eagle. Let’s go! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/MKSG58s2kS

— SPORTSRADIO 94WIP (@SportsRadioWIP) July 27, 2022

Philadelphia finally got the upgrade at wide receiver that they needed, trading for A.J. Brown during this past April's NFL Draft. The team also added veteran slot receiver Zach Pascal, formerly of the Colts, providing much-needed depth to their receiver room. With Brown and Smith starting on the outside, Pascal and Quez Watkins working the slot, and Goedert in the middle of the field, Hurts has all the tools he needs to improve as a passer.

With his passing numbers bound to rise, Hurts has the chance to become a game changer for fantasy managers. He already had a stable weekly scoring floor due to his rushing ability, but now he can add to that baseline with more competent passing numbers. A quarterback that can finish top five in rushing is great, but one that can finish with 20 or more passing touchdowns can be elite.

A look at the new connection. Jalen Hurts to A.J. Brown. pic.twitter.com/n37TLSU8mX

— Tim McManus (@Tim_McManus) July 27, 2022

Burrow won over fantasy managers because of how good he was during the fantasy playoffs. He struggled in Week 15 against the Broncos but scored 30-plus fantasy points against the Ravens and Chiefs. These opponents were no slouches on defense, but Philadelphia has an easy schedule this year during Weeks 15-17. They play the Bears, Cowboys, and Saints.

Predicting how a defense will fair this early in the year is not typically wise, but looking at how depleted the Bears are, it is safe to assume their defense will struggle in 2021. Dallas has lost Randy Gregory and Keanu Neal, both starters in 2021, and has done little to replace them. New Orleans could be tricky, as their defense is slated to be top 15, but Hurts put up 30.8 points on them last season. It is a slate of games that Hurts could smash for fantasy managers, especially with an upgraded offense.

Jalen Hurts 2022 Fantasy Football Outlook

There is always a chance that you can find a league winner while streaming the quarterback position in fantasy. However, with the top 12 quarterbacks being drafted on average before round nine, it's getting harder to take that risk. Hurts is being drafted late enough that managers can build a solid roster before taking him in the back of the sixth or early seventh round. Burrow managers were able to do the same last season, taking home a fantasy title.

We have seen Hurts rank as the top overall scoring quarterback when healthy, and now he has a true top receiver with A.J. Brown and a rising star in DeVonta Smith as his number two option. Hurts will still run that ball at a high rate, and the Eagles have one of the weakest strengths of schedule compared to the rest of the league. He has everything it takes to be a league winner in 2022.

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