Jalen Hurts has established himself as one of the very best in our game. The rushing role elevates his fantasy football stock to another stratosphere, and with his passing metrics moving in the right direction, there’s little reason to doubt what he brings to the table.
But how valuable is the quarterback position in a one-QB setting? How much draft capital should you be willing to spend on Hurts?
Jalen Hurts’ Fantasy Outlook
I’ll believe the NFL can stop the machine that is Hurts when I see it. And, if we are being honest, I’d probably have to see it for a month or two, and even then, I’m not sure I’d believe it. This offense as a whole has been a fantasy point-producing machine and should continue to impress in 2025.
Hurts is entering his age-27 season and has 16 more rushing scores on his resume than he does interceptions (four 10+ rush TD seasons and only one such year in terms of pick total). I could wax poetic about his weight-lifting regime or try to sell you on my theory that his trademark play should be labeled “Make it Hurts” as opposed to the “Tush Push” because he is uniquely gifted at it, but none of that does anything for you.
Instead, let’s talk about his growth in the more traditional way to play the position: the forward pass.
Jalen Hurts 2024 Highlights!
– SB Champ
– SB MVP
– 16-3 (including playoffs)
– 23 Pass TD & 19 Rush TD#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/JAF9QNkkC6— All About The Birds (@AATBirds) February 21, 2025
In 2024, Hurts’ in-pocket passer rating was 20.2 points higher than it was the year prior, and he posted a career-high TD% when not pressured (5.2%), both of which are ways to highlight his comfort as a dropback player.
Why did I focus on his ideal situations?
Well, why wouldn’t I? How exactly is a defense supposed to sell out to make him uncomfortable? To do so, you have to abandon your run defense, or you have to be playing with a lead.
Now do you see why?
Hurts rarely finds himself in those situations, and with his ability to dominate in perfect spots, why would I consider him anything but an elite option at the position?
If you’re like me and most other humans who follow this game and believe in the gravity that Saquon Barkley brings to this offense almost being Stephen Curry-esque in the attention that he demands, I have one more stat line to share with you to drive home the idea that Hurts is far more than just the product of a silly way to gain 1-2 yards whenever he pleases.
Play Action Insights
- 2023: 62.3% complete, 6.8 yards per attempt, 79.4 passer rating
- 2024: 72.9% complete, 9.3 yards per attempt, 118.8 passer rating
Drafting a quarterback in one of the first five rounds is a personal decision. You know yourself and your specific league better than I do. If you’re comfortable getting value at the Flex positions in the middle third of the draft, Hurts is in the conversation for quarterbacks worth paying up for.
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If your league flocks to the big names, the value on the position as a whole (Hurts, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, etc.) is likely to be sucked out of your draft room, making waiting the proper approach.
No matter the situation you find yourself in, Hurts is in the Tier 1 conversation.
Dan Fornek’s Jalen Hurts Fantasy Projection
Thanks to his rushing production, Jalen Hurts has developed into one of the most consistent fantasy quarterbacks. Over the last four seasons, Hurts has averaged 153 carries for 695 yards and 13 touchdowns per season. His ability to rack up rushing touchdowns via the tush push has allowed Hurts to post four straight years with 20+ fantasy points per season.
Unfortunately, his passing production has been less consistent. Hurts completed a career-high 68.7% of his passes in 2024. However, he attempted the fewest passes (361) since being named the Eagles’ starter in 2021. The result was 2,900 passing yards and 18 touchdowns with just five interceptions. The lack of passing production led Hurts to 21.0 fantasy points per game and a QB5 finish in 2024.
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The lack of passing volume had very little to do with Hurts himself. Philadelphia’s defense stopped opposing offenses from scoring, which led to fewer shootout conditions. Saquon Barkley’s effectiveness on the ground allowed the Eagles to avoid throwing throughout the season.
If the tush push isn’t banned, Hurts possesses a QB1 overall ceiling and a top-five quarterback floor every year. The Eagles will need to lean on him more as a passer in 2025 for him to hit his ceiling.
