Jalen Hurts ($6,400) is off to a disappointing start this season. The quarterback is averaging 17.5 FPTS per game, but he has progressively gotten worse in every start, bottoming out with 13.52 FPTS vs. the Rams this past Sunday.
DeVonta Smith (hamstring) and Dallas Goedert (knee) both missed this game, and Saquon Barkely (hamstring) exited early. Hurts struggled mightily without his main weapons, throwing for two touchdowns but completing just 12-of-27 passes for 93 yards. This was partially due to this being a poor matchup – the Rams are giving up the fewest yards per pass in the NFL (4.6) – but Hurts was clearly lost without Smith, Goedert and Barkley around.
Hurts is in a more favorable spot this Sunday vs. the Jaguars as they are giving up the third-most yards per pass (8.1), but Goedert will remain out and Smith is trending towards joining him on the sidelines again. Per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Smith is “at the very best” questionable for Week 5. Furthermore, Barkley is likely out, as the Eagles view him “week-to-week,” per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Given the state of Philadelphia’s offense, should fantasy owners be starting Hurts in Week 5?
Hurts’ Week 5 Outlook
Even before last week’s debacle, Hurts was struggling. His numbers for the season are very suspect for the former Super Bowl MVP. Hurts is averaging a career-worst 6.3 YPA, which ranks 31st of the 41 quarterbacks who have dropped back 20+ times this season. Hurts is also completing just 59.6% of his passes, which ranks 33rd.
The Alabama product has remained active with his legs, rushing the ball 21 times with six red-zone attempts, but he has only found the end zone once after rushing for eight scores a year ago.
Hurts is due for some positive regression as a touchdown scorer, but how often are the Eagles even going to be in the red zone this Sunday vs. the Jaguars with so many key pieces sidelined? The Eagles’ running game likely will struggle with Will Shipley ($5,100) leading the way, and Hurts’ group of pass-catchers is going to be underwhelming to say the least with Donatyvion Wicks ($4,900) and Darius Cooper ($3,300) his best options.
The Jaguars are allowing the third-most yards per pass (8.1), but they still rank sixth in defensive EPA per play. Another big concern is the pace of this game. Jacksonville ranks dead last in pace and Philadelphia hasn’t been much faster, ranking 21st. As a result, this contest carries a modest total of 42.5 points and the Eagles’ implied team total is just 17.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook, which is the second-lowest for Week 5.
Hurts is a big name that is hard to sit, but benching him this Sunday makes a ton of sense. Adding a quarterback like Jacoby Brissett off waivers to start over Hurts is a smart move. Brissett is only rostered in 17% of leagues on Yahoo and the quarterback is in a dream spot this Sunday vs. the Lions. Detroit ranks dead last in defensive EPA and sixth in pace, and this game boasts a 54.5-point total on DraftKings Sportsbook, which is the highest for Week 5.
