Don’t be surprised if … we see more tush push and less “Hurts heaves”

Don’t be surprised if … both Jalen Hurts and Kareem Hunt continue to run

Each week in the NFL is its own story — full of surprises, both positive and negative — and fantasy football managers must decide what to believe and what not to believe moving forward. Perhaps we can help. If any of these thoughts come true … don’t be surprised.

Don’t be surprised if … Jalen Hurts runs for more TDs than he throws

OK, so that may seem silly, but check the numbers. Fantasy managers should not care how star players accrue their fantasy points, only that they do. Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts enters Week 9 with the sixth-most PPR points at the position, but he is third in PPR points per game, behind only Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson and Buffalo’s Josh Allen. Should it matter that Hurts has only one more passing touchdown (8) than rushing scores (7)? It’s surely a unique situation, but one fantasy managers cannot complain about.

Hurts entered the Week 5 bye having scored 17 PPR points in just one of four games, riddled with seven turnovers and obvious inefficiency. In fact, no quarterback could rival him for turnovers since the start of last season. Hurts averaged 33 passing attempts in the first four games, with notable errors in judgement each week. The Eagles had to solve that.

Since then, the Eagles have won three games in a row (albeit none against winning teams) and Hurts has notably committed nary a turnover, in part because the team adjusted his role and lowered the risk. Hurts has attempted only 59 passes in three weeks (20 per week), just two more than RB Saquon Barkley’s rushing attempts and, in general, these have been safer passes. The lone passing touchdown on Sunday afternoon in Cincinnati was a lovely 45-yard rainbow to WR DeVonta Smith — one with little chance of getting picked.

Plus, Hurts has scored five rushing touchdowns over the last two games, four of them on the Eagles’ near-lock, designed tush push rugby scrums. These plays remain as effective as in prior seasons, even when the defense knows it is coming.

Baltimore’s Jackson remains fantasy’s top scorer through eight weeks and is a leading MVP candidate, but Hurts has a good chance to finish second in fantasy points if he continues to take extra care of the football and continues to be provided with short rushing scores. Philadelphia’s schedule is one of the most favorable over the final two months (starting with Week 9 against the Jaguars) and features five more NFC East battles and a Week 14 “gimme” against the Panthers.  If Hurts finishes with between 15-20 passing touchdowns and just as many rushing scores, that would be quite the historic achievement.