Sep 7, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Allen Hurns (88) scores on a 34-yard touchdown catch past Philadelphia Eagles strong safety Nate Allen (29) in the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Who is Allen Hurns?
If you didn’t know who he was a week ago you sure do now, and now your contemplating whether you should snag him off the waiver wire or not.
Hurns blew up last week with four receptions for 110 yards and two touchdowns, and now the Jacksonville Jaguars WR is the hot waiver wire player of the week.
So, who is this guy?
Sep 7, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Allen Hurns (88) catches a 34-yard touchdown pass against the Philadelphia Eagles in the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Hurns was an undrafted free agent from the University of Miami this May. Being an undrafted free agent raises and eyebrow, but there has been a few UDFA wide receivers to make it big in the NFL (Miles Austin, Marques Colston), so to totally ignore him because he wasn’t drafted would be asinine.
One of the reasons why Hurns went undrafted was because the wide receiver position was stacked with talent. Hurns would have been drafted if he came out any other year but this year.
Hurns is 6-1, 198 pounds and has a slight frame. During the combine he ran a 4.57 40-yard dash.
For an NFL wide receiver Hurns is a little on the thin side and he’s doesn’t have elite speed, and will have trouble getting by defensive backs.
Hurns was productive last year for the UM recording 62 receptions for 1,162 yards and six touchdowns, setting the single season record for the Hurricanes in receiving yards.
Hurns was also very productive in the three preseason games he played for the Jaguars with 13 receptions 230 yards and a TD.
I don’t believe Hurns should be a high priority waiver wire free agent, but I think he should be owned in all leagues that are 12 teams or larger.
Cecil Shorts was injured due to a hamstring injury, and Hurns will experience a drop in targets when Shorts returns from his injury. He will also compete for targets against fellow rookies, Marqise Lee and Allen Robinson, who were both drafted in the second round.
Lee led the team in targets last week with 10 and caught six receptions. Lee is very talented which will make it a tough task for Hurns to beat him for snaps.
Robinson hasn’t had as much publicity this offseason because he has been suffering from a hamstring injury, but he is an explosive athlete and once he develops he will demand a lot of playing time as well.
With all this young talent the Jaguars have hoarded at wide receiver it will make it hard for Hurns to stand out.
Even though Hurns had a great game last week, he recorded most of his statistics in the first quarter, and he was shut out for the final three quarters of the game. In quarters 2-4 he recorded one reception for nine yards.
This is very concerning because once the Eagles game planned around Hurns, he was shut down easily and this could be a trend to come for him in the future.
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Like I said before, Hurns should be picked up off the waiver wire this week, but shouldn’t be your top priority. If there’s a defense you need, or if your in need of a QB then go a head and get pick your defense or QB ahead or him.
Also, if there’s wide outs or running backs that are better on the waiver wire then grab them first.
Guys who maybe on your wire would be, Markus Wheaton, Justin Forsett, Terrance West, Brian Quick, and I would pick all of those guys up over Hurns on the waiver wire.
He does have a juicy matchup this week against the Washington Redskins, and there is a chance he could repeat the numbers of last week, which makes him start able for your team as a flex if your team is in a rough spot due to injuries or bad matchups.
I think Hurns should be viewed as a stash on the end of your bench kind of like a lottery ticket … just incase he beats the odds and becomes a stud wide receiver.