8.24.22: Herbert, Breece, Hot Seat, Bourne, Hurst, Davante

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Herbert

Tyler Fulgham: Justin Herbert could be better than Patrick Mahomes in 2022

Details:?Fulgham, a betting expert for ESPN, thinks Herbert can pass Mahomes as the?best?quarterback in the AFC West (and arguably the league) this upcoming season.

• Fulgham sees Herbert as the MVP favorite and the Chargers as a legitimate Super Bowl contender.

Herbert in 2021:?Herbert completed 65.9% of his passes for 5,014 yards, 38 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions. He led the Chargers to a 9-8 record.

Mahomes in 2021:?Mahomes completed 66.3% of his passes for 4,839 yards, 37 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. He led the Chiefs to a 12-5 record.

Improvement:?Herbert should see his numbers increase further in 2022, as the team’s offensive line (first-round selection of RG Zion Johnson) and pass-catching group (addition of TE Gerald Everett, emergence of WR Josh Palmer) looked improved from last season.

More Chargers News...

• CB J.C. Jackson had ankle surgery and will miss 2-4 weeks.
• RB Joshua Kelly has?won?the No. 2 RB job.

Image: Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire

Breece

Daniel Jeremiah thinks Breece Hall will total 1,650 scrimmage yards as a rookie

Details:?Jeremiah is?projecting?250 carries, 1,150 yards, and 8 touchdowns for Hall as a rusher, plus 55 catches for 500 yards and 4 touchdowns for Hall as a pass-catcher.

• He thinks Hall can hit these numbers and emerge as a Pro Bowler… if Michal Carter is limited to a complementary role.

Elite List:?Since 2015, only four rookie running backs have topped 1,650 scrimmage yards — Saquon Barkley (2,028), Ezekiel Elliott (1,994), Kareem Hunt (1,782), and Najee Harris (1,667).

Top 5:?Jeremiah writes that Hall “has all the tools to become a top-five running back in the league.” The 6-foot-1, 220-pounder crushed the combine with a 4.39 40, a 40” vertical, and a 126” broad jump.

Iowa State:?At Iowa State last season, Hall totaled 1,774 scrimmage yards (1472 rushing, 302 receiving) and scored 23 touchdowns.

Image: Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire

Hot Seat

ESPN lists five coaches on the hot seat for the 2022 season

Details:?The?coaches?are Mike McCarthy (Dallas), Frank Reich (Indianapolis), Kevin Stefanski (Cleveland), Kliff Kingsbury (Arizona), and Matt Rhule (Carolina).

McCarthy:?Jerry Jones was not happy with the Cowboys' early playoff exit last season and expects McCarthy to go deep into the playoffs in 2022. Anything less will likely lead to a change.

• Sean Payton and current defensive coordinator Dan Quinn will get consideration if McCarthy gets fired.

Reich:?Colts’ owner Jim Irsay has apparently grown “increasingly impatient” with the team’s playoff failures (only one postseason win since 2014). Reich, who was the driving force behind the failed Carson Wentz experiment last season, will need to right the ship — with Matt Ryan at the helm — to stick around.

Stefanski:?An argument can be made that no coach is under more pressure than Stefanski, who must guide the organization through the prickly Deshaun Watson era — an era that will begin with lackluster interim starter Jacoby Brissett.

• Browns owner Jimmy Haslam has never kept a coach for more than three seasons.

Kingsbury:?Kingsbury is unlikely to survive another late-season collapse — an issue that has occurred in each of his three seasons with the Cardinals. With Kyler Murray locked into a long-term deal, Kingsbury has become the most obvious fall guy.

Rhule:?Since taking the job two years ago, Rhule has amassed an ugly 10-23 record. He desperately needs Baker Mayfield to lead the team to a winning season.

Image: Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire

Bourne

Patriots could trade WR Kendrick Bourne

Details:?Albert Breer thinks the Patriots will “probably” trade a player before the season begins and thinks the team will?consider?offers they get for Bourne.

• Bourne, who has a very manageable contract, is apparently frustrated with offensive scheme changes.
• The 27-year-old receiver has reportedly fallen down the depth chart.

Bourne in 2021:?Bourne caught 55 of 77 targets (78.6% catch-rate) for 800 yards and 5 touchdowns last season.

Agholor:?Multiple reporters are claiming that Agholor has been the team’s?best?receiver during training camp and the preseason. Chad Graff (The Athletic) writes that Agholor has shown a “chemistry with Mac Jones that didn’t exist a year ago.”

• The two connected on a 45-yard pass last week against the Panthers.

Image: Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire

Hurst

Jay Morrison: Hayden Hurst could be in for the most productive season of his career

Details:?Morrison (The Athletic)?writes?that Hurst has “slid right into the offensive scheme and is seeing a lot of targets in training camp.”

• Morrison believes that Hurst will benefit from all the defensive attention directed toward Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd.

Career Year:?In his best season (2020 with the Falcons), Hurst caught 56 passes for 571 yards and 6 touchdowns.

More Bengals News...

• S Jessie Bate signed his franchise tag and will play for the Bengals in 2022.
• First-round rookie DB Dax Hill has been a preseason standout — he intercepted Daniel Jones over the weekend.

Image: haydenrhurst on Instagram

Davante

Davante Adams “couldn’t be stopped” during joint practice with the Patriots

Details:?Adams made deep catches, sideline catches, high-point catches, and a one-handed touchdown grab.

• Three of his?wins?came against Jalen Mills, who is considered to be the Patriots’ best corner.

Transition:?While everyone already knows that Adams is an elite receiver, there have been questions as to how he would transition from Aaron Rodgers (the reigning MVP) to Derek Carr (who hasn’t made the Pro Bowl since 2017). While the results from practice will need to be translated to the field, it sure looks like the transition is going well.

Projection:?Fantasy Pros is?projecting?106 receptions, 1,322 yards, and 9 touchdowns for Adams in 2022.

More Raiders News...

• The Patriots also struggled to stop Hunter Renfrow.
• Jermaine Eluemnuor has passed Alex Leatherwood at RT.

Image: @taeadams on Instagram

More News

• Falcons?released WRs Auden Tate and Geronimo Allison
• Colts?P Rigoberto Sanchez (Achilles) is out for the season
• Commanders?placed DE Chase Young (knee) on PUP, he will the first 4 weeks of the season
• Panthers?placed QB Matt Corral (foot) on IR
• Lions?placed WR Jameson Williams on NFI