A.J. Brown and Jalen Hurts Bury the Hatchet at Joint Practice
The former Eagles duo shook hands post-practice Thursday. Brown now catches passes in New England after a June 1 trade — here's the fantasy read.
New team, WR11 upside — trending up but let the QB situation settle.
- Traded from Eagles to Patriots on June 1
- 1,003 yds, 7 TD, 220 PPR pts in 2025
- Our WR11, overall #47 for 2026
- Last 5 games of 2025: +4 fantasy pts vs avg
- 5,034 yds, 32 TD across 4 Eagles seasons
The cold war is over. A.J. Brown and Jalen Hurts spoke for the first time since Brown's exit from Philadelphia, catching up for a few minutes after Thursday's joint practice. By all accounts it was cordial — smiles, a handshake, no drama.
Brown's Eagles tenure was productive on paper: 339 catches, 5,034 yards and 32 touchdowns across four seasons, two Pro Bowls and a Super Bowl ring. But the relationship soured over his final two years as Brown grew frustrated with his role in the offense, eventually requesting a trade the Eagles granted on June 1. Hurts said Wednesday that he still has plenty of love for his former teammate, and both sides clearly want the story to end here.
That's nice for the locker room. For fantasy managers, the more interesting question is what Brown looks like in a new uniform. He posted 78 catches for 1,003 yards and 7 touchdowns on 220 PPR points in 15 games in 2025 — and he actually closed strong, running +4 fantasy points above his season average over his final five games. That's a player who was still winning downfield even as the situation in Philly frayed.
What the Trade Means
Brown lands as our WR11 and the #47 player overall for 2026. That ranking bakes in a target profile that isn't guaranteed the same volume he saw in Philadelphia. Leaving Hurts behind cuts both ways: less friction, but also a new quarterback and a new scheme to prove himself in. The talent is unquestioned; the projection reflects real uncertainty about the surrounding offense.
Hurts, meanwhile, stays put in Philadelphia as our QB7 and #16 overall. He was a fantasy monster in 2025 — 3,224 passing yards, 25 touchdowns and zero interceptions, plus 421 rushing yards and 8 rushing scores for 315 PPR points across 16 games. The one yellow flag: his last five games ran 5.3 fantasy points below his season average. Losing a target like Brown doesn't help, but Hurts's rushing floor keeps him a locked-in QB1.
The move for Brown managers is to hold. A WR11 valuation with a strong closing kick to 2025 is worth rostering, but don't pay a premium until the new offense shows it'll feed him. If someone in your league is spooked by the change of scenery and offers a discount, that's your buy window. Hurts owners have no decision to make — start him and enjoy the rushing upside.
