What It Means:

Hurst, who signed with the Panthers as a free agent this offseason and is on track to be fully healthy by Week 1 after offseason groin surgery, figures to be the team's top pass-catching option at the tight end position. The former first round pick could even finish the year as the team's top overall receiver if the offense ends up being as "tight end friendly" as he currently believes. Hurst went on to say that rookie quarterbacks, such as new Panthers signal caller Bryce Young, can lean on their tight ends in the middle of the field, which could put Hurst in position for strong production in fantasy at the thin tight end position.

Hurst played through his aforementioned groin injury for much of the 2022 season, but still amassed 52 catches for 414 yards and 2 touchdowns as a member of the Cincinnati Bengals. He is the TE24 in numberFire's projections for fantasy football in 2023.