Tyler Shough

Tyler Shough enters the 2026 fantasy football season as one of the more interesting quarterback values on the board, especially in formats that reward rushing and late-round upside. After taking over as New Orleans’ starter in 2025, he finished strong, with FantasyPros noting he was QB12 in fantasy points per game from Week 9 through the end of the regular season and produced at least 17.1 fantasy points in each of his last six starts.

What makes Shough appealing is the combination of role, momentum, and environment. FantasyLife says he flashed “fantasy brilliance” as a rookie and was averaging 16.4 fantasy points per game over one stretch, while ESPN also highlighted him as a potential QB1 option in 2026 after his second-half surge. New Orleans appears comfortable building around him, and FantasyPros describes him as the Saints’ undisputed starter heading into the season, with a chance to prove he is the long-term answer.

The biggest reason to buy in is that his floor looks steadier than the average late-round quarterback. Shough completed 67.6% of his passes last year, averaged 7.3 yards per attempt, and added value on the ground with 16.9 rushing yards per game and three rushing scores, which gives him multiple paths to fantasy production even if he is not a high-volume elite passer. The Saints also seem to have enough receiving talent around him, with FantasyPros pointing to Chris Olave and rookie Jordyn Tyson as solid weapons, while broader offseason buzz has been optimistic about the offense’s direction.

For fantasy drafters, Shough profiles as a strong target in the QB2 range with real top-12 upside if the Saints continue to lean into his strengths. He is being drafted as QB19 in some early summer ADP, which makes him the kind of player you can wait on, then scoop if the room pushes quarterbacks up the board too aggressively. If you want a friendly, practical read: Shough is not the safest pick in 2026, but he is exactly the kind of young starter whose combination of volume, rushing, and ascending confidence can win leagues at a bargain price.

Updated 06/08/2026