We’re all going to be searching for the next Drake Maye at quarterback in fantasy football in 2026. A player who can make the leap from being a startable fantasy QB to an elite one could separate you from the rest of your league. Finding a gem late in your draft, especially at such a deep position, could be key to winning a championship.
On the latest episode of the Yahoo Fantasy Forecast, host Justin Boone is joined by Late-Round Fantasy’s JJ Zachariason to discuss which QB could be the next Maye in fantasy drafts. Here, they throw out New Orleans Saints QB Tyler Shough as a potential candidate entering his sophomore season.
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Zachariason mentions that New York Giants QB Jaxson Dart is the “easy” bet to make that type of jump into the elite company in fantasy. But Dart is also going early compared to some other potential values with an ADP of QB12, per FantasyPros. If you’re looking for a late-round option, JJ believes it’s going to be difficult not to go after the New Orleans signal-caller.
Last season, Shough took over as the Saints’ starting QB in Week 8, starting in nine games and appearing in 11 as a rookie. He finished the season with 2,384 passing yards, 10 TDs, six interceptions and a respectable 91.3 passer rating. Shough also rushed 45 times for 186 yards and three scores. From Week 8 to 18, Shough finished as the QB10 in total fantasy points (QB16 in PPG).
Zachariason mentions the Kellen Moore offense, ranking consistently in the top five in plays per game. Even if the Saints plan on being run-heavy, the fast-paced offense should allow Shough to get plenty of passing attempts. Game script, assuming the Saints are trailing a bit in 2026, would play in Shough’s favor for fantasy.
There’s also plenty of talent around Shough in the offense. The Saints signed RB Travis Etienne Jr. in free agency and drafted WR Jordyn Tyson to pair with Chris Olave. TE Juwan Johnson also provides a solid safety net for Shough. Zachariason views the offensive ecosystem as a positive for Shough and he also finished as a top-12 QB in fantasy in half of his starts in 2025.
If Shough can take a step forward as a passer in his second season and maintain value on the ground, it feels a lot like the conversations we were having around Maye going into 2025.
