We are proud to be among the first, if not the first, to publish full projections for the upcoming season, going live just days after the Super Bowl. Publishing detailed projections in early February comes with trade-offs, not the least of which is a near-total lack of clarity on how free agency, cap transactions, and the NFL draft will reshape rosters.
We've been updating our projections in near real time, including during the recent onslaught of free-agent transactions. This version will remain largely stable until we can layer in the April NFL draft, but stable projections don't mean settled debates.
We have a staff of sharp analysts with sharp takes of their own, so I thought it would be worthwhile to solicit their views on the key coin-toss situations that will shape each team's outlook in the coming months. These are important questions where reasonable, informed people can credibly land in very different places. I asked my colleagues to weigh in with one assumption: they were answering strictly through the lens of a standard 0.5-PPR redraft league.
New Orleans Saints Coin-Toss Questions
- Was Shough QB12 Pace in 2025 a Fluke or the Real Deal?
- Etienne: Does It Matter If Kamara Is a Saint?
- Is Johnson Finally a Must-Draft Tight End?
- Can You Trust Olave as Your WR1?
It may surprise most of our customers to learn that Tyler Shough was QB12 once he took over the starting job in Week 9. Do you view that as a fluke or can he be a QB1 this season?
Andy Hicks: Not a fluke, though repeating a full-season QB1 finish may be asking too much. Rather than forcing the second-round pick into the lineup immediately, new coach Kellen Moore showed patience, letting him settle in behind Spencer Rattler. That approach paid off, with the Saints finishing 5–3 over their final eight games. From a fantasy perspective, his production surged late, ranking fifth among quarterbacks over the final four weeks. Still, 2026 presents a fresh challenge, and Shough will need to prove it again over a full season. The indicators are encouraging, but his current ADP feels appropriately priced.
Jeff Haseley: It's not a fluke. Shough was highly efficient (67% completion) and showed real command of the offense late last year. I don't know if I'd call him a locked-in QB1, but he's a high-end QB2 who can certainly finish in the top 12 if he stays healthy.
Maurile Tremblay: I wouldn't call it a fluke, but I also wouldn't project him as a locked-in QB1. Shough was excellent on third downs, improved the offense in the red zone, threw well in the intermediate and deep areas, and added three rushing touchdowns in limited action. The environment also got better with the additions of guard David Edwards and running back Travis Etienne Jr. That said, he threw only 10 passing touchdowns in 11 appearances, and the team clearly wants a more balanced offense with a better run game. So my view is: not a fluke, but I'd frame him more as a borderline QB1/high-end QB2.
