Fantasy Fallout: Derek Carr retires, Tyler Shough era begins in New Orleans
Saints Quarterback Room
The Saints spent the No. 40 overall pick on Shough, giving him the best chance of starting Week 1. The other contenders on the roster are Jake Haener and Spencer Rattler. The pair of former Day Three picks ranked nearly dead last in the league in both EPA per dropback and completion percent over expected.
If Shough enters the NFL and is the worst quarterback in the league, he will still be in the same ballpark as his competition in New Orleans. That makes him a fairly good bet to start all 17 games. Before Carr retired, Saints reporter Nick Underhill said, 'I have Shough at 80 percent or higher odds to start 80 percent of the games this year.' Rattler or possibly even Haener could get some playing time late in the year if Shough is a disaster, but the job is his to lose.
Tyler Shough Rookie Profile
Shough was a seven-year college quarterback, getting his start at Oregon as Justin Herbert's backup. He eventually transferred to Texas Tech but couldn't stay healthy, resulting in three partial seasons. He closed out his NCAA time with a breakout season at Louisville where he threw for 3,195 yards, 23 scores, and six picks. At 6'5/219, Shough has the build of a gunslinger but operates more like a point guard. His pressure to sack rate (9.3 percent) and turnover worthy play rate (1.8) were both top-15 in the country last year. Because he took care of the ball so well, 92 percent of Shough's dropbacks turned into pass attempts, the 15th-highest rate in college football.
Shough's deep attempt rate of 15 percent was in line with that of Cam Ward, but he was not nearly as potent as the No. 1 overall pick on these throws. Pro Football Focus graded Shough as their No. 31 passer on deep shots. His completion rate of 36.7 percent ranked 73rd out of 150 qualified passers. Shough graded as a top-10 passer on intermediate throws but attempted that at nearly the lowest rate in the country. He made his money on short throws, putting up 1,322 yards and 10 touchdowns on these attempts, both of which ranked top 10 in the nation.
The former Cardinal ran a stellar 4.61 Forty at the combine but rarely showed off that speed in college. He ran for just 132 yards and one score last year. Shough is ultimately a distributor with a low floor and ceiling, but he's also free in all formats. He makes for a great flyer in dynasty leagues and is a viable QB3 in Best Ball.
Saints Fantasy Outlook
While a seventh-year, second-round quarterback doesn't sound like a fun time for his skill position teammates, Shough's profile is that of a passer who can at least get the ball in his receivers' hands at a high clip. That will start with Chris Olave. The former first-round pick saw 44.4 percent of his targets on short throws last year. He led the Saints in targets, catches, and yards on short attempts despite playing in just eight games. Olave has finished top 15 in ESPN's Open Score in every year of his career. He ranks 46th in NFL history in receiving yards through 39 games (his current total). That sandwiches him between Amari Cooper and Tee Higgins. All of our fancy stats and historical comparisons say Olave is a good wide receiver with the potential to be great, although that dream is fading by the year. Olave is a safe bet for a high target share and still has the potential to be the star we thought he was when New Orleans drafted him with the No. 11 overall pick. Coming off the board as a mid-range WR3 in early fantasy drafts, Olave remains a target.
Rashid Shaheed, on the other hand, is not in as good of a spot. Of his 40 targets in 2024, 37.5 percent came on deep shots, giving him the fourth-highest deep target rate in the league. He is coming off a season-ending meniscus injury and the Saints' presumptive starter ranked 10th in deep passing grade out of the 12 quarterbacks who were drafted. Shaheed is still the clear favorite to be the Saints' WR2, but his ability to flip fantasy matchups in one play will be muted with Shough under center.
Last but not least, the relentless targeting of Alvin Kamara has no end in sight. Kamara ranked second in the NFL in yards per route run (1.8) last year and led all running backs in targets (89). He ran the third-most slot routes among running backs and paced the league in targets beyond the line of scrimmage for a halfback. The rookie will have no issues peppering Kamara with targets and, in turn, PPR points this year.
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You Can Celebrate Michelle Agyemang & Stand With Jess Carter Against Racism — The Lionesses Need Both
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She has had me standing on my sofa without realising it, elated, breathless, borderline hysterical. When the naysayers question if England is up to scratch, Agyemang comes on as a super sub and says, 'aight, bet?' Her presence changes the game entirely. Agyemang is only 19, but her impact is impossible to ignore. Three years ago, she was a ball girl, handing balls to players who are now her teammates. Fast forward to 2025; She's scoring on one of the biggest stages in international football. With three goals in just four senior England appearances, she's already making her mark. And it's not just the goals, it's how she plays: bold, fast, and fearless. She shifts the entire tone whenever she's on the pitch. As a Black British woman with Ghanaian roots like Agyemang, seeing her shine on this stage feels deeply personal. It means something to witness that blend of cultures not just represented, but embraced and central to the story of England's football future. 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Manager Sarina Wiegman has said that taking the knee's impact is ' not as good as they think, ' and statements released earlier in the week suggest the squad feel they 'need to find another way to tackle racism.' ' Jess Carter announced she is taking a step back from social media due to racism — it's a stark reminder that representation and success on the pitch can't fully shield players from what they face off of it. ' These conversations come as Carter announced she is taking a step back from social media for the rest of the Euros, because of the racist abuse that's been hurled her way. It's a stark reminder that representation and success on the pitch can't fully shield players from what they face off of it. True progress doesn't just mean visibility, but protection, support and action. Police are now investigating the abuse. As the women's game grows, so too does the urgency of these conversations. This summer, when signing for Arsenal, Olivia Smith, who has Jamaican, Chilean and Peruvian heritage, became the most expensive signing in the history of women's football when she joined Arsenal. In doing so, she broke the record previously set by Naomi Girma's transfer to Chelsea, marking a new era of recognition and investment in the sport. It is a huge moment; not just for the game itself, but for what it represents. For a woman of colour to command that level of value on a global stage is significant. Yet, in the same breath, the racism that Carter has suffered shows there's still a long way to go. It was heartening to hear the crowd roar as she came on as a substitute in England's final moments against Italy. Sadly, this isn't an isolated incident. Black players have frequently spoken out about being on the receiving end of racist abuse. As Carter shared on Instagram, 'every fan is entitled to their opinion on performance or result,' but it's not okay to target someone's appearance or race. I agree. ' When Agyemang scored somehow it felt bigger than a goal. ' It's why Agyemang's moment feels so powerful. With all the noise happening off the pitch, she is showing up and showing out by taking her first major tournament in her stride and making it look easy. Agyemang's presence will no doubt inspire both young girls who look like her and those who don't to lace up those boots and start playing. If you're an Arsenal fan, you'll know that Agyemang has come through the academy ranks and plays for the club. For many of us, the Black players on Arsenal's men's team in the early 2000s weren't just athletes, but icons who ignited a new kind of fandom. They made people see football differently. As women's football grows, I believe Michelle Agyemang can do the same. She's provided moments of magic that feel like the beginning of something even bigger, with her name already being etched into fan culture. Supporters have chanted 'Sweet Agyemang' to the tune of 'Sweet Caroline' across Geneva. Rapper M1llionz gave her a shout-out in a freestyle rap, and Skepta shared her image on social media last night. She's not just making headlines, but building a legacy. When the Lionesses faced Sweden in the Euros quarter-finals last week, they were two goals down. The dream of retaining their European title was slipping away. Then a triple substitution changed everything. On came Chloe Kelly, Esme Morgan, and the woman of the moment, Michelle Agyemang. As soon as she touched the ball, the energy shifted. When she calmly slotted the ball into the back of the net, I didn't just cheer, I shrieked so loudly my mum thought I was in pain. Agyemang had scored, and somehow it felt bigger than a goal. And as England took on Italy in the semi-final, with the clock ticking, Agyemang saved England by scoring again when we needed it most. My face flushed hot. The stress that had been building in my body vanished for a fleeting moment. Even after she scored that vital equaliser, she was piling on the pressure. Her rise is one that has been written in the stars. When your name means 'redeemer' or 'saviour' in Twi, what else would you expect? She's fulfilling her calling. Michelle Agyemang's name is now carved in our memory, not just as a promising talent, but as someone who is standing on business. Speaking to ITV after the match, Chloe Kelly proudly praised her teammate, 'Big Mich at it again.' In the dying minutes, she's proven she thrives under pressure and can deliver on the biggest stage.
