The New Orleans Saints will open up the 2026 NFL season on the road against the Detroit Lions.
It will be a tough matchup for the Saints, but one particular Saints player could excel statistically against Detroit’s defense.
Saints’ Tyler Shough Named Week 1 NFL Fantasy Sleeper
Saints quarterback Tyler Shough has been named a fantasy football sleeper for the first week of the season by Moe Moton of Bleacher Report. Moton pointed to the major absences in the secondary for Detroit combined with New Orleans’ weapons on offense as reasons why Shough could have a big game statistically.
“Here’s a reminder that Tyler Shough finished as QB9 or higher in fantasy scoring for three of the last five weeks of the 2025 season. …In Week 1, the Saints will travel to face the Detroit Lions, who won’t have All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph or Pro Bowl safety Brian Branch,” Moton wrote.
“Even though Shough won’t have explosive rookie wideout Jordyn Tyson, he can do enough damage to the Lions’ undermanned secondary with Chris Olave, tight end Juwan Johnson and a sleeper wide receiver [Devaughn Vele].”
After a promising rookie campaign, Shough is entering his first full season as a starter in New Orleans, and he’ll be looking to get off to a good start against Detroit. Starting him as your fantasy quarterback could be a risky move, but it could also pay off if he has a big game.
Tyler Shough Embracing Challenge Presented by Lions
Opening the campaign against the Lions, who have been one of the better defensive teams in the league over the past few years, is no easy task, but Shough is embracing the challenge they present.
“I love it. I think it’s a great challenge for us,” Shough said of facing off against Detroit. “It’s a great challenge for us to get in and out of the huddle operation-wise. It’s a good challenge for us as a team, right off the bat against a playoff team with probably the highest caliber players all across the board.”
Shough is entering the first week of the season with the right attitude. Let’s see how that translates to the field.
New Orleans Saints Star Named Fantasy Sleeper for NFL Week 1