Who Should I Start? Lamar Jackson or Tyler Shough

Friday, June 6, 11:11 PM

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that a contract extension for star quarterback Lamar Jackson is on the docket for the Baltimore Ravens. "We're in the introductory stage of looking at what an extension looks like," general manager Eric DeCosta said. As things stand right now, Jackson is the 10th-highest paid QB in the NFL. The 28-year-old four-time Pro Bowler, three-time All-Pro and two-time MVP not only deserves a new contract, but the Ravens want to get one done so that they can lower his high salary cap number. If Jackson becomes the highest-paid signal-caller in the league, which is probably likely, he'll make more than $60 million per year. He was incredible last year as the QB1 in fantasy with a career-high 4,172 passing yards, 41 TDs and only four picks in 17 regular-season starts while adding 915 rushing yards and four more TDs. As long as he stays healthy, he's pretty much a lock as a top-five QB.

Thursday, June 26, 2:37 PM

New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough was selected in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, and veteran signal-caller Derek Carr (shoulder) announced his retirement shortly after. This leaves Shough as the favorite to win the QB1 job in his rookie season, though he is competing with sophomore Spencer Rattler. After a long college football career full of adversity, Shough is ready for the growing pains and downs of his first year in the NFL. "I think for me and what I've been through: I've been carted off the field, I've been booed, I've been an MVP, I've been a starter, I've been a backup to [Justin] Herbert," Shough said. "You're not going to faze me if we start off 0-2 or I suck. It's going to be fine." The former Oregon Duck, Texas Tech Red Raider, and Louisville Cardinal acknowledge that while he's an older first-year player, he's still a rookie who will have to learn. Even if Shough pans out, he likely won't be a fantasy football contributor in single-QB leagues this season since he does not have much of a rushing skill set. That said, he could be a QB2 sleeper for Superflex and two-QB leagues while throwing passes to Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, Alvin Kamara, Juwan Johnson, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling.