The Saints’ quarterback derby is a tight racetrack between Spencer Rattler and Tyler Shough, with New Orleans coach Kellen Moore insisting the competition will go to the wire. Both rookies have taken noticeable strides in the preseason, but the decision will hinge on training‑camp reps, in‑game command, and the ability to translate practice accuracy into live-game timing. The looming preseason finale against the Denver Broncos could tilt the balance as the team weighs floor efficiency against ceiling upside.

Rattler has gone 25 of 35 for 252 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT in two games, while Shough sits at 24 of 34 for 231 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT. The Saints’ 2024 season was marked by injuries and inconsistency when Derek Carr wasn’t under center; this battle isn’t just about Week 1 equity, it’s about rebooting a high‑voltage offense around Kamara and Olave. The winner could unlock fantasy upside across the receiving corps and backfield, depending on down‑and‑distance play‑calling and offensive line performance.

New Orleans’ No. 18 jersey has a storied but sparsely worn lineage. Hugo Hollas kicked things off, snagging 11 interceptions and prompting the Saints to retire a defensive threat early in the era. The No. 18 era then featured a string of quarterbacks and receivers—Dave Wilson, Wade Wilson, Terry Guess, Jeff Blake, Terrance Copper, Jalen Saunders, Keith Kirkwood, Easop Winston, and Spencer Rattler—each contributing in varying degrees across the decades. Hollas remains the only defensive ace to wear 18, while Wilsons are the most prolific in terms of appearances. Spencer Rattler, the latest to don 18 in 2024, is the outlier who changed the jersey in 2025, moving off 18 as a rookie quarterback job battle unfolds. The opener against Arizona in 18 days frames this retro list against a fresh, modern quarterback competition, highlighting how a single digit can carry a long legacy in Saints lore.

Blake’s early-2000s stint showed the jersey can carry starter-level expectations, while Copper’s three-year run underscored the role of 18 as a trusted bench-to-starter corridor. The fact 18 has touched multiple positions—QB and WR—speaks to New Orleans’ willingness to experiment with a number that isn’t centrally attached to a single identity. As Spencer Rattler transitions to No. 2 this season, fantasy managers should view the No. 18 roster path as a cautionary tale: history shows bursts of value, but sustained fantasy upside is rare and often situational.

New Orleans remains undecided at quarterback between Spencer Rattler and Tyler Shough as the Saints close camp with one exhibition left. Moore says the edge is extremely close, weighing numbers, reps and experience. In two preseason games, Rattler completed 25 of 35 for 251 yards with one TD and one INT; Shough went 24 of 34 for 231 yards with one TD and one INT. Both were better as backups against deeper depth charts, and Moore declined to name a starter for Saturday’s finale against Denver. Elsewhere, Daniel Jones is the Colts’ Week 1 starter option and Joe Flacco is Browns’ QB1 after Derek Carr’s retirement, highlighting a shifting QB landscape with early fantasy implications as Saints’ decision looms and the offense pivots around the chosen signal-caller.

New Orleans is slicing the quarterback competition down to the wire, with Tyler Shough and Spencer Rattler splitting first-team reps as a Denver preseason clash looms. Both have flashed at different angles in camp, leaving the Week 1 decision as a true coin flip and giving fantasy managers plenty to monitor in the final days of camp.

Rattler has delivered 71.4% accuracy for 252 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception, while Shough has gone 70.6% for 231 yards, 1 TD and 1 interception; sacks have highlighted offensive-line and schematic questions. The tight gap in reps and results keeps the outcome fluid and the Saints' passing volume uncertain early in the season.

Moore indicated the decision will come after three days of practice and a game, joking about a deadline tied to facing the Cardinals. The winner’s control over cadence, play-action and shot plays will shape the Saints’ fantasy upside in September, with targets and volume swinging based on who wins the job.

Saints quarterback competition remains unsettled with Spencer Rattler, Tyler Shough and Jake Haener sharing reps in the preseason. Rattler and Shough have alternated as the projected starter and posted nearly identical stat lines, while Haener trails in attempts and game action. New Orleans coach Kellen Moore refused to name a Week 1 starter ahead of preseason game No. 2, signaling a true closer race as the team prepares for a Week 1 date against Arizona.

Haener is listed as a first-teamer on the depth chart but has attempted just eight passes this preseason and did not play in the Jaguars tie. Rattler (25-of-33, 252 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) and Shough (24-of-34, 232 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) have swapped starts in each exhibition, leaving fantasy managers craving clarity. The finale against Denver looms large; whichever quarterback wins the job could unlock Saints weapons and shape Week 1 fantasy projections.