Tyler Shough tops ESPN's fantasy football late round fliers

Tyler Shough is the headline name among ESPN’s fantasy football late round fliers for 2026, with analyst Liz Loza pointing to the Saints quarterback’s late-2025 surge as the kind of cheap upside fantasy managers chase in drafts.

Loza’s list focuses on players whose average draft position sits below their possible ceiling. In fantasy terms, a “flier” is a low-cost pick, often in the middle or late rounds, who has a path to becoming far more useful than his draft slot suggests.

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According to Loza, the six names to know are Shough, Buccaneers running back Kenny Gainwell, Seahawks running back Jadarian Price, Packers wide receiver Christian Watson, Raiders wide receiver Jalen Nailor and Dolphins tight end Greg Dulcich.

Shough, listed with an ESPN average draft position of 156.9, began 2025 as New Orleans’ backup before replacing Spencer Rattler in Week 9. ESPN said Shough averaged 18.1 fantasy points per game from Weeks 10 through 18, a QB8 pace over that span, while either topping 20 rushing yards or throwing multiple touchdowns in seven of his final eight games.

Player Profiler data cited by ESPN credited Shough with a 72.5% true completion rate, 11th among quarterbacks, after removing unpressured throwaways and drops. Loza also noted that New Orleans played at the league’s fastest tempo last season under Kellen Moore, and that rookie wideout Jordyn Tyson gives Shough another target alongside Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed.

The running backs ESPN says could beat their ADP

Gainwell’s case is built around receiving work. ESPN said he finished fourth among running backs with 73 catches and fifth with 486 receiving yards last season in Pittsburgh, then joined Tampa Bay on a two-year deal that included $10 million guaranteed.

Loza tied Gainwell’s appeal to Baker Mayfield’s short passing. ESPN reported Mayfield ranked fifth in passer rating on throws of 5 yards or fewer last season, while his 90 running back targets ranked sixth in the NFL and his 77 completions to backs ranked fourth.

Price, with an ESPN ADP of 68.4, is the costliest name on the list but has a clear opening in Seattle. ESPN said Kenneth Walker III’s exit leaves 250 touches behind in an offense that won the Super Bowl while ranking third in rush rate. Zach Charbonnet is recovering from ACL surgery, and Loza expects Price to open 2026 as the Seahawks’ lead back.

At Notre Dame, Price averaged 6.0 yards per carry, according to ESPN, and scored on 9.7% of his rushing attempts in 2025. Loza projected more than 220 carries and roughly 12 to 14 touches per game if the role breaks his way.

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Watson’s new contract is the headline in Green Bay. ESPN said the Packers and Watson agreed to a four-year extension estimated at $110.5 million, while the departures of Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks leave more than 130 targets available.

Loza noted Watson has not drawn more than 66 targets in a season, with injuries limiting his availability. Still, ESPN said he averaged 13.2 fantasy points per game and scored six receiving touchdowns from Weeks 8 through 17 after returning from an ACL tear last season.

Nailor is a final-round swing in Las Vegas, with an ESPN ADP of 169.7. After four years in Minnesota, he signed a three-year, $35 million deal with the Raiders and reunites with quarterback Kirk Cousins. ESPN said he had a career-high 53 targets in 2025 and led Vikings wide receivers in yards per catch at 15.3 and touchdowns with four.

Dulcich is going undrafted in ESPN leagues, but Loza flagged him because Miami lost Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and Darren Waller. ESPN said Dulcich averaged 12.9 yards per catch and 7.6 yards after the catch per reception from Weeks 8 through 18 last season, marks that ranked fourth and second among tight ends over that stretch.

This story draws on original reporting from ESPN.com.