Aaron Rodgers or Tyler Shough: Who Should You Start?

2026 Week 1 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Too close to call — the edges cancel out.

Aaron Rodgers and Tyler Shough grade out even this week. Rodgers's best edge is the game script (22.8 implied points to 20.8), Shough's best edge is the consensus rank (QB22 to QB25) — and they cancel out. Start whichever player's game you trust more this week.

Aaron Rodgers

Aaron Rodgers

QB25PITvs ATL

Projected Points

Start
Tyler Shough

Tyler Shough

QB22NOvs DET

Projected Points

Sit· medium

Why Aaron Rodgers

Start

Starting QB and late-career franchise stabilizer. Elite processor and anticipation thrower with diminished mobility.

Start — QB25 consensus, projects QB24 this week: 96% snap share in 2025, 14.8 PPR projected vs ATL.

  • ATL ranks 12 of 32 against QBs (a middle-of-the-road matchup, 0-game sample).
  • Vegas implies 22.8 team points as 3.0-point favorites.
  • Listed QB on the latest depth chart with a 96% snap share in 2025.

Latest on Rodgers

Aaron Rodgers asked Father Paul to bless the quarterbacks during training camp.

The story behind Steelers' viral field blessing: 'God doesn't pick sides'ESPN · Sep 6, 2026

The 42-year-old quarterback is in new territory, but he says Pittsburgh's young passers are ahead of where he was as a rookie.

ESPN · Sep 2, 2026

LaFleur recently said Love is "the best I've been around in terms of protections and adjustments."

ESPN · Sep 1, 2026

The Steelers are keeping four quarterbacks on their initial 53-man roster, with Mason Rudolph, Will Howard and Drew Allar earning spots behind starter Aaron Rodgers.

ESPN · Aug 30, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Why Tyler Shough

Sit· medium

Starting QB. Big-armed pocket passer with functional mobility, entering his second NFL season.

QB18 with a 14.2 projection and a 20.8 implied total as a 7-point underdog — replacement-level in 12-team leagues.

  • DET ranks 17 of 32 against QBs (a middle-of-the-road matchup, 0-game sample).
  • Vegas implies 20.8 team points as 7.0-point underdogs.
  • Listed QB on the latest depth chart with a 84% snap share in 2025.

The call

  • A 14.2-point projection and QB18 consensus rank put Shough outside the starting dozen in a 12-team PPR league; there's almost always a better streamer on waivers.
  • The 20.8 implied team total is a modest offensive ceiling, and a 7-point deficit means garbage-time volume is the primary path to a usable score rather than efficient early-down production.
  • The opponent DvP composite sits mid-pack at 17 of 32, but it's built on a 0-game sample with 0.00 confidence — there's no matchup edge here to override the projection.
  • He's locked in as the starter with no injury designation, so this is purely a ceiling call: start him only in superflex or two-QB formats.

Latest on Shough

New Orleans is facing mounting injuries, a kicker battle, control issues and a QB quandary entering final week of its preseason.

ESPN · Aug 26, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Head-to-head stats

MetricAaron RodgersTyler Shough
Projected points
Consensus rankQB25QB22
Opponent vs positionATL · 12 of 320-game sampleDET · 17 of 320-game sample
Passing Yards15 of 3221 of 32
Passing TDs20 of 3223 of 32
Passing Completions8 of 3212 of 32
Passing Attempts13 of 3221 of 32
Interceptions6 of 3210 of 32
Implied total · spread22.8-3.020.8+7.0
Depth chartQB1QB1
Snap share96%(2025)84%(2025)

Signal breakdown

  • 14.8 vs 14.2 projected PPR pointsAaron Rodgers +
  • Rank 25 vs 22Tyler Shough +
  • Opponent DvP rank 12 vs 17 (32 = softest)even
  • Implied 22.8 vs 20.8 team pointsAaron Rodgers +
  • No injury designationseven
  • 96% vs 84% snap shareAaron Rodgers +

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