Man, you gotta be kidding me. Tyler Shough had a rough, rough Week 5 against the Minnesota Vikings, so bad that rookie Fernando Mendoza, who’d been riding the bench all year for the Raiders, actually outscored him in fantasy points on just a single drive. Yeah, you read that right. Eight passes, and Mendoza cleared Shough’s whole day.
Shough’s Nightmare: Those Numbers Are Brutal
Talk about a day to forget for Shough. The guy finished with a soul-crushing -0.16 points on ESPN. He went 16-of-25 for just 96 yards and, brace yourself, threw two interceptions. And let’s be real, the cards were already stacked against him. He’s reportedly playing with an injured left hand, the supporting cast around him isn’t exactly lighting it up, and honestly, the play calling from Saints coach Kellen Moore has been questionable, to say the least.
Mendoza’s Quick Hits: Zero Turnovers, Big Points
So, Fernando Mendoza finally got his debut after riding the pine all rookie season, and he made it count in his very limited snaps. He only got on the field long enough to throw eight times, but he completed six of those for 48 yards. The absolute kicker? He didn’t turn the ball over once. Add in a three-yard rushing attempt, and Mendoza racked up 2.22 fantasy points. Now, don’t get it twisted, he wasn’t exactly leading a comeback win. He replaced Kirk Cousins after the Raiders were already down a whopping 45-17 late in the fourth quarter. His biggest victory was simply not turning the ball over when the game was already out of hand.
Kellen Moore: Is He Wasting Shough’s Shot?
Shough’s gotta bounce back soon, man. But how much can he actually do when Kellen Moore isn’t giving him a fair shake? The Saints rank among the NFL’s lowest offenses in using play action and screens, which are supposed to spread defenses out and create easy looks for a QB. Instead, they’re insisting on having their offensive tackles block on an island, leaving Shough as a sitting duck against any blitz-heavy defense, like the Vikings brought in Week 5. New Orleans might have a real quarterback in Shough, but they’re gonna absolutely waste his potential if Moore can’t fix his side of the operation. This isn’t just about one bad game; it’s about the entire setup.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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