John Laghezza said fantasy managers who left drafts light at quarterback should scoop up Spencer Rattler for Week 1. Rattler is rostered in just 2 percent of leagues even though three different Saints skill players went inside the top-125, meaning the surrounding talent is already fantasy approved. Laghezza noted that in Rattler’s five unshared starts last season the second-year passer never finished outside the QB2 range, and his +5 percent scramble rate routinely produced 25-plus rushing yards for a built-in floor. While fifth-round signal-callers miss more often than they hit, Laghezza argued that even league-average play in an improved offense makes Rattler a weekly SuperFlex option and a one-and-done bye-week plug-in, so managers should be a week early rather than a day late.

Steve Palazzolo flagged New Orleans’ quarterback spot as the roster’s biggest liability and advised steering clear of Spencer Rattler in early drafts. Rattler is battling Tyler Shuck behind an offensive line that “doesn't look great” and a receiving corps with questions: Chris Olave returning from injury, Rashid Shaheed as the lone separator, and 30-year-old Brandin Cooks losing a step. Palazzolo added that new head coach Kellen Moore has always been paired with elite quarterbacks; now he must manufacture offense with an unproven passer and shaky protection. The combination makes a productive rookie season for Rattler highly unlikely, so Palazzolo is out on him for season-long formats and Week-1 DFS until the unit shows tangible progress.

Sam Monson laid out the narrow pathway for Spencer Rattler to overtake Tyler Shuck. Rattler’s quick, aesthetically pleasing release should wow coaches during 7-on-7s, but his rookie-year sack rate and general "overwhelmed" look still linger. Monson said the only realistic scenario is a simultaneous convergence: Shuck strings together several "horrific, supernova" mistakes in camp while Rattler stacks flawless reps. Even then, the draft-capital gap (second-rounder vs fifth-rounder) and the organization’s mandate to evaluate Shuck make Rattler a long-shot. Deep-league or best-ball managers can treat Rattler as a speculative stash who will only gain value if Shuck face-plants in August.