The NFL passing leaderboard looks nothing like many fans would have expected heading into the 2026 season. After two weeks, three quarterbacks have emerged at the top of the league in passing yards, and none of them are the names that typically dominate this conversation. Tyler Shough, Bryce Young, and C.J. Stroud currently occupy the top three spots, according to NFL statistics.
Tyler Shough leads the NFL
The biggest surprise is undoubtedly New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough, who leads the NFL with 662 passing yards through two games. Shough has completed 62 of 90 attempts while throwing four touchdowns and two interceptions.
Shough’s numbers are especially notable because he has already faced two very different games to open the season. He threw for 410 yards and three touchdowns against Detroit in Week 1 before following that up with 252 yards and a touchdown in Sunday’s victory over Baltimore.
The Saints quarterback has also attempted 90 passes, giving him the second-most attempts in the league behind only C.J. Stroud. His 662 yards put him 34 yards ahead of the next quarterback on the leaderboard.
Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud round out the top three
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young sits second with 648 passing yards, just 14 yards behind Shough. Young has completed 46 of 73 passes while throwing six touchdowns and just one interception. His 113.3 passer rating is also among the league’s best through two weeks.
Young was particularly impressive Sunday, throwing for 287 yards and three touchdowns in Carolina’s 34-3 victory over Atlanta. The performance helped push him into the second spot in the NFL in passing yards.
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud rounds out the top three with 627 passing yards. Stroud has thrown for two touchdowns without an interception while completing 56 of 93 attempts.
The three quarterbacks are followed by Josh Allen at 582 yards and Patrick Mahomes at 566, meaning two of the league’s most established stars are already looking up at a very unexpected top three.
With 15 weeks still remaining in the regular season, there is obviously plenty of time for the leaderboard to change. But after two weeks, Shough, Young, and Stroud are the NFL’s passing-yardage leaders — and that is certainly not the trio most people expected to see.
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