New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr completed 21 of his 27 pass attempts for 248 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 35-14 win over the Cleveland Browns. Carr's first touchdown pass was a 71-yard job to Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who covered most of the ground after the catch as opposed to last week's deep shot through the air. Carr's other score went to Juwan Johnson from a yard out, giving the tight end his first trip to the end zone since Week 1. Carr looked great in the first half, with just two incompletions and a streak of 13 consecutive completed passes that stretched into the start of the third quarter. The performance marked just the second time this season that he eclipsed 20 completions in a game and he now has multiple touchdown passes in five of the eight games he has played. Carr's productivity since returning from his oblique injury is surprising, considering the losses the Saints have sustained to their receiving corps. He will be hard to trust as a QB1 but will be a candidate in formats that utilize two quarterbacks after New Orleans returns from their Week 12 bye.
In his second game back following a multi-week absence due to an oblique injury, New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr passed for a season high 269 yards against the Atlanta Falcons. Carr found success going deep, hitting wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling for gains of 40 yards (and a touchdown) and 67 yards. The duo also connected for a two-yard touchdown pass. The performance was reminiscent of Carr's work earlier this season with deep threat Rashid Shaheed (knee). In Week 11, Carr is going against the Cleveland Browns, who have struggled against the deep ball in 2024, allowing the fifth-most receptions of 20 air yards or more. It is hard to trust Carr as a starter in standard leagues but he should be a solid option in two-quarterback or superflex formats.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr went 16-for-25 for 269 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 20-17 upset of the Atlanta Falcons. He also picked up 17 yards on the ground. Overall, it was his best performance (fantasy or otherwise) since the season's opening weeks when the Saints looked like an offensive powerhouse in the making. Carr also avoided being sacked for the first time this season and also did not throw an interception. Ironically, he set a new season-high in passing yards even with the Saints' wide receiver room thinned out by a spate of injuries. Journeyman Marquez Valdes-Scantling was the big winner, catching both of Carr's touchdown passes and running back Alvin Kamara remained his favorite target, seeing six balls thrown his way. In Week 11, Carr will face the Cleveland Browns who will be coming off their bye but gave up 282 yards and two touchdowns to Justin Herbert in Week 9.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr returned to action in Week 9 after an oblique injury sidelined him for the previous three weeks. In his return, he went 18-for-31 for 236 yards and one touchdown against the Panthers. It was the first time since Week 1 (also against Carolina) that Carr escaped a game without throwing an interception. In Week 10, Carr will face the Atlanta Falcons, who represent a somewhat forgiving matchup. Atlanta has given up 15 passing touchdowns in 2024 and has fewer sacks (nine) than any other team in the league. The biggest obstacle Carr will have to overcome on Sunday is the lack of healthy receivers. Chris Olave (concussion) and Cedrick Wilson Jr. (shoulder) are the latest of the Saints' pass catchers to be sidelined due to injury, leaving Carr the likes of rookies Mason Tipton and Jermaine Jackson, and journeyman Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Calling Carr a QB2 this week is generous given his circumstances and he should only be considered in two-quarterback formats.
New Orleans Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi said that "Derek Carr is going to be the quarterback this Sunday as far as I'm concerned." Carr returned in the Week 9 loss to the division-rival Carolina Panthers after missing three games with an oblique injury. The 33-year-old veteran went 18-for-31 for 236 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions while mostly utilizing running back Alvin Kamara and tight end Taysom Hill to move the ball with top wideout Chris Olave (concussion) out for most of the game. It shouldn't come as a big surprise that the Saints are sticking with Carr after the firing of head coach Dennis Allen, as the alternative is rookie Spencer Rattler, who was very shaky in place of the injured Carr. He'll be firmly in QB2 territory in fantasy in Week 10 against the division-rival Atlanta Falcons, especially if Olave isn't cleared to play.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr returned to action on Sunday for the first time since exiting Week 5 with an oblique injury. He went 18-for-31 for 236 yards and a touchdown in the 23-22 loss to the Carolina Panthers. Carr lost the services of Chris Olave (concussion) midway through the first quarter after the receiver was hit hard going up for a pass that left him defenseless. Most of Carr's passes were on short and intermediate routes, perhaps to avoid any further stress as he continues healing. Curiously, one of Carr's few deep shots came on the Saints' last play of the game when he lofted a ball up for a well-covered Cedrick Wilson Jr. when New Orleans needed just four yards to convert on fourth down with 64 seconds left on the game clock. Carr was 1-for-5 on red zone pass attempts with the lone completion being his touchdown pass to tight end Foster Moreau. With a depleted pass-catching corps, Carr will be hard to trust in Week 10 when the Saints host the Atlanta Falcons.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (oblique) has been removed from the injury report ahead of the Week 9 matchup against the Carolina Panthers. Carr is set to make his return to the field after being sidelined for the last three games. The return of Carr is good news for the Saints offense as they struggled heavily with Spencer Rattler under center. Chris Olave should be able to return to his WR2 value while Carr is a high-end QB2 against the awful Panthers defense.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (oblique) was on a pitch count during Wednesday's practice but is still expected to start on Sunday according to Matthew Paras of The Times-Picayune. Carr has been sidelined since suffering the oblique injury in their Week 5 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. In his absence, the Saints turned to rookie Spencer Rattler who averaged 190.3 passing yards and per game and was pulled in his most recent start. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Carr's status throughout the week. If he is able to return to action, he should be viewed as a QB2 with upside facing the Carolina Panthers who have allowed the 28th-most points to opposing QBs this season.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (oblique) will practice on Wednesday in preparation for the team's Week 9 matchup, per Katherine Terrell of ESPN. Additionally, head coach Dennis Allen is "optimistic" he'll play on Sunday when the team lines up against the Carolina Panthers on the road. It's fantastic news for New Orleans, which has been without their starting quarterback since the team's loss in Week 5 to the Kansas City Chiefs. The Saints are reeling after their sixth-straight defeat, and while it isn't yet confirmed, Carr's activation would be a massive boost to the offense's outlook. If he does return in Week 9, he'll get a juicy matchup against a tissue-paper-soft Panthers defense. Keep an eye on his status over the coming days.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (oblique) hasn't been able to practice this week and is considered doubtful ahead of the Week 8 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. Carr is set to miss his third game in a row due to a lingering oblique injury. Spencer Rattler could continue starting under center, but won't have an easy test against a strong Chargers secondary. It sounds like Carr is making progress, so maybe a Week 9 return is possible. The 33-year-old should give this offense a boost once he's eventually able to get back on the field. Fantasy managers should prepare to be without Carr for at least one more game.
Derek Carr
• QB
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Saints
