Questionable
Injury Shoulder
Est. Return 8/1/2025
2024 Pass/Rush Stats
YDS
2145
TD
15
INT
5
YDS
71
TD
1
2025 Projections
2025 Fantasy Outlook
Carr battled through an injury-plagued 2024 season and his immediate future is cloudy, as he might need shoulder surgery. If so, he’d be out for at least the start of the season, with the Saints perhaps turning to second-round pick Tyler Shough. Carr started well enough last year with five TD passes in the first two games, including three of 50-plus yards. But his play diminished as injuries beset the Saints, including to himself. He missed three games in the first half with an oblique strain and then never returned from a concussion and broken hand in Week 14. Despite those noted long bombs, Carr’s average target depth was just 7.8 yards (19th) and his on-target rate slumped to 72.0 percent (20th). And while he had six TDs on 37 attempts of 20-plus yards (16.2% TD rate, 3rd), he completed only 29.7 percent of downfield throws (30th) -- i.e., his success came the handful of times receivers blew past the defense. The 34-year-old Carr offers nothing on the ground, and offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, with whom he seemed to click (at least early in the year), is gone, replaced as playcaller by head coach Kellen Moore, who has emphasized the run game at every stop in his OC career. That’s probably the case again behind Alvin Kamara, even if Carr is healthy. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
Shoulder situation remains murky
Carr (shoulder) has been to New Orleans twice in recent weeks to meet with the Saints' team doctor, Jane Slater of NFL Network reports.
ANALYSIS
Carr ended the 2025 season on the sidelines with a broken left hand and an oblique injury that he suffered in Week 14 against the Giants, but it has now come to light that his current shoulder issue stems from that same game. The quarterback apparently didn't notice the issue right away due to being shut down from throwing while recovering from the aforementioned injuries. Once he began ramping up for the team's spring program, the shoulder problem became apparent. Carr has yet to make a decision on if he'll undergo surgery, and his availability for the start of the season remains unclear. Tyler Shough, taken in the second round of the 2025 Draft, could emerge as the starting QB if Carr misses time.
Carr ended the 2025 season on the sidelines with a broken left hand and an oblique injury that he suffered in Week 14 against the Giants, but it has now come to light that his current shoulder issue stems from that same game. The quarterback apparently didn't notice the issue right away due to being shut down from throwing while recovering from the aforementioned injuries. Once he began ramping up for the team's spring program, the shoulder problem became apparent. Carr has yet to make a decision on if he'll undergo surgery, and his availability for the start of the season remains unclear. Tyler Shough, taken in the second round of the 2025 Draft, could emerge as the starting QB if Carr misses time.
NFL Stats
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Fantasy/Red Zone Stats
See red zone opportunities inside the 20, 10 and 5-yard lines along with the percentage of time they converted the opportunity into a touchdown.
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Advanced NFL Stats
How do Derek Carr's 2024 advanced stats compare to other quarterbacks?
This section compares his advanced stats with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank.
The longer the bar, the better it is for the player.
Bad Pass %
16.5%Avg Target Depth
8.6 YdsSack Rate
2.8%Avg Receiver YAC
6.0 YdsReceiver Drop %
2.2%Loading Advanced NFL Stats...
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2024 NFL Game Log
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
2024 Derek Carr Split Stats
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Measurables Review
View College Player Page
How do Derek Carr's measurables compare to other quarterbacks?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
Height
6' 3"Weight
215 lbs40-Yard Dash
4.69 secShuttle Time
4.20 secVertical Jump
34.5 inBroad Jump
110 inHand Length
9.13 inArm Length
31.50 in
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
In his first season in New Orleans, Carr finished with similar numbers to his last season in Las Vegas. How he got there was a little different, though. He was barely usable most of the fantasy season, averaging 11.8 fantasy points in his first 13 games. But he came alive in the last four games, throwing 12 of his 25 TD passes Weeks 15-18 to average 22.0 fantasy points. The Saints offense also changed his approach a bit. It wasn't all dink-and-dunk, but 66.4 percent of his attempts went less than 10 yards, up from 59.1 percent the season prior. That rebounded his completion percentage to 68.4 after the previous season's career low, but his YPA only ticked up from 7.0 to 7.1 as his average target depth tumbled from 9.1 to 7.8. That's what happens when you lean on RB Alvin Kamara (75 catches in 13 games) because the WRs and TEs can't get separation (2.8 yards, 27th). The Saints cut oft-injured WR Michael Thomas this offseason but didn't do much to upgrade the wideouts, signing the unimpressive Cedrick Wilson and Equanimeous St. Brown. Chris Olave is the only consistent weapon for Carr, though No. 2 Rashid Shaheed is useful as a deep target and could perhaps expand his arsenal this year. New offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak should be an upgrade, but it might not make much of a difference for fantasy given Carr's mediocre supporting cast and total lack of rushing statistics.
More Fantasy News
New Orleans awaiting clarity
Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said Wednesday that Carr "does have an issue with his shoulder" and that the team is "hoping to get some resolution and clarity on that in the near future," Katherine Terrell of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
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Wants out of New Orleans?
Carr's discussion of shoulder surgery may be related to dissatisfaction with the Saints and a desire to be released, according to Mike Triplett and Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football.
ANALYSIS
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May require shoulder surgery
Carr (shoulder/hand) is nursing a shoulder injury that may require surgery and could impact his availability for the 2025 season, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
ANALYSIS
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Restructuring contract with NOLA
Carr (hand) and the Saints are working toward converting most of his money into a signing bonus to create salary cap space, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
ANALYSIS
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Viewed as starter
Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said Wednesday that he views Carr (hand) as the team's starting quarterback heading into the 2025 season, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Team's draft plans unaffected
Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said he is waiting on further clarity on Carr's shoulder injury but confirmed the veteran quarterback's status won't affect the team's draft plans, Jeremy Bergman of NFL.com reports.
ANALYSIS
News about a serious shoulder injury for Carr emerged in early April, and if the veteran signal-caller opts to undergo surgery, there's reportedly a chance he will miss the entire 2025 season. Loomis stated he expected to get further clarity on Carr's health "in the near future," and added "I don't think the draft approach for us is any different than it would be in any year. We're looking for as many good players, great players as we can find."
News about a serious shoulder injury for Carr emerged in early April, and if the veteran signal-caller opts to undergo surgery, there's reportedly a chance he will miss the entire 2025 season. Loomis stated he expected to get further clarity on Carr's health "in the near future," and added "I don't think the draft approach for us is any different than it would be in any year. We're looking for as many good players, great players as we can find."