Week 12 – Derek Carr vs. Kansas City Chiefs
The struggles of Derek Carr continued on Sunday in San Diego. Against a Chargers team he had burned previously for four touchdown passes, Carr was only able to muster 172 yards and zero scores. With Kansas City on a roll and yielding the fewest passing yards per game in the NFL, Carr has nothing to offer in any format.
Week 11 – Derek Carr at San Diego Chargers
The first time rookie Derek Carr played San Diego back in Week 6, he threw for 282 yards and four touchdowns. It was his first big game as a pro and it was heralded as the first of many. However, since that Sunday, Carr has struggled more often than not. He threw two interceptions in Week 10 against Denver and failed to top 200 passing yards while throwing for two scores. Even when you factor in his past success against the Chargers, Derek is going to be a dicey option in two-quarterback formats.
Week 10 – Derek Carr vs. Denver Broncos
As he has done pretty much all year, rookie Derek Carr struggled some in a Week 9 loss to Seattle, but was not an embarrassment. While Carr threw two interceptions against the world champions, he also threw for 194 yards and two touchdowns and kept Oakland competitive. Although Denver’s pass defense has been the weaker part of their defense, the Broncos will be in an angry mood after getting picked apart by New England’s Tom Brady. Carr will get some opportunities as the Raiders are expected to be playing from behind quite a bit, making him an adequate starter in two-quarterback leagues.
Week 9 – Derek Carr at Seattle Seahawks
Since throwing for four touchdowns in week six in what was heralded at the time as a breakout game, Derek Carr has been in a slump, throwing for just one since. Quarterbacks, both old and young, tend to struggle in Seattle. And the Seahawks appeared to find their groove last weekend in a hard-fought win over Carolina. Carr is at the bottom of the board and needs to be avoided, even in two-quarterback leagues.
Week 8 – Derek Carr at Cleveland Browns
After a breakout performance in week six where he threw for 282 yards and four touchdowns, Derek Carr broke down against the tough Arizona Cardinals last weekend, throwing for 173 yards and zero scores. Overall, Carr remains a promising player and Cleveland’s pass defense certainly isn’t intimidating. If you are in a two-quarterback league and want to gamble on someone with upside as opposed to a boring, safe option, give some thought to Carr.
Week 7 – Derek Carr vs. Arizona Cardinals
If Derek Carr is one of the NFL’s premier quarterbacks five years from now, we may look back at Sunday’s game as where it all began. Although Carr threw a costly interception late in the fourth quarter, his 282 yards and four touchdowns had the Raiders on the verge of an upset against the high-powered San Diego Chargers.
On the surface, Carr might make sense as a sleeper this week, with Arizona allowing the most passing yards per game in the NFL. However, those numbers are skewed because of one giant week Peyton Manning had against them. Arizona’s pass defense has generally played well, especially last week when they intercepted Washington’s Kirk Cousins three times. While Carr merits legitimate fantasy thought for the first time in his career, he is not worth starting unless you are in dire straits in a two-quarterback league.
Week 6 – Derek Carr vs. San Diego Chargers
Rookie quarterback Derek Carr appears ready to return to the Oakland lineup for the first time since week three. Unfortunately for Carr, he will be squaring off with a San Diego pass defense surrendering a mere 194.8 passing yards per game. The Chargers also recorded a shutout in their most recent outing against the Jets. At best, Carr will get some numbers in garbage time. He would be a bad choice even in two-quarterback leagues.
Week 4 – Derek Carr vs. Miami Dolphins
To his credit, overall Derek Carr has not looked like an overmatched rookie in his first three starts. There have not been a lot of banner moments for Carr, including week three where he threw for just 174 yards, but you would be hard pressed to find disastrous ones. And it is hard to be magical when you are saddled with a sketchy supporting cast.
Nevertheless, while we can praise Carr for his real world play, he is probably going to hang out at the bottom of the rankings for awhile. Although there might come a time where he climbs into steady QB2 territory, it will not be this week against a top ten Miami pass defense.
Week 3 – Derek Carr at New England Patriots
If for some strange reason you are pondering Derek Carr’s chances of success this week, the word “hopeless” should come to mind. Carr, aided by garbage time, threw for 263 yards and one touchdown in Week 2. He also rushed for 58 yards, but threw two interceptions. Although Carr has shown some promise, New England’s defense leads the NFL with five interceptions. Additionally, the Patriots are allowing just 166 passing yards per game. It will be a bad week for the youngster from Fresno State.
Week 2 – Derek Carr vs. Houston Texans
In his first start last weekend against the New York Jets, Derek Carr acquitted himself reasonably well, especially with Oakland unable to generate any kind of running game. Nonetheless, as expected, Carr did not deliver banner fantasy numbers. He threw for just 151 yards, although he did throw a pair of touchdown passes.
Another quiet week is on tap for Carr as he will have problems with Houston’s rejuvenated defense. Derek remains a better dynasty than redraft prospect, as it could be some time before he has a worthy supporting cast.
