As we inch toward the new season, the ever-changing NFL landscape has player fantasy values constantly on the move. Whether you’re used to the dynasty platform or are still learning the rules, let’s dive into the latest dynasty value of Derek Carr.
Derek Carr’s Dynasty Outlook and Value
Entering the 2022 season, Carr was a popular late-round quarterback pick in redraft leagues. Fantasy managers were optimistic the addition of Davante Adams and the return of Darren Waller would give Carr legitimate top-five upside. Instead, we got more of the same from Carr.
Since being drafted in 2014, Carr has consistently been a good, not great, quarterback. That goes for both real life and fantasy. Of course, he’s had moments of greatness, but he can never sustain it.
Heading into his 10th NFL season, Carr has yet to post a QB1 finish. Despite adding one of the five best wide receivers in football, Carr registered his worst season since 2018.
MORE: 2023 Dynasty Rookie Rankings
It was nice to see Carr taking shots downfield. His 9.4 average depth of target was second in the league. Unfortunately, he averaged a mere 7.0 yards per attempt because he completed just 60.8% of his passes, his lowest mark since his rookie season.
From a fantasy perspective, Carr was a huge disappointment. His 15.5 points per game netted him a mid-QB2 finish. He had just four weeks of over 20 fantasy points.
2023 is a pivotal point in Carr’s career. He’s still just 32 years old, and given his skill set and profile, he should be capable of playing at a high level for another 6-8 years. As a result, Carr belongs on dynasty rosters. The problem is, what exactly is likely to change for Carr that suddenly turns him into a viable weekly fantasy starter?
Given the depth of dynasty rosters, even if every QB isn’t rostered, each team certainly rosters two. Carr is undoubtedly a top-24 fantasy quarterback. He’s also someone you can plug into your lineup in a pinch, and, outside of a couple of blips, he probably won’t fail you. The question now is, what will his circumstances look like going forward?
Derek Carr’s Fantasy Ranking
Carr was signed through 2025, but he and the team mutually agreed to part ways prior to the end of the 2022 season. With no incentive to agree to a trade, Carr force the Raiders to release him ahead of the start of the new year. Where Carr ends up and what his supporting cast looks like will impact his fantasy value.
The good news is that Carr isn’t the type of quarterback who goes to a rebuilding team. He’ll likely end up on a team with a roster capable of contending but one that lacks a QB. The thing is, everyone knows this. So, it’s difficult to leverage Carr’s inevitable move to your advantage.
The best course of action is to just hang onto Carr if you have him. He’s a serviceable fantasy backup. That gives him more value to your team than he would garner in a trade.
In Superflex leagues, Carr is a far more desirable asset. Fifteen points per game from a QB2 is just fine. Even so, he’s still just our QB18, No. 72 overall in our latest dynasty Superflex rankings. Given Carr’s age, though, he’s still worth targeting as a QB2 in dynasty startup drafts.