The New Orleans Saints will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 18. Here’s the latest fantasy football news and advice to help you with your lineups this week and moving forward, especially regarding QB Derek Carr.
Is Derek Carr Playing in Week 18?
Updated at 11:30 AM ET on Sunday, January 5
Carr is inactive for today's game.
Interim head coach Darren Rizzi did not rule out Derek Carr returning from his left-hand injury earlier this week. However, the Saints’ starting QB did not practice all week and was formally ruled out on Friday.
We’ll continue to monitor the Saints’ injury report. You can also visit and bookmark our NFL Injury Tracker and Fantasy News Tracker for the latest updates.
Derek Carr’s Fantasy Outlook
Carr had the potential to return this week for the Saints for reasons unknown, but his status shouldn’t be of concern in fantasy circles, given the carnage around him at the skill positions.
Even with talent coming in and out, Carr has failed to throw multiple touchdown passes in the majority of his games this season. That is going to render any pocket-locked signal-caller as close to useless.
I give him credit for trying to return to action and finish the season, but my fantasy bills aren’t paid on credit.
Are you looking for start/sit advice for other players in your lineup? Read our Week 18 Fantasy Start-Sit Advice Cheat Sheet for every fantasy-relevant player in every game.
Derek Carr’s Fantasy Points Projection in Week 18
Carr is projected to score 0 points in Week 18.
Check out the free PFN Fantasy Start-Sit Optimizer for the latest projections and advice for your lineups this week.
PFN Insight on the Buccaneers' Defense
The Buccaneers recorded their second-best grade of the season in the Week 17 win over the Panthers. Their 83.5 (B) grade was eclipsed only by the team's Week 14 showing against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Quietly, Tampa's defense has turned around since returning from bye in Week 12. A soft schedule has helped, but the Bucs rank second in EPA per play (0.12) and fifth in success rate (60.5%) over that timeframe. Four of Tampa Bay's five highest Defense+ grades have come since then as well.
The pass defense numbers are still ugly for the season, as the Bucs have the fourth-lowest pass defense success rate (52.2%) overall. That's even with the recent boost in form, as Tampa Bay actually ranks fifth-best (57.7%) in that category since Week 12.
The Buccaneers should be able to post a similarly high level of performance in Week 18 against the Saints' backups. That would be enough to clinch the team's fourth straight NFC South title before the competition ramps up in the Wild Card round.
For more insight on all other team defenses, head to our PFN Defense+ Metric Analysis.
Derek Carr’s Fantasy Ranking
Our Weekly Consensus PPR Rankings are below — both positional and overall. They were last updated at 7:00 AM ET on Sunday, January 5. If you're in a Superflex league, make sure you check out our Week 18 Consensus Superflex Rankings.
Week 18 QB PPR Rankings
1) Lamar Jackson | BAL (vs. CLE)
2) Jayden Daniels | WAS (at DAL)
3) Baker Mayfield | TB (vs. NO)
4) Joe Burrow | CIN (at PIT)
5) Sam Darnold | MIN (at DET)
6) Jared Goff | DET (vs. MIN)
7) Jordan Love | GB (vs. CHI)
8) Bo Nix | DEN (vs. KC)
9) Kyler Murray | ARI (vs. SF)
10) Justin Herbert | LAC (at LV)
11) Drake Maye | NE (vs. BUF)
12) Bryce Young | CAR (at ATL)
13) Russell Wilson | PIT (vs. CIN)
14) Geno Smith | SEA (at LAR)
15) Caleb Williams | CHI (at GB)
16) Aaron Rodgers | NYJ (vs. MIA)
17) Joe Flacco | IND (vs. JAX)
18) Michael Penix Jr. | ATL (vs. CAR)
19) Mason Rudolph | TEN (vs. HOU)
20) Aidan O'Connell | LV (vs. LAC)
21) Mac Jones | JAX (at IND)
22) Tanner McKee | PHI (vs. NYG)
23) Kenny Pickett | PHI (vs. NYG)
24) Cooper Rush | DAL (vs. WAS)
25) C.J. Stroud | HOU (at TEN)
26) Drew Lock | NYG (at PHI)
27) Jimmy Garoppolo | LAR (vs. SEA)
28) Carson Wentz | KC (at DEN)
29) Davis Mills | HOU (at TEN)
30) Tyler Huntley | MIA (at NYJ)
31) Joshua Dobbs | SF (at ARI)
32) Spencer Rattler | NO (at TB)
33) Mitchell Trubisky | BUF (at NE)
34) Taylor Heinicke | LAC (at LV)
35) Bailey Zappe | KC (at DEN)
36) Dorian Thompson-Robinson | CLE (at BAL)
37) Sam Howell | SEA (at LAR)
38) Josh Allen | BUF (at NE)
Saints at Buccaneers Trends and Insights
New Orleans Saints
Team: The Saints have held the ball for under 23 minutes in consecutive games, totaling 10 points on 106 offensive plays over that stretch
QB: Spencer Rattler has completed 56% of his passes just once this season and has two more multi-interception games than he has multi-TD games.
Offense: The Saints converted just one-of-10 third downs on Sunday, their lowest rate of the season (four games under 30% this season),
Defense: The Saints have allowed a score on the majority of opponent drives four times this season, two coming over the past two weeks.
Fantasy: Foster Moreau and Juwan Johnson chewed up 44.1% of New Orleans’ targets and 45% of their receptions.
Betting: New Orleans has covered six straight road divisional games in which they’ve closed as an underdog.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Team: Since the beginning of November, Tampa Bay is 5-3, a record that could have swung even more in their favor (one overtime loss and the other two coming by no more than three points).
QB: Baker Mayfield's average QB+ is 78.6 this season. That ranks favorably to 2020 Tom Brady (77.9) as he led the Bucs to a Super Bowl win.
Offense: On Sunday, Bucky Irving became the second player this season with a 30+ yard catch and a 30+ yard run in multiple games, joining Saquon Barkley.
Defense: For the first time this season, Tampa Bay has failed to force a turnover in consecutive games.
Fantasy: Jalen McMillan has a touchdown catch in four straight games, the longest streak by a rookie since Lee Evans (2004).
Betting: The Bucs are 6-2 ATS over their past eight games and have seen over tickets cash in each of their past three.