The Saints suddenly have a big question mark at quarterback as Derek Carr is now dealing with a shoulder injury that could threaten his 2025 season. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Carr is weighing his options and surgery is on the table. That alone puts his status for the season in doubt. There had already been some offseason chatter about Carr’s future in New Orleans, but with the team expecting him to be the starter heading into 2025, this injury throws a wrench into what was supposed to be a more stable situation under center. Carr’s best fantasy season came all the way back in 2016 when he finished 13th in fantasy points per game, but since then, he’s mostly been a middling QB2 without much upside. Even with new head coach Kellen Moore calling plays, Carr’s long-term future in New Orleans looks uncertain

From a fantasy football perspective, things could get interesting quickly. If Carr ends up missing time, the Saints will need to pivot. Spencer Rattler is currently on the roster, and with the No. 9 overall pick in the draft, New Orleans is in a great position to grab a quarterback. Three names to watch are Jalen Milroe, Jaxson Dart, and Quinn Ewers. All three have shown flashes of big time upside but may need time to develop behind a veteran. Still, if Carr isn’t ready for Week 1, the Saints might not have that luxury. Rattler could be a deep superflex stash, and if New Orleans goes the rookie route, fantasy gamers will want to keep tabs on which QB they draft. This situation has a lot of moving parts, and it could impact the fantasy value of guys like Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, and Alvin Kamara depending on who ends up under center.

Author: Mike Lindberg (@FFCanuck99)