Derek Carr saw his first season in New Orleans filled with inconsistent play and led to questions about whether or not he was the right fit. Now, the Saints quarterback has had his career revived. The question is what changed between the seasons for Carr?
New Year, New Carr: Saints Quarterback Revives Fantasy Purpose
Klint Kubiak’s Scheme Generates Blast From the Past
Klint Kubiak was a highly sought after offensive coordinator in the offseason. However, he chose to take the job in New Orleans to work with Carr. Kubiak’s playbook allows him to use the middle of the field and also take shots down field. It’s similar to what Carr had at his discretion his final year in Las Vegas with offensive coordinator Greg Olson.
Images Courtesy of NFL Next Gen Stats
While Carr threw the ball much more in his final season in Vegas (top), notice how many passes are 10+ yards downfield. He’s also utilizing the middle of the field just like he did when he was a member of the Raiders. Kubiak is the product of a Kyle Shanahan coaching tree, and using the middle of the field is a huge component of his offense.
This is exactly how the 49ers use Brock Purdy. Most of the passes he throws are 10-15 yards downfield and over the middle of the field.
Carr is at his best when he can use the middle of the field. It’s not a secret by any means and while Kubiak looks like a genius for making Carr look good, Kubiak is playing to his quarterback’s strengths. And doing so is making all the difference in the world.
Carr’s Resurgence in Fantasy
Carr had four weeks in 2023 where he finished in top 10 for all fantasy quarterbacks, not including Week 18. There were also three weeks where he was one of the worst, if not the worst, quarterback that particular week. In Week 1 of this season, he was the sixth-best fantasy quarterback and the third-best in Week 2. Overall, he’s QB2 on the season.
NFL leaders in passer rating after Week 2:
▪️ No. 1: Derek Carr (NO), 142.4
▪️ No. 2: Baker Mayfield (TB), 129.1
▪️ No. 3: Josh Allen (BUF), 124.2
▪️ No. 4: Kyler Murray (ARI), 122.9
▪️ No. 5: Sam Darnold (MIN), 111.8— Jeff Duncan (@JeffDuncan_) September 17, 2024
In just two weeks, he’s gone from an undrafted player sitting on waivers to being one of the best fantasy quarterbacks. That doesn’t happen by accident. It’s not a guarantee that he continues at this pace, but his fantasy relevance is back. There’s a reason he’s one of the most-claimed players on waivers heading into Week 3.
If the basic stats don’t wow you so far from Carr, maybe the more advanced stats will make you reconsider. Through two weeks, he’s averaging 8.7 air yards per attempt and 0.89 fantasy points per dropback.
Think about that. Every time Carr throws the ball, he’s scoring almost one fantasy point. His receivers are certainly helping him out as his 8.54 average depth of target (aDOT) is seventh in the NFL. That number bumps up to fifth for quarterbacks who have started both games. Assuming the pass is complete, Carr is average a first down every time he throws the ball.
To help his cause more, Carr has one of the easiest schedules for fantasy quarterbacks for the majority of the season. All four of the tough defenses he’s scheduled to play against take place in Week 11 or later.
Statistics like that are certainly a statement to Kubiak and the work he has done, but it’s Carr showing the league he’s not done yet. Derek Carr’s career and fantasy relevance have been revived.
Main Photo Courtesy of Kevin Jairaj – Imagn Images
