Is Derek Carr About to Miss 2025?

What They're Saying

Rapoport: "Carr is now dealing with a shoulder injury that threatens his availability for this season, sources say. Carr is weighing options, including the possibility of surgery."

2025 Fantasy Football Impact

It's not yet clear when or how this injury originated. His 2024 season ended early, but that was a hand injury. We haven't seen a shoulder issue for Carr since he sprained his throwing shoulder in December 2023.

The Saints' current roster finds only Spencer Rattler, Jake Haener, and Ben DiNucci behind Carr. Rattler would likely be the next man up.

Rattler started six games last season as a fifth-round rookie, completing 57% of his throws, with a 1.8% TD rate and 2.2% INT rate.

New Orleans also holds the No. 9 pick in the first round of the NFL Draft, where Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders has been discussed as a potential candidate.

We'll see how that plays out ... while also awaiting more details on Carr's outlook.

We're not adjusting his projection just yet. But I also wouldn't take Carr in best ball drafts until/unless we hear something positive about his 2025 outlook.

Other Winners & Losers

The mere chance that Carr misses any of the coming season also hurts the fantasy outlooks for his pass catchers.

None among WR Chris Olave, WR Rashid Shaheed, and TE Juwan Johnson has been going especially high in early drafting. But don't be afraid to knock each a little further down your board.

RB Alvin Kamara should probably continue going in the same range. He'll likely only get more important if New Orleans has to lean on a lesser QB.