Las Vegas Raiders: Does Derek Carr finally have top-tier fantasy football value in 2021?
By Brad Weiss
The Las Vegas Raiders are hoping for wins in 2021, but can quarterback Derek Carr help your fantasy team win in 2021 as well?
For fans of the Las Vegas Raiders, the only thing they care about in 2021 is that the team gets to the playoffs, something they have done once since the 2002 season. Since 2014, the team’s starting quarterback has been Derek Carr, and while he has become a record-setting quarterback for the franchise, it has not led to many team wins.
For fantasy football players, Carr has also been a bit of a disappointment and has not been a player within the top scorers at the position in a very long time.
According to FantasyPros.com, Carr finished the 2020 regular season as the No. 13-ranked quarterback in football in terms of fantasy points, which had him in the middle of the pack. In fact, most fantasy leagues are between ten-and-12 players competing, so he would not have been a QB1 on those teams that start only one quarterback.
For leagues that start two quarterbacks per week, Carr would certainly have been in the starting lineup, but not a top-tier guy in any way. With new weapons in 2021, and another year in Jon Gruden’s system, is this the year Carr is finally a top-tier fantasy option?
Is Derek Carr a top-tier fantasy QB in 2021?
Honestly, the Raiders offense should be one of the top-10 in the NFL again in 2020, thanks to a strong running game led by Josh Jacobs, and having one of the elite tight ends in the NFL in Darren Waller. The problem is, there is still no clear-cut WR1 on this roster, and that is troublesome when you are building your fantasy team around a specific quarterback.
Over the last three seasons, Carr has eclipsed the 4,000-yard mark in all three years but does not rack up enough touchdown passes, or make enough plays on the ground to be in the top-tier of fantasy quarterbacks. He is a solid option if your quarterback is on a bye week, but not a guy you start every week.
In 2021, I do not expect Carr to be a top-tier fantasy quarterback, but in terms of the statistics that matter, he could be in for his best season as a pro. The Raiders did a nice job revamping the defense, as well as giving him some added weapons in the backfield, and in the passing game, so while he may not win you a fantasy championship, the Raiders should win more than they lose this season.
Prediction: Starter in two-quarterback leagues, bench in those leagues that start one.