Spencer Rattler Replacing the Injured Derek Carr | Fantasy Impact for Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed and Other Saints
Analyzing the Saints' offensive playmakers as rookie Spencer Rattler starts in the place of Derek Carr.
Three NFL teams made starting quarterback changes this week. New England will start Drake Maye over Jacoby Brissett, while Las Vegas names Aidan O'Connell the starter over Gardner Minshew.
New Orleans was another team to make a quarterback change this week, but for injury purposes. Derek Carr is out for week 6, at least, and rookie Spencer Rattler is being given the start.
Let’s take a look at what Carr has done this season, what Rattler accomplished in college and then what the switch to Rattler means for the Saints offensive playmakers.
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Quarterback Stats
Carr started the season hot, but has fizzled out the past three weeks.
He’s completed 70.3% of his passes for 989 yards, eight touchdowns and four interceptions. Carr has been sacked just five times, while adding in 22 rushing yards and a score on eight attempts.
Rattler hasn’t accumulated any stats this season, with Jake Haener playing in three games and being the top backup so far.
Rattler played five collegiate seasons, splitting time between Oklahoma and South Carolina. In the three seasons he played in double-digit games, Rattler went over 3,000 passing yards.
His best season was with Oklahoma in 2020. He completed 67.5% of his passes, but for 3,031 yards, 28 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. Rattler added 160 rushing yards and six scores on 81 attempts.
At that point, he was looked to as a big-time NFL prospect, but he struggled in his final season with Oklahoma in 2021 before moving on to South Carolina. Rattler had solid numbers with South Carolina, but also threw 20 interceptions over his two seasons.
That led to Rattler’s draft stock falling. New Orleans got him in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
While he hasn’t played in the regular season, Rattler did appear in all three preseason games. He was 20-of-38 passing for 202 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. Rattler was sacked three times and added 26 rushing yards and a score on seven attempts. He also lost a fumble.
Other New Orleans Fantasy Options
Rattler has plenty of playmakers around him to succeed, starting with running back Alvin Kamara.
Kamara has 602 total yards and six touchdowns on 114 touches this season. He’s been the team’s workhorse so far, but missed practice on Wednesday with hip/hand injuries. His status will be one to watch as the week progresses.
A positive is that Kendre Miller seems to be trending toward playing. He hasn’t suited up yet this season because of a hamstring injury, but could immediately be the No. 1 back if Kamara misses the game.
If Miller and Kamara are inactive, Jamaal Williams will likely serve as the top back, with Jordan Mims backing him up.
At receiver, Rattler can throw to Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed.
Olave is the team’s No. 1 receiver, and has 275 yards and a score this season. Shaheed has 338 yards and three touchdowns, but missed practice Wednesday with a hip injury.
Mason Tipton had four targets in week 5, and would be more involved if Shaheed cannot play this week. Cedrick Wilson and Bub Means are other options.
Foster Moreau and Juwan Johnson are two tight ends that play a good amount. Moreau has scored two touchdowns, while Johnson has scored once, but they combine for just 128 receiving yards.
Week 6 Fantasy Outlook
The Saints face off against the Buccaneers this Sunday.
That’s a favorable matchup for Rattler, as Tampa Bay allows 21 fantasy points per week to opposing QBs. It’s a slightly above-average matchup for the New Orleans backs. The matchup for the New Orleans wideouts is better than the one the tight ends face.
Even with the incredibly favorable matchup, it’s not going to be easy to start Rattler. We haven’t seen how he stacks up against real NFL defenses yet, and that’s a big risk to take in a player’s first ever game. In deeper leagues and two-QB setups, Rattler is definitely worth a try, but only in a pinch.
Kamara is a must-start fantasy player if he’s healthy. If he’s not active, I’m guessing that Williams and Miller split the workload. I’d consider both in deeper leagues, but wouldn’t feel super confident in either.
I still like the idea of starting Olave and Shaheed this week, granted both are active. They are more flex options than for-sure starters this week, but they’ve done too much this season to consider sitting them, even with a rookie QB now throwing to them, and especially because there’s four teams on byes. No other Saint wideout is worth a start, even if Shaheed doesn't play.
Johnson and Moreau are just deep league starting options most weeks, and that remains the case again with Rattler back there. I prefer Moreau over Johnson, but really it’s just a coin flip. Only start them if you have no other options.
#injuries #2024-fantasy-football
