Raiders' Derek Carr 'Will Be a Top-5 Fantasy QB,' Says Peter King

Peter King is all in on the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022.

The NBC Sports reporter predicted Raiders quarterback Derek Carr would finish the season as a top-five fantasy option, writing it would be a "surprise" if he did not top 5,000 passing yards and 35 touchdown passes.

Carr has thrown for under 4,200 yards and for less than 30 touchdowns in seven of his eight NFL seasons. He set a career-high with 4,804 passing yards in 2021 but continued his struggles in the red zone, posting only 23 touchdowns.

King seems to be banking on the arrivals of wideout Davante Adams and coach Josh McDaniels unlocking a new level in Carr's play.

Even if Carr hits the lofty numbers predicted by King, he still may fall short of being a top-five fantasy option. Carr has never shown much mobility outside the pocket, with just 743 rushing yards and six touchdowns over his career.

That alone puts him at a massive disadvantage from a fantasy perspective given the proliferation of running quarterbacks. In 2021, Tom Brady threw for 5,316 yards and 43 touchdowns and still finished behind the more mobile Josh Allen and Justin Herbert. A stat line of 5,000 yards and 35 touchdowns over the course of a 17-game season would make Carr a top-10 option for sure, but his lack of mobility may put him on the latter end of that spectrum.