Derek Carr, Sam Darnold, Top Fantasy QB Waiver-Wire Options amid Jordan Love's Injury
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love is expected to miss three-to-six weeks with a Grade 1/2 MCL sprain suffered during his team's season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday.
Hopefully the talented Love is able to return at 100 percent health closer to the three-week range. Until then, the Packers will roll with backup Malik Willis.
From a fantasy perspective, there are some waiver-wire options for players who need to add a quarterback to their roster until Love gets back.
Here's a list of the top three, with rationale to soon follow. Note that all the players on this list are available in more than 50 percent of Yahoo fantasy leagues.
- New Orleans Saints QB Derek Carr
- Minnesota Vikings QB Sam Darnold
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield
Saints QB Derek Carr
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New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr was dealing in the first half against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, completing 12-of-16 passes for 121 yards and three touchdowns.
Granted, the Panthers are coming off a 2-15 season, but Carr looked excellent after an up-and-down first campaign in New Orleans, which saw him finish 2023 16th in ESPN's QBR metric among qualified quarterbacks.
The talent is around Carr to succeed. He's got a talented and versatile running back in Alvin Kamara and a rising star wide receiver in Alvin Kamara. That's in addition to big-play threat Rasheed Shaheed and underrated tight ends Juwan Johnson and Foster Moreau.
Ultimately, there's reason to be optimistic for Carr to put up big numbers in 2024.
Minnesota Vikings QB Sam Darnold
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Yes, Sam Darnold has struggled throughout the first six years of his NFL campaign after being the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 draft. But there's hope that he can turn in around in Minnesota.
For starters, he torched the New York Giants in the first half of his team's season opener, completing 13-of-14 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown.
It helps to have a superstar wideout in Justin Jefferson, arguably the best at his position in the game. But the Vikings have a capable and offensive-minded head coach in Kevin O'Connell, who excelled for the Los Angeles Rams before heading to Minnesota.
Darnold also has talents such as wide receiver Jordan Addison and running back Aaron Jones at his disposal.
In sum, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Darnold experience a career renaissance, a la another ex-New York Jets, Geno Smith, did in 2022 with the Seattle Seahawks.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield
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Baker Mayfield enjoyed a career resurrection in Tampa Bay last season, throwing for 28 touchdowns and 4,044 yards while leading the Buccaneers to the playoffs.Mayfield was efficient and effective all season, routinely linking up with favorite target Mike Evans.
He isn't the flashiest fantasy performer with his lack of rushing upside (163 yards last year), but he's consistent and won't torpedo lineups either.
There is some level of concern after offensive coordinator Dave Canales left to become the Carolina Panthers' head coach, but Mayfield still has a host of weapons, including Evans, Chris Godwin, rookie Jalen McMillan, tight end Cade Otton and running backs Rachaad White and Bucky Irving.
It's surprising that Mayfield is available in so many leagues when he's a perfectly capable fantasy backup, but he should be available on waiver wires to plug in a roster spot.
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