Daniel Jones, Top Fantasy QB Waiver-Wire, Trade Options After Derek Carr's Injury

New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr is not a viable starting option for fantasy managers, at least for the near future.

The Saints expect Carr to miss "multiple games" with a "significant" oblique injury, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport reported.

According to Garafolo, there is a "likelihood" that Carr is sidelined for at least Week 6 and Week 7 of the 2024 season.

Managers could look at turning to the waiver wire or making a trade for a few quarterbacks poised for a potentially productive Week 6.

Daniel Jones, New York Giants

Jones could be a buy-low candidate after his struggles in 2023 and his team's 2-3 start to the 2024 campaign.

The Giants starter might be facing the Cincinnati Bengals rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers, who sat out Week 5 after suffering a concussion last Thursday.

But Jones threw two touchdown passes and recorded 11 carries in Nabers' absence against the Seattle Seahawks, proving his ability to generate offense as a two-way threat even with his team's star rookie.

Joe Flacco, Indianapolis Colts

Flacco could be another waiver pickup option depending on the status of starter Anthony Richardson.

Richardson, who has been sidelined since suffering an oblique injury in Week 4, is "extremely optimistic" about returning for Week 6, ESPN's Stephen Holder reported on Sunday.

If Richardson remains sidelined, however, Flacco's 75 percent completion rate and 3:0 touchdown/interception ratio in Sunday's loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars will make him a quality pickup for Week 6.

Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons

Cousins is coming off a four-touchdown outing against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday.

Although that game was an outlier for the 36-year-old quarterback, who was averaging one touchdown through the Falcons' first four games, there's reason to expect he could put up another offensive outburst in a Week 6 matchup against a Carolina Panthers defense that has allowed an NFL-high 11 passing touchdowns through five games.

Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears

One rookie quarterback worth taking a look at for a potential pickup or trade is the Chicago Bears' Caleb Williams.

Williams continued the upward trend that has shaped his first NFL season by going 20-of-29 for 304 yards and two touchdowns against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

The rookie has now passed for more than 300 yards in two of his last three start and is set to face a porous Jacksonville Jaguars passing defense in Week 6. That's enough momentum to make him an option to consider in Carr's stead.

Drake Maye, New England Patriots

Maye is reportedly set to get his first NFL start in place of Jacoby Brissett against the Houston Texans.

This pickup comes with some risk. Brissett faced pressure on more than half of his dropbacks during a Week 5 loss to the Miami Dolphins, marking the third time this season he's faced a 50 percent-plus pressure rate (h/t NFL Pro) and raising questions about the offensive line's ability to protect Maye in his first NFL start.

Spencer Rattler, New Orleans Saints

Rattler was described by Garafolo as a "strong candidate to get the start in Derek Carr's absence" despite his position on the depth chart behind backup Jake Haener.

Rattler, selected in the fifth round of the 2024 draft out of South Carolina, went 20-for-38 for 202 yards and a touchdown in three preseason appearances.

It's another risky choice, but should he get the start in Carr's absence, the strong arm Rattler showed off in college will make him an interesting pickup for managers willing to take a chance on an option largely untested at the NFL level.