Derek Carr’s rejuvenated fantasy season is likely over after Carr left Thursday night’s tilt with the Chargers. He limped off the field while attempting to scramble on third down during the Raiders’ second series with a “significant” groin injury. Carr quieted the haters throughout the season and was a significant part of the Raiders’ aerial attack that featured Darren Waller, Nelson Agholor, and Hunter Renfrow. When Carr exited the game, former No. 2 overall pick, Marcus Mariota stepped in and balled right away. With Mariota tabbed as the rest of season starter, there is a bit of a Konami Code factor with him. But, it’ll be more from a DraftKings perspective than a must-win championship game perspective.
Sure, Mariota had his miscues. He almost decapitated Nelson Agholor and threw behind Zay Jones for his lone interception. But overall, he had a great night. He hit Darren Waller on an absolute dime for six and then also added another score on the ground. His legs were arguably the most impressive part of his night, where he racked up 88 yards and a touchdown on nine carries. That rushing total was the second-highest of his career.
Not only did he look like Oregon Mariota on the ground, but he completed 17 of 28 passes for 226 yards with the one touchdown and the interception.
“Derek’s health will be determined here in a couple days, but what Marcus did last night was spectacular,” Jon Gruden said on Friday. “We felt that the No. 1 thing we had to do with Marcus was get him healthy again. That’s what hurt him in Tennessee, and obviously, his ankle looked healthy last night.”
“His shoulder looked healthy. He came to training camp and he hurt his pec, so we kept him on ice and we kept him in the rehab until he was healthy, and then we put him back out there as the No. 2 quarterback. When this kid is healthy, this guy is a special playmaker and I think he proved it last night,” Gruden continued.
While the team didn’t get the W, Mariota’s bank account got quite the holiday bonus. By playing 86 percent of the snaps on Thursday, he earned $825,000 in bonuses. Not too shabby for the backup.
Looking forward to Week 16, Mariota and the Raiders get one of the better defenses in the league, the Miami Dolphins. Cam Newton tore them up on the ground in Week 1, but they’ve given up the eighth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks this season.
I doubt anyone with a brain would stream Mariota in the fantasy championship game, but he’ll be a very cheap DraftKings option and a top consideration on next Saturday’s DFS slate. He’ll also be a top target in the always fun Week 17 DFS slate.
