Spencer Rattler

Once deemed as a potential No.1 overall pick after the 2020 college football season, Spencer Rattler's had a tumultuous college career to get to this point in his football career. At 20 years old, Rattler was PFF's No.1-graded quarterback in the country. He was the Heisman favorite heading into 2021, but he was benched for Caleb Williams. He then transferred to South Carolina in 2022 where he started for two seasons. In 2023, he finished second in the class in both catchable throw percentage and on-target throw rate. Still, hoping that Rattler turns back into what excited CFB fans in 2020 - for those looking for a fantasy sleeper - might be out of luck. He's not a rushing threat due to a lack of athletic acumen. And his arm talent will only get him so far. But if the Saints get more inconsistent play from Derek Carr, they could quickly turn to their 2024 5th-round pick. After the 2024 season, Carr's dead cap falls to $17 million versus his $45 million salary cap hit. If he underwhelms again in 2024, he could be on the way out of New Orleans.

When Rattler is on, he looks like a legit starting NFL quarterback. He has easy velocity on throws, can hit all three levels, will layer some nice throws against zone, and pinpoint some wonderful boundary shots. A worry with Rattler, though, is consistency. He has plenty of YOLO throws and spotty decision-making moments on film, too, where you'll be left wondering, "What the hell was he thinking?" Consistency for Rattler has to continue to improve. Rattler has good pocket maneuverability. He can throw on the run without losing accuracy, but when he's pressured, his footwork can lapse, and you'll see him sail some throws. He's also late to feel the rush at times, which has gotten him blown apart by rushers. Rattler was tasked with half-field reads on many plays. He's quick to move from his first read to the next, but again, consistency can be an issue; he'll hang on to his first option for too long and rush his progression on other snaps. Again, when he's on, he looks like he can be an average to above-average starter in the NFL. Dynasty Outlook: Rattler arrives in the Big Easy after being selected in the fifth round of the NFL draft. I didn't expect Rattler to be selected inside the top two rounds of the draft, but I was surprised to see him tumble all the way to the fifth round. That measly amount of draft capital doesn't ensure that Rattler will ever be promised a shot at the starting job, but he should compete immediately for the backup job behind Derek Carr. Carr still has two years of money left on his contract insulating him, so don't look for the Saints to move on anytime soon. Rattler is a dice roll late in the late third/early fourth round of Superflex formats. In 1QB formats, you can stash him on a taxi squad if you have the room.