J.J. McCarthy
Quarterback #9
J.J. McCarthy News
J.J. McCarthy Worth a Speculative Waiver Addition
New York Giants quarterback J.J. McCarthy was written off in Minnesota and traded for a measly 2027 fifth-round pick. That trade looks like a bargain. Since joining the Giants, he's thrown for 495 yards on just 49 throws, an absurd 10.1 yards per attempt. He threw for 243 yards in late relief against New Orleans in Week 6 and 252 yards against Houston in Week 7. So far, his stats have been excellent, and his game tape may be even more impressive. However, you should still approach him with some caution. After 178 yards in the first half against Houston, he only managed 65 in the second half. All that yardage and still only one TD. Making matters worse, the Giants brought in Jameis Winston for four short-yardage sneaks, including a touchdown, taking away another potential source of fantasy points. With the Giants on a bye in Week 8, McCarthy is a good speculative addition in deeper and superflex leagues. Maybe Minnesota just gave up on him too quickly, or maybe this run won't continue. Either way, he's worth a bench spot to see what happens.
Oct 27, 2026 10:21 AM EST
J.J. McCarthy Faces Tough Test Against Texans
New York Giants quarterback J.J. McCarthy was named the starter for their Week 7 matchup against the Houston Texans. After Jameis Winston struggled mightily in their 34-27 loss to the New Orleans Saints, McCarthy entered with 11:25 left in the fourth quarter and nearly led a historic comeback. The former first-round pick completed 11 of 21 passes for 243 yards, with one touchdown and one interception, and added 26 rushing yards. With the Saints playing soft coverage while holding a three-score lead, McCarthy diced them up, throwing for the most yards in a fourth quarter in franchise history. Now, he faces the treacherous Texans defense, which allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to a quarterback last season. While they've struggled to start this season, their elite pass rush and secondary make starting McCarthy extremely risky in Week 7.
Oct 23, 2026 6:28 PM EST
Giants Plan to Start J.J. McCarthy in Week 7
The New York Giants plan to start quarterback J.J. McCarthy on Sunday against the Houston Texans in Week 7, a source told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. McCarthy took over for veteran QB Jameis Winston on Sunday in the Week 6 loss to the New Orleans Saints and immediately threw an interception, but overall he did some good things and made things interesting to close out the second half. The 23-year-old went 11-for-21 passing for 243 yards with one touchdown and one interception. It was enough to convince the Giants' coaching staff that McCarthy deserves to start this weekend in Houston. There is no guarantee that the former 10th overall pick by the Minnesota Vikings in 2024 from Michigan will improve the offense any more than Winston did, but the opportunity to take over the starting QB gig immediately makes McCarthy rosterable in two-QB superflex leagues going forward. He will be a low-end QB2 in those formats in his first start for New York, but the Texans' defense has allowed 246 passing yards per game in 2026, the sixth-most in the NFL.
Oct 21, 2026 8:17 AM EST
J.J. McCarthy a Waiver Target as he Looks to Seize Starting Job
Quarterback J.J. McCarthy's fantasy football value hit rock bottom when he lost out to Kyler Murray in Minnesota earlier this year, but the New York Giants swung a trade for him after Jaxson Dart's season-ending knee injury, and now he potentially has a chance to start under center for the G-Men in the Week 7 contest against the Houston Texans. The 23-year-old replaced a struggling Jameis Winston on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints and made the game interesting, going 11-for-21 passing for 243 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. The Giants have not revealed their plan at the QB position yet for this weekend against Houston, but there have been rumors that it will be McCarthy making his first start of 2026. The former 10th overall pick from Michigan missed his entire first year in the NFL due to a knee injury that required surgery, and he fell flat with poor accuracy, decision-making, and injuries in his first year as the starter in Minnesota in 2025. A change of scenery might just be what the doctor ordered for a McCarthy turnaround, and while he may not have Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison anymore, he has plenty of weapons in the passing game in New York as well. Fantasy managers in two-QB superflex leagues should be interested in adding McCarthy for depth.
Oct 20, 2026 6:18 PM EST
Rumors of J.J. McCarthy Starting in Week 7
New York Giants quarterback J.J. McCarthy could make his first start for the team Sunday against the Houston Texans, though no decision has been announced. Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News believes the Giants will turn to McCarthy even though he personally favors Jameis Winston for another week. McCarthy replaced Winston after the veteran's second interception in Sunday's 34-27 loss to New Orleans and completed 11 of 21 passes for 243 yards, one touchdown, and one interception while adding 26 rushing yards. He helped New York cut a 24-point deficit to seven, but that production came during a frantic fourth-quarter comeback and shouldn't be treated as a projection of his normal workload. Head coach John Harbaugh said Monday the team was "honing in on a decision" and acknowledged that McCarthy is still getting comfortable in the offense. Houston is a tough matchup, which limits McCarthy's immediate fantasy appeal outside Superflex leagues even if he gets the job.
Oct 20, 2026 8:16 AM EST
J.J. McCarthy Throws TD, INT in Late Week 6 Appearance
New York Giants quarterback J.J. McCarthy finished his brief Week 6 appearance with 11 completed passes for 243 yards, with one touchdown and one interception in a loss to the New Orleans Saints. McCarthy entered the game in the fourth quarter in place of starter Jameis Winston and threw an interception on his fourth pass attempt of the game. Giants head coach John Harbaugh now has a decision to make between McCarthy and Winston before the team visits the Houston Texans in Week 7. It's unclear what the future holds for McCarthy, so fantasy managers shouldn't jump to any conclusions after his late-game performance in Week 6.
Oct 18, 2026 12:44 PM EST
J.J. McCarthy Could Move Into No. 2 Quarterback Role
New York Giants quarterback J.J. McCarthy could move into the No. 2 spot behind Jameis Winston this week. Head coach John Harbaugh told Pat Leonard on Monday that having McCarthy serve as the backup against Washington is a "possibility" and something that's "on the table." McCarthy was one of three active quarterbacks in Sunday's 36-24 win over Arizona, but the Giants weren't ready to make him the full-time backup only days after acquiring him from Minnesota. Jake Haener filled that role while McCarthy was available for a possible situational package that was never used. Winston remains the starter after throwing for 250 yards and three touchdowns against the Cardinals. A move ahead of Haener would still be another step for McCarthy as he gets more comfortable in the offense ahead of Sunday's game in Washington.
Oct 5, 2026 12:02 PM EST
J.J. McCarthy Serving as the Emergency Third Quarterback for Week 4
New York Giants quarterback J.J. McCarthy will be inactive as the team's emergency third quarterback for Week 4 against the Arizona Cardinals, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. The Giants traded for McCarthy this past week, and while he should climb to first or second on the depth chart by midseason, he'll open this new chapter as a healthy scratch. Presumably, the Giants want to give McCarthy a little more time to acclimate to the Giants' offensive system before putting him in a position where he's one snap away from getting onto the field. Jameis Winston will start for a second consecutive week against Atlanta, looking to improve upon last week's stat line of 114 passing yards, zero touchdowns, and zero turnovers. Jake Haener has been elevated from the practice squad to back up Winston this week.
Oct 4, 2026 6:38 AM EST
J.J. McCarthy Still Learning Giants' Offense, Could Be the QB3 in Week 4
New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh said that quarterback J.J. McCarthy spent "most of his time" this week learning New York's offense, and that the team is "still trying to figure out" whether he will be the Giants' QB2 or QB3, per ESPN's Jordan Raanan. With Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (knee) out for the season, New York acquired McCarthy from the Minnesota Vikings on Monday. McCarthy could eventually take over as the starter for the Giants, but veteran Jameis Winston remains the QB1 in the short term. A former first-round pick, McCarthy threw for 1,632 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions across 10 starts with Minnesota in 2025. While the 23-year-old has struggled to this point in his NFL career, his mobility may make him a more natural replacement than Winston for Dart in the Giants' system. If McCarthy eventually takes over as the starter in New York, he could be worth starting in the right matchups in two-quarterback fantasy formats.
Oct 2, 2026 10:18 AM EST
Giants Could Turn to J.J. McCarthy in the "Near Future"
League sources told SNY's Connor Hughes that the New York Giants do not give up a fifth-round pick unless they plan to play quarterback J.J. McCarthy in the "near future." McCarthy was the Minnesota Vikings' 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft from Michigan. The 23-year-old was on track to start in his rookie year before a knee injury ended his season early and handed the job to Sam Darnold. Minnesota then let Darnold walk in free agency and handed the starting gig to McCarthy in 2025, but he crashed and burned as a first-time starter, throwing for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions while missing extended time with injuries. He was erratic on the field and showed maturity concerns off the field, which is why the Vikings brought in Kyler Murray to compete with him this summer. Murray won the job, and McCarthy fell to third string, behind Carson Wentz. With Jaxson Dart (knee) done for the year, McCarthy gives the G-Men a gritty competitor who is mobile and has a strong arm. Veteran Jameis Winston won his first game as the starter in Week 3, but as soon as McCarthy is up to speed with head coach John Harbaugh's offense, he could get the nod to start games in New York.
Sep 29, 2026 8:24 AM EST
Giants Acquiring J.J. McCarthy From the Vikings
The New York Giants are acquiring quarterback J.J. McCarthy from the Minnesota Vikings in a trade on Monday, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. The Ringer's Tom Pelissero reports that the Giants are sending the Vikings a 2027 fifth-round pick, per sources. With Jaxson Dart (knee) out for the season for the Giants, the team will add another young quarterback, and McCarthy will get a fresh start with a new organization. The Vikings took McCarthy with the 10th overall pick from Michigan in the 2024 NFL Draft. The 23-year-old did not play at all as a rookie due to a knee injury that required surgery. In his first NFL season in 2025, McCarthy struggled with accuracy, decision-making, and injuries, starting only 10 games and completing 57.6% of his pass attempts for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He lost the starting QB competition to Kyler Murray in training camp this summer and then dropped to third on the depth chart behind veteran Carson Wentz. McCarthy will head to New York to learn a new offense and hopefully see some playing time over veteran Jameis Winston eventually, but that might not happen right away. In the long term, Dart is still the franchise signal-caller for the G-Men.
Sep 28, 2026 8:17 AM EST
J.J. McCarthy Demoted to Third-String Role
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell told reporters on Wednesday that veteran quarterback Carson Wentz is the backup to starter Kyler Murray and that J.J. McCarthy is the third-stringer to open the 2026 season, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. It will be a week-to-week evaluation. "This gives us the best chance to win," O'Connell said. The writing was on the wall for the 23-year-old former first-rounder from Michigan when the Vikings signed Murray to a one-year deal this offseason in free agency. McCarthy lost out in the training camp QB battle to Murray, and after struggling in the preseason and getting banged up, he will enter his third year in the NFL as the team's QB3. In his first full season as the Vikings' starter in 2025, McCarthy only played in 10 games due to various injuries and struggled with his accuracy, completing 140 of his 243 pass attempts for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. McCarthy's best path back to fantasy relevance in dynasty/keeper leagues might be a trade out of Minnesota at this point.
Sep 9, 2026 10:51 AM EST
Vikings Expect J.J. McCarthy to be on the Week 1 Roster
Minnesota Vikings general manager Nolan Teasley said on Wednesday that he expects quarterback J.J. McCarthy (ankle), who has practiced in full the last two days, to be on the Week 1 roster, according to Alec Lewis of The Athletic. However, Teasley would not discuss whether McCarthy would be the backup to starter Kyler Murray over veteran Carson Wentz. The 23-year-old former 10th overall pick from Michigan in 2024 injured his ankle in the second preseason game and then was held out of the preseason finale, leading to speculation that the Vikings might cut McCarthy altogether if they could not find a trade partner for him. Not only will he be on the Week 1 roster, but McCarthy could still win the backup job now that he appears to be recovered from his ankle injury. McCarthy missed his entire rookie season after having knee surgery, and he flopped as the full-time starter in 2025, throwing for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in only 10 games while dealing with multiple injuries. His dynasty/keeper stock is at an all-time low going into the start of the 2026 season.
Sep 2, 2026 10:15 AM EST
J.J. McCarthy Facing Multi-Week Absence With Ankle Injury
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (ankle) is expected to miss multiple weeks, according to Adam Schefter. McCarthy suffered the injury during Minnesota's Aug. 22 preseason game against Baltimore and was unable to recover in time for Friday's finale against Denver. The Vikings had hoped to give him the entire first half in that game, but Carson Wentz started instead. Minnesota initially considered McCarthy day-to-day, making Schefter's new timetable a notable change. The 2024 first-round pick still made the Vikings' initial 53-man roster alongside Kyler Murray, Wentz and Max Brosmer. Murray was already named the starter earlier this month, so McCarthy's absence does not change Minnesota's QB1 situation. McCarthy started 10 games last season, throwing for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while adding 181 rushing yards and four scores. His injury does leave Wentz and Brosmer as Minnesota's healthy options behind Murray for the opening weeks.
Aug 31, 2026 9:56 AM EST
J.J. McCarthy Makes the Vikings' 53-Man Roster
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (ankle) made the team's initial 53-man roster, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. There had been plenty of speculation that McCarthy could be traded or released, but he ultimately remains with the Vikings for now. With that said, we can't rule out the possibility of him being moved at a later date. Minnesota has four quarterbacks on its roster, which probably isn't sustainable for a long time. Kyler Murray has already been named the Week 1 starter, and the Vikings presumably would have released Carson Wentz or Max Brosmer if they didn't envision them having any sort of role. That leaves McCarthy as the odd man out. It feels a bit bizarre to talk about cutting bait on a first-round pick after just one year of NFL action, but it was a pretty brutal stretch. He missed all of 2024 due to injury, and across 10 games last year, he completed just 57.6% of his pass attempts for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. A fresh start might be the only way for McCarthy to salvage his NFL career, but until that happens, he can be avoided in all fantasy football leagues.
Aug 30, 2026 6:45 PM EST
J.J. McCarthy Projected to be Left Off 53-Man Roster
The Athletic's Alec Lewis is projecting Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (ankle) to lose out on the QB2 job to veteran Carson Wentz and to be left off the initial 53-man roster to begin the 2026 season. McCarthy struggled in last week's preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens, came out of it with a minor ankle injury, and was held out of the preseason finale on Friday against the Denver Broncos. Wentz made the start on Friday and appears to be in line to be the Vikings' backup behind starter Kyler Murray. McCarthy's "comfort (or lack thereof) with being the QB3 could dictate his future in Minnesota," Lewis writes. Max Brosmer's future with the organization is also in doubt after a poor preseason performance. McCarthy, the 10th overall pick from Michigan in 2024, missed his entire rookie campaign after having surgery to fix the meniscus in his knee. In his first go as a starter in the NFL last year, McCarthy flopped, playing in only 10 games due to injuries and throwing for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. A trade out of town at this point might be the best thing for McCarthy's long-term fantasy value in dynasty/keeper leagues.
Aug 29, 2026 8:45 AM EST
J.J. McCarthy Not Playing in Preseason Finale Against Denver
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (ankle) will not play in the team's preseason finale on Friday night against the hosting Denver Broncos, multiple sources told Alec Lewis of The Athletic. The Vikings had hoped that McCarthy's ankle would be healed ahead of the game, but he ultimately was not comfortable enough to suit up. The good news is that his injury is considered minor, and he is day-to-day. McCarthy picked up the ankle injury in last weekend's preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens, in which he struggled in the face of pressure. The Vikings already named Kyler Murray as their Week 1 starter, with McCarthy now battling veteran Carson Wentz for QB2 duties to open his third year in the NFL. If the 23-year-old cannot beat out Wentz, he could be a trade candidate before the regular-season opener. The former 10th overall pick in 2024 from Michigan missed all of his rookie year after having knee surgery, and he completed just 57.6% of his pass attempts for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in just 10 games last year due to injuries. Early in his career, McCarthy has not looked like a viable NFL starter, cratering his fantasy value in dynasty/keeper leagues.
Aug 28, 2026 2:47 PM EST
J.J. McCarthy Among Other Quarterbacks Gaining Interest on Trade Market?
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy is among the quarterbacks who "could be on the move in the next few weeks," according to Benjamin Allbright of KOA Colorado. Allbright reports that McCarthy, Tua Tagovailoa, Dillon Gabriel, and Anthony Richardson Sr. are signal-callers who "have had calls placed on them to varying degrees of interest." The 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, McCarthy missed his entire rookie season with a knee injury and then struggled in his first chance to be a starter in 2025. Across 10 games last season, the 23-year-old completed 57.6% of his pass attempts for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. The Vikings signed veteran quarterback Kyler Murray over the offseason, and Murray will enter 2026 as the team's QB1. McCarthy may not even be the favorite to be Minnesota's backup, as the team also rosters veteran quarterback Carson Wentz. It's not clear that there is a team around the league that views McCarthy as an immediate starting option, but at this point, his dynasty value would likely be better served by a change of scenery.
Aug 27, 2026 12:29 PM EST
J.J. McCarthy Getting a Day Off While Nursing Ankle Injury
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said that quarterback J.J. McCarthy (ankle) is getting a day off from training camp practice on Wednesday for an ankle injury that he suffered in last Saturday's preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens, according to Alec Lewis of The Athletic. The Vikings are hoping to have McCarthy start their preseason finale on Friday in Denver against the Broncos as he continues to compete with veteran Carson Wentz for the QB2 job behind starter Kyler Murray. The 23-year-old McCarthy's ankle injury obviously is not serious, but his fantasy stock in dynasty/keeper leagues has never been lower after he lost the starting QB battle to Murray. If McCarthy loses the backup job to Wentz, he will become a prime trade candidate before the start of the 2026 season. The former 10th overall pick from Michigan missed his entire rookie season in 2024 due to knee surgery and then played in only 10 games in 2025 while completing 57.6% of his passes for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions for the Vikes.
Aug 26, 2026 10:34 AM EST
J.J. McCarthy Splitting Second-Team Reps
In a relatively short Minnesota Vikings training camp practice on Tuesday, quarterback J.J. McCarthy and veteran Carson Wentz split second-team reps, according to Kevin Seifert of ESPN. McCarthy's dynasty/keeper stock continues to plummet after the Vikings recently announced what most of us already expected: that Kyler Murray had won the starting QB job entering the 2026 season. The 23-year-old former 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft from Michigan missed his entire rookie campaign due to a meniscus injury in his knee that required surgery, and when he finally got his chance last year, he flopped due to injuries, accuracy issues, and questionable decision-making. McCarthy completed 57.6% of his pass attempts for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in his first 10 starts for the Vikings. If he loses out on the QB2 competition to Wentz, McCarthy could become a trade candidate before the start of the 2026 campaign. If he stays with the Vikes, it might take another injury to Murray for McCarthy to get another shot at starting this year.
Aug 25, 2026 3:29 PM EST
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