Who Should I Start? Aaron Jones Sr. or J.J. McCarthy
Week 2 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13.3 | 63.9 | 0.4 | 2.2 | 15.6 | 0.1 |
Aaron Jones Sr. News
Saturday, September 19, 6:29 PM
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones Sr. entered 2026 as part of a split backfield with fellow veteran Jordan Mason (thumb). However, Mason was placed on Injured Reserve following Minnesota's Week 1 win over the Green Bay Packers with a thumb fracture. After recording 12 carries for 40 yards and a touchdown against Green Bay, Jones Sr. now looks to be in a position to play a much larger role in the Vikings offense. In Week 2, Jones Sr. and the Vikings will travel to Chicago to take on the Bears. Chicago's run defense struggled in Week 1, allowing 5.7 yards per carry and two touchdowns to the Carolina Panthers. Minnesota will also be starting backup quarterback Carson Wentz, so the Vikings could look to control the game by keeping the ball on the ground. Given the likely increase in workload, Jones Sr. profiles as a top-24 fantasy running back in Week 2.
Week 2 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.0 | 3.9 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
J.J. McCarthy News
Wednesday, September 9, 10:51 AM
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.
Aaron Jones Sr. vs. J.J. McCarthy
Still trying to decide between Jones Sr. and McCarthy? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Aaron Jones Sr. is projected to score 13.3 points this week while J.J. McCarthy is projected to score 7.0 points.
Latest Fantasy News
