Who Should I Start? Aaron Rodgers or J.J. McCarthy

Tuesday, January 27, 3:29 PM

When asked if he'd like veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers to return in 2026, new Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy said, "Definitely, I don't see why you wouldn't." McCarthy said he has spoken to Rodgers since being hired and thought that he was a great asset for the team in 2025. Rodgers will be a free agent in March, and it's unclear if he plans on returning for a 22nd season in the NFL. The expectation is that he'd leave Pittsburgh following the departure of long-time head coach Mike Tomlin. The Steelers clearly have interest in a reunion with Rodgers, but it remains to be seen if that's mutual, or if he has interest in playing for McCarthy again after the two reportedly had a falling out during their time together with the Green Bay Packers. If Rodgers returns to the Steelers, he'd once again be a low-end QB2 for fantasy with a team that needs more WR depth behind DK Metcalf.

Tuesday, January 13, 2:54 PM

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said he wants a competitive situation at quarterback going into next season, according to Alec Lewis of The Athletic. O'Connell said McCarthy "is going to be a major emphasis," but "the competition in that room will only enhance the entire team." The Vikings want McCarthy to seize the starting job, but he's going to have to earn it and play better than he did in 2026, and the Vikings are fully expected to add to their QB room to push McCarthy this offseason. The 22-year-old former first-round signal-caller missed his entire rookie season in 2024 due to a knee injury that required surgery. McCarthy missed time with multiple injuries in 2025 and struggled with turnovers and efficiency when he was on the field, completing 57.6% of his pass attempts for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in 10 starts. Fantasy managers will want to see improvement from the Michigan product before considering him as anything more than a low-end QB2 option with upside.