Who Should I Start? Cooper Rush or J.J. McCarthy

Sunday, October 12, 3:30 PM

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Cooper Rush was benched during Sunday's Week 6 contest against the Los Angeles Rams. He has been replaced by Tyler Huntley, who is currently on his third stint with the organization. Rush has struggled immensely while filling in for Lamar Jackson (hamstring). Last week, he had 179 yards and three interceptions. This week, through three quarters of play before being benched, he amassed 72 yards, one interception, and one last fumble. Trailing by multiple possessions in the final quarter, Baltimore decided that a change was necessary. The pivot to Huntley gives the Ravens a more mobile and athletic option under center. He'll likely quarterback the Ravens for the rest of Sunday's contest and could be in the conversation to start Baltimore's next game in Week 8 if Jackson remains sidelined.

Friday, February 13, 7:08 AM

A first-round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy was expected to take over as the team's unquestioned QB1 in 2025. However, the 23-year-old struggled mightily in his first chance to be an NFL starter this past season. Across 10 starts, McCarthy completed 57.6% of his pass attempts for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He was able to add some value with his legs, rushing for 181 yards and four touchdowns on 37 attempts. However, injuries and availability have also been a major issue for McCarthy. After missing his entire rookie year with a torn meniscus, McCarthy missed time in 2025 with a high-ankle sprain, a concussion, and a fractured hand. Heading into 2026, Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell has stated that the team aims to have a "competitive" quarterback situation in training camp. While McCarthy is still young and could still be the long-term answer in Minnesota, his fantasy stock in dynasty formats is trending in the wrong direction.