Who Should I Start? Desmond Ridder or J.J. McCarthy

Tuesday, September 16, 5:09 PM

The Minnesota Vikings signed free-agent quarterback Desmond Ridder to their 53-man roster on Monday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The Vikings need some depth at the QB position with J.J. McCarthy out two to four weeks after suffering a high-ankle sprain in the Sunday night loss to the Atlanta Falcons. With McCarthy out for Week 3 against the Cincinnati Bengals and possibly beyond, veteran Carson Wentz will step into starting duties under center for Minnesota, with undrafted rookie Max Brosmer serving as his backup. Given Brosmer's lack of experience in the NFL, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Ridder be elevated to the No. 2 role sooner than later once he learns the offense. Ridder, a third-round pick in 2022 by the Falcons, quickly wore out his welcome in Atlanta and spent last year as the backup for the Las Vegas Raiders.

Tuesday, November 11, 10:14 AM

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy has been hot-and-cold in his limited experience as the team's starter, but the Vikings believe his struggles are to be expected as he acclimates to the NFL. The league's youngest starter at age 22, McCarthy is completing 53.7% of his passes with five touchdowns and six interceptions through four games. The Vikings certainly didn't help the young quarterback with eight false start penalties in Sunday's loss to Baltimore, which contributed heavily to only 13 carries for running backs and 42 passing attempts. McCarthy currently has the highest depth of target of any quarterback in the NFL, and Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell acknowledged some of the game scripts have not "fit hand in hand with where you'd like the game to be for the ascension of (McCarthy's) development." While Minnesota continues taking the long view with McCarthy, managers will have to gauge their risk tolerance for playing an erratic, if promising, young quarterback during the fantasy home stretch.