Who Should I Start? J.J. McCarthy or Carson Beck
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
J.J. McCarthy News
Wednesday, July 22, 9:12 AM
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy struggled in his first chance to be an NFL starter in 2025. McCarthy missed seven games due to ankle, concussion, and hand issues and finished the year with 1,632 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. Minnesota brought in some significant competition for McCarthy in free agency, signing veteran quarterback Kyler Murray. Given Murray's established track record from his time with the Arizona Cardinals, it wouldn't be a surprise if McCarthy is limited to QB2 duties in 2026. However, the Vikings reportedly plan to allow the battle between Murray and McCarthy to run through training camp and the preseason. McCarthy is just 23 years old, and Minnesota could still view him as a key piece of the team's future. McCarthy also brings some fantasy juice with his legs, as he rushed for 181 yards and four touchdowns in 10 games last season. With his value at a low point, McCarthy could be a worthy buy-low candidate for dynasty managers.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.1 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Carson Beck News
Wednesday, July 22, 10:50 AM
The Arizona Cardinals and rookie third-round quarterback Carson Beck agreed to terms on Wednesday, and he will sign his four-year, $7.4 million deal, sources told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Beck is one of the last 2026 NFL draft picks to sign before the start of training camp. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound signal-caller will likely open training camp competing with Kedon Slovis for the QB3 job behind veterans Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew. Beck spent five seasons at the University of Georgia before playing for the University of Miami in 2025, where he led the ACC in completions (338) and completion percentage (72.4%) while throwing for 3,813 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in 16 games. He should have a shorter development window because of his experience, but he lacks high-end talent, and his ceiling in fantasy might be that of a midrange QB2 because of his lack of rushing ability. Fantasy managers in redraft leagues can ignore Beck, while in dynasty formats, he's merely a low-upside stash in 2026.
J.J. McCarthy vs. Carson Beck
Still trying to decide between McCarthy and Beck? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that J.J. McCarthy is projected to score 1.5 points this week while Carson Beck is projected to score 2.1 points.
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