Who Should I Start? J.J. McCarthy or Drake Maye

Friday, August 16, 4:43 PM

Minnesota Vikings rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy (knee) was officially placed on the season-ending injured reserve on Friday afternoon. In a corresponding move, the Vikings signed quarterback Matt Corral, who will compete for the No. 3 job. McCarthy missed practice earlier this week as he was dealing with knee soreness but eventually underwent an MRI, which showed a tear in his meniscus. The Michigan product underwent knee surgery on Wednesday and will now focus on recovering for the 2025 season. This is a tough blow for the former national champion, who looked quite sharp in the pro debut on Saturday as he went 11-for-17 with 188 passing yards and two scores. Fantasy managers should expect Sam Darnold to serve as the starting quarterback in Minnesota this season, with Nick Mullens slotted as the No. 2.

Sunday, October 20, 6:31 PM

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye completed 26 of 37 passes for 276 yards, two touchdowns, and zero turnovers during Sunday's loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. He also rushed for 18 yards and two sacks. The rookie No. 3 overall pick has looked impressive through his first two starts, tallying 519 passing yards, five touchdowns, two interceptions, and one lost fumble during that span. With that said, matchups with the Texans and Jaguars haven't exactly pitted him against dominant defenses. The 22-year-old will get a more true test next week against the New York Jets, especially with pass rusher Haason Reddick set to make his 2024 debut. Maye ranks as a mid-range fantasy QB2 going forward.