Who Should I Start? Jalen Hurts or J.J. McCarthy

Friday, January 17, 9:58 PM

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts will look to exploit the Los Angeles Rams defense on Sunday in the Divisional Round. Hurts delivered a solid performance in last week's Wild Card win over the Packers, completing 61.9% of his passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns while adding 36 rushing yards. However, his output was tempered, in part, by the Eagles' reliance on Saquon Barkley. Hurts struggled in the Eagles' Week 12 matchup with the Rams, finishing with just 15 fantasy points as Barkley stole the show. Despite completing 68.2% of his passes, Hurts managed only 179 passing yards and one touchdown while rushing for 39 yards. Facing a Rams defense that allowed one of the league's lowest QB rushing averages, Hurts must lean on his dual-threat ability to deliver a strong playoff performance.

Thursday, January 16, 2:30 PM

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (knee) has resumed on-field work, according to head coach Kevin O'Connell. The 2024 first-round pick out of Michigan suffered a preseason ACL tear that cost him his entire rookie campaign, forcing veteran Sam Darnold into the starting role. However, it was unclear how much McCarthy was slated to play in Year 1. Darnold threw 35 touchdowns and led Minnesota to 14 wins in 2024, but his late-season collapse in Week 18 and the NFC Wild Card Round could impact his standing with the organization. In all likelihood, McCarthy will start at some point in 2025, and he's an intriguing fantasy football option due to his elite supporting cast consisting of Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson.