Who Should I Start? Jordan Love or J.J. McCarthy

Wednesday, February 4, 9:46 AM

Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said that quarterback Jordan Love didn't require any surgeries after the 2025 season, according to Jason B. Hirschhorn of NFL.com. Love had surgery on his left thumb during training camp last summer and injured his left (non-throwing) shoulder during the season, but he'll head into training camp this year fully healthy. The Packers made it to the postseason in 2025, but Love was outside the top-12 QBs in overall fantasy points in his fifth year in the NFL, completing 66.3% of his passes for 3,381 yards, 23 touchdowns, and six interceptions in 15 starts. The 27-year-old was solid but unspectacular as the leader of the Packers' offense. It's great news that he won't be rehabbing any injuries this offseason, but as far as fantasy rankings go for 2026, Love will be more of a high-end QB2 target than a No. 1 QB as he heads into his sixth NFL campaign.

Tuesday, February 24, 11:51 AM

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said on Tuesday that he still views quarterback J.J. McCarthy as a franchise signal-caller, according to Kevin Seifert of ESPN. "A lot of those feelings are still the same. It's just the timeline is in a different place for all of us than it was [in 2024]," McConnell said. The Vikings drafted the 23-year-old with the 10th overall pick in 2024 out of Michigan with the intentions of him being the team's long-term QB, but it hasn't gone as planned in his first two years in the NFL. McCarthy missed all of his rookie campaign due to a knee injury that required surgery, and he was extremely inconsistent in his first 10 starts in 2025 while missing time with various injuries. He completed 57.6% of his passes for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Decision-making and accuracy were a big issue, but durability is the primary concern for Minnesota and fantasy managers who have him rostered in dynasty/keeper leagues. There's still time for McCarthy to develop under O'Connell, one of the best QB gurus in the league, but the Vikes may bring in some competition to push him this offseason.