Who Should I Start? Kirk Cousins or J.J. McCarthy
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Kirk Cousins News
Wednesday, March 11, 12:15 PM
The Atlanta Falcons officially released veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins at the start of the new league year on Wednesday, according to Kevin Seifert of ESPN. The 37-year-old four-time Pro Bowler spent the last two seasons in Atlanta, where he threw for 5,229 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 21 interceptions in 24 games (22 starts). He was benched late in the 2024 campaign in favor of rookie Michael Penix Jr. and entered last season as the clear backup. Cousins ended up starting eight games for the Falcons in 2025 due to Penix's season-ending knee injury. He had a few notable performances, but overall, he looked more like a QB nearing the end of his career. Cousins had 1,721 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, and five picks for the Falcons last year. He'll be an option to reunite with the Minnesota Vikings this offseason, but a starting job isn't going to be guaranteed, no matter where Cousins resurfaces for the 2026 campaign.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17.9 | 7.9 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
J.J. McCarthy News
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.
Kirk Cousins vs. J.J. McCarthy
Still trying to decide between Cousins and McCarthy? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Kirk Cousins is projected to score 0.0 points this week while J.J. McCarthy is projected to score 17.9 points.
Latest Fantasy News
