Who Should I Start? Marcus Mariota or J.J. McCarthy

Wednesday, March 12, 2:18 PM

Veteran free-agent quarterback Marcus Mariota is signing a one-year deal to return to the Washington Commanders, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The former No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans spent last season with Washington and primarily backed up Jayden Daniels. Mariota threw for 364 yards and four touchdowns in three games a season ago. While Mariota clearly has no path to the starting job, he will be on the fantasy football radar in deep Superflex or two-QB leagues as a deep bench stash. Should Daniels have to miss any time next season, Mariota would have at least low-end QB2 upside playing with wideouts Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel Sr. along with tight end Zach Ertz in Kliff Kingsbury's offense.

Thursday, March 27, 1:39 PM

Naming quarterback J.J. McCarthy (knee) as the Minnesota Vikings' starting quarterback is "the outcome we want" and "the outcome we're headed towards," general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said on Wednesday. However, the GM also refused to rule out the possibility of revisiting talks with free-agent QB Aaron Rodgers later this offseason if he's still available. McCarthy and Brett Rypien are the only QBs currently on the Vikings roster after both Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones left in free agency. McCarthy, the 10th overall pick in 2024, missed all of his rookie season due to a torn meniscus in his right knee suffered in the preseason. However, he's been cleared for offseason activities and is working to regain weight after losing more than 20 pounds. McCarthy said he hasn't been told he's the starter, but barring something unexpected, he should be under center for the Vikes in Week 1 this fall.