Should I Start J.J. McCarthy?

Monday, June 29, 12:29 PM

After missing his entire rookie season in 2024 with a knee injury, Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy was handed his team's starting job entering 2025. The 23-year-old missed seven games with ankle, hand, and concussion issues, and he was highly ineffective when healthy. Across his 10 starts, McCarthy completed 57.6% of his pass attempts for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. McCarthy is still very young, and he carries some dual-threat potential for fantasy managers after rushing for 181 yards and four touchdowns in 2025. He enters 2026 in a battle with veteran quarterback Kyler Murray for the Vikings QB1 role. While Minnesota has not named a starter, Murray is the presumptive favorite. Still, Murray has been highly injury-prone in his career, missing at least nine games in two out of the last three seasons. Given how far McCarthy's stock has fallen, he could be worth a buy-low dart throw for dynasty managers entering 2026.