QB - Minnesota Vikings
- 6' 3"
- 219 lbs
- Age 23
- Michigan
2026 Outlook
- Draft Rank (ECR)
- #326
- Best / Worst
- #238 / #360
- ADP
- #267
Availability
Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said J.J. McCarthy is "more than likely" to start Saturday's preseason game against the Ravens.
Fantasy Impact
Kyler Murray will not play on Saturday. McCarthy remains the QB2 for Minnesota heading into the season.
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell made it clear that J.J. MCCarthy is the Vikings’ No. 2 QB.
Fantasy Impact
O'Connell added that he wants the room to remain competitive and did not rule out further consideration. Kyler Murray was named the starter.
JJ McCarthy is set to take reps with both the first and second team offenses in training camp.
Fantasy Impact
McCarthy and Kyler Murray will both be seeing time with the first and second team offenses as Minnesota's quarterback battle continues. McCarthy has the advantage in terms of familiarity with the system, but Murray brings a veteran presence to the offense.
ESPN's Dan Graziano reported that the Vikings still believes in J.J. McCarthy long-term.
Fantasy Impact
"People I've talked to who are close to this situation insist that the Vikings haven't given up on McCarthy -- that part of their hope is bringing in (Kyler) Murray sends some sort of shock to McCarthy's system and gets him refocused on whatever they think he got away from last year," Graziano said. It still remains likely that Murray is the favorite to start Week 1 for Minnesota, but this will be a situation to monitor heading into OTAs and training camp.
J.J. McCarthy has been the subject of many rumors at the NFL combine. The drumbeat has continued that the Vikings are trying to find ways to bring in competition to eventually replace the young QB.
Fantasy Impact
It’s important to note that these are still rumors. The Vikings have done nothing as of yet to put McCarthy’s job in danger. However, free agency and the new league year is right around the corner. We will likely see them bring in some sort of QB competition to at least back up McCarthy, as Max Brosmer was horrid in his time filling in for J.J., and veteran Carson Wentz is still recovering from injury.
