J.J. McCarthy Fantasy outlook, stats and Week 4 start/sit for 2026
- Age
- 23
- Height / weight
- 6'3", 219 lb
- Experience
- 3rd season
- Drafted
- 2024 R1, #10
2025 Season
- PPR PPG
- 13.7
- Pos rank
- QB29
- Rostered
- 5%
Week 4 vs. Cardinals, Sun Oct 4, 1:00 PM ET 4th vs. QBs, favorable
J.J. McCarthy Fantasy Football Stats & Analysis
Producing as
QB29 · Depth
Scoring rate
13.7 PPG
Played
10 games
Role
Flex
Trend
Heating Up
Role Direction
| Usage | Season | Last 4 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pass Att/G | 24.3 | 21.0 | -14% |
| Rush Att/G | 3.7 | 3.5 | -5% |
J.J. McCarthy's 2026 Season, Week by Week
The next four matchups include three of the league's softest pass defenses.
- Week 1, Win,vs DAL,—,Did not play
- Week 2, Loss,at LAR,—,Did not play
- Week 3, Win,vs TEN,—,Did not play
- Up next. Week 4, Oct 4,vs ARI,FavorableCardinals vs. QBs
- Week 5, Oct 11,at WAS,FavorableCommanders vs. QBs
- Week 6, Oct 18,vs NO,NeutralSaints vs. QBs
- Week 7, Oct 25,at HOU,FavorableTexans vs. QBs
Matchup rank is PPR points allowed to QBs through Week 4. 1st allows the most, 32nd the fewest.
Should You Start or Roster J.J. McCarthy?
McCarthy's debut season offered little to build excitement on. Across 10 games he completed just 57.6% of his throws for 1,632 yards with 11 touchdowns against 12 interceptions, and the underlying numbers were uglier than the box score: a -0.151 EPA per play, a 41% success rate, and a -5.7 CPOE that pegged him as a clear negative as a passer. His 21.3% bad-throw rate and 51 poor throws underscore the accuracy concerns, though 181 rushing yards and four scores on 37 carries added a thin floor.
The bigger problem is opportunity. Minnesota brought in Kyler Murray, who profiles as the Week 1 favorite, pushing McCarthy toward QB36 territory with an ADP outside pick 270 and roster rates near 2.5%. The franchise still believes in him long-term, so he's a stash worth monitoring, but until the depth chart clears he's an afterthought in standard formats.
Career Fantasy Stats by Season
| Season | Team | GP | Pass yds | TD | INT | Rush yds | FPTS | PPG | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | MIN | 10 | 1,632 | 11 | 12 | 181 | 137.4 | 13.7 | QB30 |
| Career | 10 | 1,632 | 11 | 12 | 181 | 137.4 | 13.7 |
Rest-of-Season Outlook and Availability
Outlook
The bigger problem is opportunity. Minnesota brought in Kyler Murray, who profiles as the Week 1 favorite, pushing McCarthy toward QB36 territory with an ADP outside pick 270 and roster rates near 2.5%. Full outlook
Injury status
Active, no designation
QBs like J.J. McCarthy
J.J. McCarthy Fantasy Football FAQ
Should I start J.J. McCarthy in Week 4?
J.J. McCarthy plays Week 4 against the Cardinals. The Cardinals rank 4th in PPR points allowed to QBs, a favorable matchup. Get the start/sit call for McCarthy.
Is J.J. McCarthy worth rostering in fantasy football?
Yes, in the right league: J.J. McCarthy is a streamer in superflex and 2QB leagues and waiver-wire material in 1QB leagues. He is rostered in 5% of Sleeper leagues.
What are J.J. McCarthy's upcoming fantasy football matchups?
J.J. McCarthy's next three games are Week 4 vs. the Cardinals (4th in PPR points allowed to QBs, favorable), Week 5 at the Commanders (2nd in PPR points allowed to QBs, favorable) and Week 6 vs. the Saints (17th in PPR points allowed to QBs, neutral). Two of them are favorable by points allowed to the position.
J.J. McCarthy 2025 Stats
2025 finalTouchdowns accounted for 49% of his fantasy production, making his weekly output highly TD-dependent.
Passing
- Yards
- 1,632
- Comp %
- 57.6%
- TD
- 11
- INT
- 12
140/243 Comp/Att6.7 Y/A72.6 Rating
Rushing
- Yards
- 181
- TD
- 4
37 Att4.9 Y/C
Fantasy (PPR)
- Points
- 137.4
- Pos rank
- QB30
24.5 Best Week 15 DAL2.5 Worst Week 12 GB
Advanced Passing Stats
McCarthy pushes the ball downfield more than most QBs and holds the ball longer than most.
| Stat | 2025 9 games | |
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency | ||
| EPA per play | −0.19 | 8th |
| Success rate | 40.1% | 13th |
| Completion rate | 57.3% | 0th |
| Yards per attempt | 6.6 | 25th |
| TD rate | 5.0% | 65th |
| Usage | ||
| Pass attempts per game | 24.4 | 20th |
| Style | ||
| Time to throw | 3.02s | 92nd |
| Air yards per attempt | 8.9 | 90th |
| Deep-attempt rate | 13.4% | 83rd |
| Context | ||
| Completion % over expected | −6.2 | 3rd |
| Pressure rate | 27.0% | 10th |
Percentiles: 2025 (9 games, weeks 1–17) among 41. Grey bars describe style, not quality.
Profile: McCarthy trails his expected completion rate and adds little per play.
For fantasy: his floor is his volume, 24.3 pass attempts and 3.7 carries a game in 2025; efficiency decides how much of it becomes points.
Fantasy Points per Game, Every Season
13.7
Fantasy PPG
QB29
Fantasy finish
163
Pass yds/g
1.1
Pass TD/g
J.J. McCarthy career stats by season
| Season | GP | Cmp | Att | Pass yds | TD | INT | Rush yds | FPTS | PPG | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | 140 | 243 | 1,632 | 11 | 12 | 181 | 137.4 | 13.7 | QB30 |
| Career | 10 | 140 | 243 | 1,632 | 11 | 12 | 181 | 137.4 | 13.7 | — |
What His Career Numbers Say
13.7
Career PPG
10 games over 1 season
50%
Availability
Share of team games he played
30%
Top-12 weeks
Share of his games as a QB1
McCarthy has averaged 13.7 fantasy points per game over 10 games and 1 season, without a top-12 finish.
Career numbers describe the past; for what he is worth from here, see McCarthy's rest-of-season rank and trade value in Redraft Command.
Career highs
- 1,632Pass yards2025
- 11Pass TD2025
- 137.4Fantasy pts2025 · QB30
- 1,632Career pass yds2025–2025
QBs like J.J. McCarthy
J.J. McCarthy Stats FAQ
What were J.J. McCarthy's stats last season?
In 2025, J.J. McCarthy completed 140 of 243 passes for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, adding 181 rushing yards in 10 games. That was 137.4 PPR points (13.7 per game), a QB30 finish.
What are J.J. McCarthy's career NFL stats?
Across 1 season and 10 games, J.J. McCarthy has 1,632 passing yards, 11 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions, plus 181 rushing yards, for 137.4 PPR fantasy points (13.7 per game).
How many touchdowns does J.J. McCarthy have in his career?
J.J. McCarthy has thrown 11 touchdown passes and run for 4 touchdowns in his NFL career, 15 in all, over 10 games.
How many career passing yards does J.J. McCarthy have?
J.J. McCarthy has 1,632 career passing yards over 1 season, on 140 completions in 243 attempts.
J.J. McCarthy Game Log 2025
Games played
10
FPTS/G (PPR)
13.7
Pass yds/g
163
Pass TD/g
1.1
Cmp %
57.6%
Rush yds/g
18
Across 10 games in 2025, J.J. McCarthy has averaged 163 passing yards, 1.1 passing touchdowns and 13.7 PPR fantasy points per game. J.J. McCarthy has finished as a top-12 QB in 3 of those weeks, and inside the top 24 in 5. The best week was Week 15 against DAL (24.5 points); the lowest was Week 12 against GB (2.5).
| Wk | Opp | Result | FPTS | CMP/ATT | PASS YDS | PASS TD | INT | CAR | RUSH YDS | RUSH TD | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CHI4th | W 27-24 | 23.2 | 13/20 | 143 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 25 | 1 | QB11 |
Week 1 · CHI · W 27-24 · 23.2 pts
How the 23.2 points scored (PPR)
| |||||||||||
| 2 | ATL10th | L 6-22 | 4.8 | 11/21 | 158 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 25 | 0 | QB33 |
Week 2 · ATL · L 6-22 · 4.8 pts
How the 4.8 points scored (PPR)
| |||||||||||
| 3 | Did not play | ||||||||||
| 4 | Did not play | ||||||||||
| 5 | Did not play | ||||||||||
| 6 | Bye week | ||||||||||
| 7 | Did not play | ||||||||||
| 8 | Did not play | ||||||||||
| 9 | DET8th | W 27-24 | 19.9 | 14/25 | 143 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 12 | 1 | QB13 |
Week 9 · DET · W 27-24 · 19.9 pts
How the 19.9 points scored (PPR)
| |||||||||||
| 10 | BAL15th | L 19-27 | 16.7 | 20/42 | 248 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 48 | 0 | QB14 |
Week 10 · BAL · L 19-27 · 16.7 pts
How the 16.7 points scored (PPR)
| |||||||||||
| 11 | CHI4th | L 17-19 | 8.0 | 16/32 | 150 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | QB26 |
Week 11 · CHI · L 17-19 · 8.0 pts
How the 8.0 points scored (PPR)
| |||||||||||
| 12 | GB11th | L 6-23 | 2.5 | 12/19 | 87 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 0 | QB29 |
Week 12 · GB · L 6-23 · 2.5 pts
How the 2.5 points scored (PPR)
| |||||||||||
| 13 | Did not play | ||||||||||
| 14 | WAS6th | W 31-0 | 20.4 | 16/23 | 163 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 19 | 0 | QB10 |
Week 14 · WAS · W 31-0 · 20.4 pts
How the 20.4 points scored (PPR)
| |||||||||||
| 15 | DAL1st | W 34-26 | 24.5 | 15/24 | 250 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 15 | 1 | QB7 |
Week 15 · DAL · W 34-26 · 24.5 pts
How the 24.5 points scored (PPR)
| |||||||||||
| 16 | NYG16th | W 16-13 | 9.3 | 9/14 | 108 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 20 | 1 | QB25 |
Week 16 · NYG · W 16-13 · 9.3 pts
How the 9.3 points scored (PPR)
| |||||||||||
| 17 | Did not play | ||||||||||
| 18 | GB11th | W 16-3 | 8.0 | 14/23 | 182 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0 | QB26 |
Week 18 · GB · W 16-3 · 8.0 pts
How the 8.0 points scored (PPR)
| |||||||||||
Opponent rank is fantasy points allowed to QBs across 2025: 1st allows the most, 32nd the fewest.
Where His Weeks Finished
Three QB1 weeks, two QB2 weeks and five busts. For a quarterback ranked QB29 overall, the spread matters more than the average: you get a top-12 ceiling and a waiver-wire floor.
Wk 1 QB11 · Wk 2 QB33 · Wk 9 QB13 · Wk 10 QB14 · Wk 11 QB26 · Wk 12 QB29 · Wk 14 QB10 · Wk 15 QB7 · Wk 16 QB25 · Wk 18 QB26
Game-by-Game Breakdown
Held in check by Green Bay
14/23, 182 yds, 0 TD, 0 INT. 2 carries, 7 yds.
15 of his 23 throws went to Justin Jefferson (11 targets) and Ty Chandler (4). At 7.9 yards per attempt, he pushed the ball downfield. A clean, mistake-free start that landed well below his season average.
Held in check by the Giants
9/14, 108 yds, 0 TD, 1 INT. 2 carries, 20 yds, 1 TD. 1 fumble lost.
11 of his 14 throws went to Justin Jefferson (8 targets) and Aaron Jones Sr. (3). At 7.7 yards per attempt, he pushed the ball downfield. The touchdown kept it from being a total loss, but this is his floor when the offense can't sustain drives.
QB1 week at Dallas
15/24, 250 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT. 4 carries, 15 yds, 1 TD.
13 of his 24 throws went to Justin Jefferson (8 targets) and Jalen Nailor (5), and his TD pass went to Nailor. His most efficient game of the season at 10.4 yards per attempt. One interception in a game that landed well above his season average.
QB1 week vs. Washington
16/23, 163 yds, 3 TD, 0 INT. 6 carries, 19 yds.
11 of his 23 throws went to Jordan Addison (7 targets) and Justin Jefferson (4), and his TD passes went to Josh Oliver and T.J. Hockenson. A clean, mistake-free start that landed well above his season average.
Shut down by Green Bay
12/19, 87 yds, 0 TD, 2 INT. 2 carries, 10 yds.
10 of his 19 throws went to Justin Jefferson (6 targets) and Aaron Jones Sr. (4). Just 4.6 yards per attempt. Two interceptions in a game that landed well below his season average.
Shut down by Chicago
16/32, 150 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT.
A 32-attempt game while chasing points produced one total touchdown. 16 of those throws went to Justin Jefferson (9 targets) and Jordan Addison (7), and his TD pass went to Addison. Just 4.7 yards per attempt.
Steady in a loss vs. Baltimore
20/42, 248 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT. 5 carries, 48 yds.
A 42-attempt game while chasing points produced one total touchdown. 23 of those throws went to Justin Jefferson (12 targets) and Jordan Addison (11), and his TD pass went to Jalen Nailor. At 5.9 yards per attempt, most of it came underneath.
Steady in a win at Detroit
14/25, 143 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT. 9 carries, 12 yds, 1 TD.
13 of his 25 throws went to Justin Jefferson (9 targets) and Jordan Addison (4), and his TD passes went to Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson. At 5.7 yards per attempt, most of it came underneath. One interception in a game that landed well above his season average.
Shut down by Atlanta
11/21, 158 yds, 0 TD, 2 INT. 5 carries, 25 yds. 1 fumble lost.
11 of his 21 throws went to Justin Jefferson (6 targets) and Jalen Nailor (5). Two interceptions and one lost fumble in a game that landed well below his season average.
QB1 week at Chicago
13/20, 143 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT. 2 carries, 25 yds, 1 TD.
11 of his 20 throws went to Justin Jefferson (7 targets) and T.J. Hockenson (4), and his TD passes went to Jefferson and Aaron Jones Sr.. One interception in a game that landed well above his season average.
Fantasy Points By Week
- Weekly points
- Season average (13.7)
Last Five Games
FPTS/G (PPR)
12.9
Weeks 12–18
High
24.5
Low
2.5
Pass yds/g
158
Pass TD/g
1.0
Upcoming Matchups
View matchup — New York Giants vs Arizona Cardinals
View matchup — New York Giants vs Washington Commanders
View matchup — New York Giants vs New Orleans Saints
View matchup — New York Giants vs Houston Texans
QBs like J.J. McCarthy
J.J. McCarthy Rest-of-Season Outlook
QB3 for deep leagues only
Preseason Projection vs. Reality
He finished QB30 last season at 13.7 points per game.
Our 2026 Preseason Outlook
McCarthy's debut season offered little to build excitement on. Across 10 games he completed just 57.6% of his throws for 1,632 yards with 11 touchdowns against 12 interceptions, and the underlying numbers were uglier than the box score: a -0.151 EPA per play, a 41% success rate, and a -5.7 CPOE that pegged him as a clear negative as a passer. His 21.3% bad-throw rate and 51 poor throws underscore the accuracy concerns, though 181 rushing yards and four scores on 37 carries added a thin floor.
The bigger problem is opportunity. Minnesota brought in Kyler Murray, who profiles as the Week 1 favorite, pushing McCarthy toward QB36 territory with an ADP outside pick 270 and roster rates near 2.5%. The franchise still believes in him long-term, so he's a stash worth monitoring, but until the depth chart clears he's an afterthought in standard formats.
What Drives His Outlook
His 2025 rank among the 41 quarterbacks who played at least six games. Each bar is one quarterback, best on the left; his is highlighted.
Passing volume
Efficiency
Rushing
- Success rate
- 41.0%
- CPOE
- −5.7
- Sacks taken
- 27
- Pressure rate
- 26.5%
- Bad-throw rate
- 21.3%
- Deep-attempt rate
- 13.0%
What Could Change His Value
Upside
- A soft stretchThe Cardinals in Week 4 and the Commanders in Week 5 are top-10 matchups for QBs.Wk 4 ARI, 4thWk 5 WAS, 2ndWk 6 NO, 17thWk 7 HOU, 9th
Risk
- RoleHe's QB2 on the depth chart.
- Light passing volume24.3 attempts per game, 35th of 41 QBs in 2025.
- Pressure and sacks27 sacks and a 26.5% pressure rate in 2025.
QBs like J.J. McCarthy
J.J. McCarthy Fantasy Outlook FAQ
What is J.J. McCarthy's fantasy outlook for the rest of the 2026 season?
J.J. McCarthy projects as a qB3 for deep leagues only for the rest of the 2026 season: a streamer in superflex and 2QB leagues and waiver-wire material in 1QB leagues. His efficiency (-0.15 EPA per play, 37th of 41 QBs in 2025) holds him back. See his live rank in Redraft Command.
What is J.J. McCarthy's rest-of-season fantasy ranking?
J.J. McCarthy is the QB30 in PPR points per game. That puts him in QB3 territory, waiver-wire material in 12-team 1QB leagues.
What is J.J. McCarthy's projected role going forward?
J.J. McCarthy is QB2 on the depth chart, so a bigger role needs an injury or a change ahead of him.
What is J.J. McCarthy's fantasy football upside?
J.J. McCarthy's upside: the Cardinals in Week 4 and the Commanders in Week 5 are top-10 matchups for QBs.
What could hurt J.J. McCarthy's fantasy value?
J.J. McCarthy's risks: his efficiency (-0.15 EPA per play, 37th of 41 QBs in 2025) limits his scoring. See his injury status and history.
How difficult is J.J. McCarthy's remaining fantasy schedule?
Favorable: of his next seven games, 5 come against a top-10 matchup for QBs and 1 against one of the stingiest defenses, by PPR points allowed to the position.
Latest J.J. McCarthy News & Updates
Remains with Vikings (opens in new tab)
Staying in Minnesota, keeping starting role with the Vikings.
Fantasy take: A depth-chart change: his role drives his value, and the Outlook tab has the full picture.
Season Timeline
Every update this season, grouped by week, newest first.
Week 3Sep 27W 12–7 vs TEN
Game recap coming soon
Week 2Sep 21L 6–28 @ LAR
Game recap coming soon
Week 1Sep 13W 28–20 vs DAL
Game recap coming soon
PreseasonAugust
Fantasy impact: Neutral. Practices Monday (opens in new tab)
Returned to practice Monday, signaling progress toward availability.
Fantasy take: A roster move: watch how it changes his snaps and targets in the next game.
Read full report (opens in new tab)Fantasy impact: Neutral. Banged up in preseason game (opens in new tab)
Left preseason game banged up; monitor his status.
Fantasy take: Context for his season; the Outlook tab has our rest-of-season view.
Read full report (opens in new tab)
No updates of this type yet this season.
Around the Giants
QBs like J.J. McCarthy
J.J. McCarthy News FAQ
What is the latest news on J.J. McCarthy?
The latest McCarthy update, from August 30: Remains with Vikings. Staying in Minnesota, keeping starting role with the Vikings.
How does the latest J.J. McCarthy news affect his fantasy value?
Not much: A depth-chart change: his role drives his value, and the Outlook tab has the full picture. See the updated fantasy outlook.
Has J.J. McCarthy's role changed?
The latest depth-chart news on McCarthy: Remains with Vikings (August 30). Staying in Minnesota, keeping starting role with the Vikings.
Did J.J. McCarthy sign with a new team?
The latest signing news on McCarthy: Practices Monday (August 24). Returned to practice Monday, signaling progress toward availability.
J.J. McCarthy Bio
J.J. McCarthy is a quarterback for the New York Giants, where he wears No. 18. Born January 20, 2003, in Evanston, IL, he attended IMG Academy and played college football at Michigan.
The Minnesota Vikings selected McCarthy in round 1, pick 10, of the 2024 NFL Draft. Since then, McCarthy joined the New York Giants in 2026.
In 10 regular-season games since 2025, he has thrown for 1,632 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Career Timeline
2 stops with 2 teams in 3 seasons. Each block's width is the time he spent there.
What happened at each stop
Most recent first.
New York Giants Current team2026–present
Listed on the 2026 roster; no regular-season stats recorded.
Minnesota Vikings2024–2025
Selected in round 1, pick 10, of the 2024 NFL Draft. He was the starter, with 10 starts in 10 games.
College: Michigan
Transactions
- TradedTraded to the New York Giants for a 2027 fifth-round pick.
- Placed on IRPlaced on injured reserve by the Minnesota Vikings.
- SignedSigned his four-year rookie contract with the Minnesota Vikings.
- DraftedSelected by the Minnesota Vikings in round 1, pick 10.
QBs like J.J. McCarthy
About J.J. McCarthy: Bio FAQ
How old is J.J. McCarthy?
J.J. McCarthy is 23 years old. He was born on January 20, 2003. 2026 is his 3rd NFL season.
How tall is J.J. McCarthy?
J.J. McCarthy is 6 feet 3 inches tall (6'3"), listed at 219 pounds, and plays quarterback for the New York Giants.
How much does J.J. McCarthy weigh?
J.J. McCarthy weighs 219 pounds, his listed weight on the New York Giants roster. He is listed at 6'3".
What number does J.J. McCarthy wear?
J.J. McCarthy wears number 18 for the New York Giants. He plays quarterback.
What position does J.J. McCarthy play?
J.J. McCarthy plays quarterback for the New York Giants, wearing number 18. 2026 is his 3rd season in the NFL.
What team does J.J. McCarthy play for?
J.J. McCarthy plays for the New York Giants as a quarterback.
Where did J.J. McCarthy go to college?
J.J. McCarthy played college football at Michigan, after attending IMG Academy (FL). The Minnesota Vikings drafted him out of Michigan in 2024.
When was J.J. McCarthy drafted?
The Minnesota Vikings selected J.J. McCarthy in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft with the 10th overall pick, out of Michigan.
What round was J.J. McCarthy drafted in?
J.J. McCarthy was a first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, taken 10th overall by the Minnesota Vikings.
What pick was J.J. McCarthy in the NFL Draft?
J.J. McCarthy was the 10th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round.
Where is J.J. McCarthy from?
J.J. McCarthy went to high school in Florida, at IMG Academy, before playing college football at Michigan.
When is J.J. McCarthy's birthday?
J.J. McCarthy's birthday is January 20. He was born on January 20, 2003 and is 23 years old.
How long has J.J. McCarthy been in the NFL?
2026 is J.J. McCarthy's 3rd NFL season; he entered the league in 2024 as a first-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings. View his career statistics.
What teams has J.J. McCarthy played for?
J.J. McCarthy has played for the Minnesota Vikings. View his career statistics.
What year did J.J. McCarthy enter the NFL?
J.J. McCarthy entered the NFL in 2024, when the Minnesota Vikings drafted him in the first round. 2026 is his 3rd season.