Will J.J. McCarthy Start In Week 1? 2024 Fantasy Football Outlook

The one goal for the Minnesota Vikings during the 2024 NFL Draft was to get their franchise quarterback. Well, after trading up one spot with the New York Jets to acquire the 10th overall pick, that finally became a reality. The Vikings used that selection to draft Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy.

McCarthy will now have every chance to prove his potential in a solid Vikings offense. However, he'll have to beat out Sam Darnold and Nick Mullens for the starting job in training camp.

So, will McCarthy start in Week 1 for Minnesota? Let's dive in and find out.

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Will J.J. McCarthy Start in Week 1?

There are a couple of different ways the Vikings can approach McCarthy's rookie campaign. They can sit him to start the year and give Darnold the keys to the offense, or start the former Michigan product right away and allow him to go through the ups and downs that young quarterbacks usually go through.

While both options are certainly on the table, McCarthy's performance in training camp will likely answer that question better. If the rookie comes in and impresses immediately, there's a strong chance that he will open the season as the starting quarterback for the Vikings.

JJ McCarthy is the first quarterback to go top 10 in #Vikings franchise history.

Let the games begin 😏 pic.twitter.com/EO7HmoK0nb

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) April 26, 2024

Right now, it's too early to tell what Minnesota plans to do at the position in 2024. However, given where the team drafted him and his potential, he is likely the favorite to start in Week 1 over Darnold.

J.J. McCarthy Fantasy Football Outlook

If McCarthy starts Week 1 for the Vikings, he would be an interesting late-round selection in Superflex formats this year. He certainly has the talent to succeed right away and landed in a great spot in Minnesota. Throwing passes to Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison should make things a lot easier for the rookie.

While fantasy managers can expect some bumps along the way in Year 1, the upside is there for McCarthy in an above-average offense. He might not be startable in fantasy right off the bat, but as the season goes on, his number should drastically improve.

JJ McCarthy is ready to get to work with Justin Jefferson 🚀 pic.twitter.com/FVZOvNMzEl

— PFF Fantasy & Betting (@PFF_Fantasy) May 1, 2024

As for dynasty, McCarthy is a great target in the first round of Superflex formats. He can produce solid numbers immediately and has a bright future ahead of him with a nice receiving core. He should be going somewhere in the top seven, given his talent and situation.

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