The Vikings announced Wednesday that QB J.J. McCarthy will miss the entire 2024 season. Surgery on the meniscus in the rookie's right knee revealed that he needed a full repair.
ESPN's Adam Schefter: "While the Vikings are disappointed, they 'strongly believe he will come back better and have a long, successful NFL career,' as one team official said."
Offseason and camp buzz already had Sam Darnold expected to open the regular season as Minnesota's starter. History, however, pointed to McCarthy likely stepping in at some point.
Instead, Darnold figures to run the offense until he gets hurt or struggles to the point of getting pulled.
Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall currently back him up, now that McCarthy's out. They played poorly enough after Kirk Cousins' 2023 injury that the Vikings paid Darnold $10 million.
Darnold started just seven total games over the past two years and has never started more than 13 in a season. His career INT rate (3.1%) remains too near his career TD rate (3.5%).
But he also gets the best set of receivers he's had since entering the NFL -- especially Justin Jefferson.
Don't expect Darnold to make much fantasy impact outside of 2-QB and superflex leagues. We'll see if he can surprise at that level.
You won't find McCarthy moving much in our dynasty rankings.
If you selected him in either your rookie draft or startup draft, then you shouldn't have been doing so for his 2024 outlook.
This should be a learning year for the rookie. He now simply must do so without the chance to take the field.
It's tough to call any of the Vikings pass catchers losers for the McCarthy injury, given that we don't know when/if McCarthy would have stepped in anyway.
If you're now more worried about Jefferson, remember that he delivered WR1 production over the final four games of last season with Nick Mullens flinging passes.
Darnold now becomes a viable late QB2 or upside QB3 in our superflex rankings.
Mullens got those aforementioned four games with a healthy Jefferson late last season and finished three of them among the top 14. That included a QB5 finish in Week 18.
Don't expect a significant shift for Jefferson or the other Minnesota pass catchers in our keeper rankings.
Watch for this news to nudge Jefferson's ADP down in Round 1 -- and consider taking advantage if it does.
Darnold will be especially interesting in early-season DFS contests. A road trip against the Giants in Week 1 makes him a potentially low-owned cheap starter option right away.
The full meniscus repair for McCarthy shouldn't create any long-term concern. Players typically make a full recovery from meniscus injuries.
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