J.J. McCarthy vs Kyler Murray: Who Should You Start?
J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray are both viable fantasy quarterbacks heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. J.J. McCarthy averaged 13.7 PPG across 10 games with the Minnesota Vikings, while Kyler Murray posted 16.2 PPG in 5 appearances for the Minnesota Vikings.
A 2.5-PPG gap gives Kyler Murray the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.
Both lean on arm talent and offensive scheme as traditional pocket passers. J.J. McCarthy threw for 1632 yards and 11 touchdowns, while Kyler Murray posted 962 yards and 6 scores. Volume, red zone efficiency, and game script are the key week-to-week differentiators when neither carries rushing upside.
One thing to note: both players share a Week 6 bye. That means you need a backup plan at quarterback for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.
