J.J. McCarthy is officially the starting quarterback for the New York Giants, taking over for Week 7 against the Houston Texans. Yeah, you read that right. The former first-round pick who kinda, well, *flamed out* with the Minnesota Vikings, putting Kevin O’Connell’s “quarterback whisperer” status on serious notice, is getting another shot.
The Giants’ Big QB Gamble: Why McCarthy Now?
So, how’d we get here? Original Giants starter Jaxson Dart went down with a season-ending meniscus injury. Jameis Winston stepped in, and honestly, the Giants weren’t “horrid” with him under center. But let’s be real, most of us figured Winston’s time as a starter was gonna end eventually, right? Head coach John Harbaugh isn’t messing around; he wants to see what the “much younger McCarthy,” a third-year signal-caller acquired via trade, actually has. The guy probably forced their hand after Week 6, too. He came into that game and nearly pulled off a fourth-quarter comeback win. That’s gotta turn some heads, even if his past still has people scratching theirs.
What This Means for Nabers and Likely
Here’s where it gets interesting, especially if you’re rocking Malik Nabers or Isaiah Likely on your fantasy squad. Both of those main weapons actually produced with McCarthy throwing the ball in that Week 6 game. That’s a huge sign! Fantasy analysts Matt Harmon and Ray Garvin have been diving into it. Garvin’s “intrigued” by the move, pointing out that McCarthy’s physical talent has never been the problem. It’s always been about him executing the offense. He can make all the throws, he just needs to consistently hit Nabers and Likely within the structure of the plays. Garvin even said he’s not moving those guys in his rankings because of McCarthy starting. Likely, especially, should be fine no matter who’s under center. Harmon backs that up, describing Likely as an “oversized, explosive, matchup-nightmare slot receiver” who rarely even lines up like a traditional tight end. If McCarthy can shake off those Minnesota demons and run the offense by getting the ball to his top two targets, fantasy managers should definitely feel a lot better about this whole QB switch in New York.
The Giants are heading into Week 7, and all eyes are on McCarthy to see if he can deliver the goods. Can he prove he’s more than just a former first-round bust? Can Nabers and Likely keep putting up numbers with him? It’s going to be a wild ride, and we’re ready to see it all go down!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply