Minnesota Vikings DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Minnesota Vikings rookie first-round quarterback J.J. McCarthy is not focused too much on trying to win the starting job in his first NFL season. "The process is the progress," McCarthy said. The 10th overall pick in April's draft mostly has worked behind presumptive starter Sam Darnold in the first three practices of training camp. "My ultimate goal is to get the most out of every single day. When the time comes [to start], it comes. I'm just training every single day so that when that time does come, I'm going to be ready," McCarthy said. The 21-year-old Michigan product said he can now call plays in the huddle without stumbling through the verbiage. It sounds like McCarthy is getting more comfortable already, but the Vikings have made it clear they will treat his development with patience above all else, and conventional wisdom around the team suggests that Darnold will open as the starter.

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (knee) has had a slow start to training camp practice on Sunday and completed only two of his six pass attempts. Jones was underthrowing the deep ball, which has been a thing for him early this summer. ESPN's Jordan Raanan thinks it's something to monitor as camp progresses as Jones comes off his ACL injury from last season. It's still very early in camp, but so far, the 27-year-old former sixth overall pick in 2019 out of Duke looks rusty. He's heading into a make-or-break year in 2024 after playing in just six games in 2023 before tearing his ACL. Jones had a career year in 2022 but still managed to throw only 15 touchdown passes in 16 starts. Coming off a torn ACL, Jones is going to need to prove himself in an offense that still has a lot of question marks. In fantasy, treat him as a low-end QB2 with minimal upside.

According to New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen, quarterback Daniel Jones (knee) has been cleared for contact ahead of training camp. The former No. 6 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft will participate in 11-on-11 drills this week, something he did not do in the spring. "He will play every snap the (first-team offense) is in," Daboll said. Jones suffered a torn ACL in early November of last year, so he's made a quick recovery and looks to be well on track to start in Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings. Although Jones has been a below-average signal-caller for most of his career, he could be a value in Superflex drafts assuming his rushing upside is not completely zapped following the major injury. If Malik Nabers lives up to the hype and one of Wan'Dale Robinson or Jalin Hyatt can step up alongside the rookie and Darius Slayton, New York could surpass offensive expectations in 2024.

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said that quarterback Sam Darnold will take the majority of the first-team QB snaps in training camp this summer, although rookie first-rounder J.J. McCarthy will get some first-team work as well. This isn't breaking news, as the Vikings announced in early June that Darnold, a former first-rounder himself, would head to camp as the QB1 as they look to give McCarthy plenty of time to develop as their potential franchise signal-caller. Darnold looked sharp in offseason workouts and is working with the best supporting cast of his career in Minnesota. His fantasy stock is on the rise as a QB2 in fantasy and is ranked as the No. 17 QB by RotoBaller. However, Darnold is going to need to perform well in 2024 in his first year in Minnesota if he wants to hold off McCarthy all season long.

Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (knee) will start training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list, according to head coach Kevin O'Connell. It's not a surprise, although O'Connell said Hockenson is "well ahead of schedule" with his rehab from ACL surgery in late January. The 27-year-old tight end tore his ACL at the end of last season and is doubtful to be ready for Week 1 of the 2024 campaign despite being ahead of scheduled this offseason. In addition to coming off a major injury, Hockenson will be more of a fantasy question mark now that he's going from quarterback Kirk Cousins to a potential mixture of Sam Darnold and rookie first-rounder J.J. McCarthy this season. Even when Hockenson does return to the field in the regular season, he's likely to be eased in, so he should be considered more of a high-end TE2 stash in fantasy football drafts this fall.