J.J. McCarthy suffered an ankle sprain in Week 2 against Atlanta, and Minnesota is already preparing for Week 3 without him. If McCarthy sits, Carson Wentz would step in as the starter in Cincinnati. McCarthy’s early pro career includes a torn meniscus that wiped out his rookie season, and through two games he’s 24-of-41 for 301 yards, 2 TDs and 3 INTs. This injury injects immediacy into Vikings fantasy plans and elevates Wentz’s upside as a streamer if the timeline tilts toward a short absence.

For fantasy managers, the Week 3 outlook hinges on practice reports and McCarthy’s status. A Week-3 absence would shift game-script expectations toward a more pass-friendly approach with Wentz at the helm, increasing the value of Vikings receivers in the short term while injecting risk into the QB position until clarity arrives.