J.J. McCarthy To Start And More NY Giants Updates For Fantasy Football

The Giants are peak comedy right now as they wildly jerk their personnel around on a week-to-week basis.

The latest tomfoolery has some significant ramifications for fantasy.

Let’s break it down …

A QB switch: it’s Nine o’ clock

After scorching the Saints for 243 yards in the second half and leading three scoring drives, JJ McCarthy is getting the nod over Jameis Winston to start vs. the Texans this week.

The good news is that McCarthy understood the assignment in Week 6 and peppered Malik Nabers and Isaiah Likely with targets. The bad news is that a road date with a good—albeit not as good as last year—Texans defense is not ideal (they are implied to score a league-worst 16.25 points this week).

We have him as a low-end QB2 this week—aka not a starter in 12-team leagues, but firmly in the superflex mix.

The RB carousel: Your guess is as good as mine

Cam Skattebo was Schrodinger’s RB in Week 6—seemingly benched and not benched at the same time. He saw no work against the Saints after ball-security issues in Week 5, but John Harbaugh insisted that wasn’t the case.

In his “absence,” Tyrone Tracy had a decent role (33% snaps, 43% of short-yardage, 18.5 pts) and scored both of the team’s TD. Devin Singletary got a decent amount of burn in the second half. Najee Harris then complained after the game about his shrinking role, which prompted the Giants to release him.

I bid on both Tracy and Singletary in leagues yesterday, with a stronger preference for Tracy. We still have Skattebo ranked higher this week, but Tracy is a must-stash in case Skat remains in the doghouse.

The constants: Malik Nabers & Isaiah Likely

If there’s one thing you can hang your hat on in this offense it is Nabers and Likely. Over the past three weeks, they are TE1 and WR1 in PPR leagues with elite Utilization:

HOW HIGH IS JALEN COKER RISING IN ROS RANKINGS?

🍋 Win Weekly All Season Long with Mike's Harder & Fantasy Life 🍋

If you love fantasy football like I do, you're probably in more than one league. Usually it's for pride, bragging rights, and the pleasure of lording your superior fantasy knowledge over your friends.

But what if winning your league could also give you a chance to win $25,000?

Mike's Harder—who aspires to be "A Fantasy Player’s No. 1 ally"—has teamed up with Guillotine Leagues to host Mike's Harder Leagues this season. Playing is completely free, and it comes stacked with prizes:

Weekly Giveaways: Fantasy Life+ subscriptions, New Era gift cards and Mike's Harder swag
Grand Prize: One league-winning manager will take home $25,000
More Big Prizes: There’s even an effortless, non-competing $10,000 version

You’re made with Real Character, just like Mike's Harder—and this is no season for sitting on the sidelines.

ENTER TO WIN $25K

_{21+ only. Premium malt beverage. Mike's Hard Lemonade Co., Chicago, IL. No purchase}
_{necessary to enter sweepstakes. See official rules at}_{guillotineleagues.com/mhlfantasyfootball}_.

Around the Watercooler

The latest fantasy and NFL gossip, news, memes and more from your favorite football nerds …

🏈 Carnell Tate now facing a massive game. Week 7 matchup advantages/disadvantages.

🔮 Bears vs Patriots tonight. Picks and predictions.

🚀 More reason to start Emeka Egbuka. Rare air.

😎 New QB for stud WR? No problem.

👀 3 players will leave you breathless in dynasty. We’re watching.

☝️ A new No. 1 in our NFL Mock Draft. Great grab.

🧱 IDP starts for Week 7. At all three levels.

🎉 An RB for a good time. Not a long time.

⛔️ Don’t let scammers sack your data. Protect your blindside with Incogni.

🤔 Breece Hall is close to returning … but still not practicing?

⚜️ How close is Jordyn Tyson to returning? Listen to Mickey Loomis.

🧀 Josh Jacobs is back on the field today. Here’s what to expect.

🥵 If you’re still alive in survivor … here’s some advice for both of you.

🤝 Must trade for Jalen Coker. Cokeheads, unite!

Week 7 Starts and Sits From Dwain McFarland

START: Jordan Love | Packers

We could reach a point soon where I can't use Love in this section anymore because he will be a mainstay in the top 12. In our rest-of-season projections, we have already made the move: Love is our QB10.

Note: To see my rest-of-season (ROS) projections: click on projections → click filters → select period → select 2026 ROS.

Some worry the Packers will run more with Josh Jacobs returning. That's possible, but the offensive line ranks 26th in average yards before contact (0.79) on RB attempts. His craftiness and vision as a runner will improve yards before contact, but his playmaking is above average, not elite.

So I see the pass rate coming down a smidge, but I expect the Packers to stay committed to feeding their elite pass catchers as the best way to run their offense. This was the plan they hinted at all offseason. And they rank No. 1 in dropback rate over expected (DBOE) at 8%.

That means we have margin for error.

Love is averaging 281 YPG (5th) with 1.83 TDs per game (T-9th). The Lions have boosted passing by a ridiculous 72 YPG and passing TDs per game by 1.2. That has led to the No. 1 boost for QBs: +8.2 PPG, with +7.7 PPG coming strictly from passing.

The Packers have a 25.2-point team total (7th) as 3-point underdogs in what should be an electric shootout environment.

Fantasy Projections

Median: 19.5
Xfinity Best (Ceiling): 24.6
Floor: 15.7

Love is my QB2 in Week 7 against the Lions.

FULL LIST OF STARTS AND SITS AT EVERY POSITION

Freedman’s Fades Week 7: QB Hot Streak Ending?

The “Wet Blanket” is back after a day of sunshine and favorites. Matthew Freedman has released the players he’s fading for Week 7 …

QB Fades: his QB will only be a fade going forward
RB Fades: Stud RB running into a brick wall
WR Fades: Paris getaway won’t be fun for this WR
TE Fades: Not likely to go big in Texas

And ICYMI, here are Freedman’s Favorites:

Stock Up On All The Young Wide Receivers

It’s like Oprah walked into a room with young WRs and said, “You’re rising. You’re rising. Everyone’s rising!” It’s all stock up on this edition of the Fantasy Life Show, as Dwain, Kendall and Pete break down 7 players whose stock is pointing up. Subscribe to the Fantasy Life Show and catch every episode.

TATE & BERNARD HAVE COMPANY

Published Oct 22, 2026, 4:00 AM ET