No. 19 (up 2 spots): Eric Edholm, NFL.com
The Vikings have now won three straight and will have a chance to finish above .500, with two home games remaining. That’s all fine and nice, but the win over the Giants also came with QB J.J. McCarthy suffering a throwing-hand injury, [and he is out this week]. McCarthy no doubt has had some bad injury luck in his two NFL seasons, but it calls into question whether his sometimes reckless playing style can make him an unquestioned NFL starter. How the Vikings approach the QB position this offseason will be fascinating. On the one hand, they likely haven’t seen enough to know one way or another whether he’s the future, but on the other, it would be tough to go into next season without another higher-quality alternative.
No. 19 (up 1 spot): Gary Davenport, Bleacher Report
The Vikings have a decision to make. Is J.J. McCarthy, who flashed at times but was largely inconsistent and occasionally awful, the team’s starting quarterback in 2026? Or do they believe enough in their ability to win now to kick the tires on a Kyler Murray or Tua Tagovailoa?
It’s a conversation that is already being had in the Twin Cities, but it’s a tomorrow problem. Now, it’s about playing out the string and shutting down McCarthy. After the second-year pro hurt his hand in Sunday’s win over the Giants, there’s no point in him playing again in 2025.