2026 Week 6 Fantasy Football Reaction: J.J. McCarthy Takes Over for Giants in Near-Comeback vs. Saints

J.J. McCarthy entered Sunday's game against the Saints as a garbage-time replacement, then nearly engineered one of the wilder comebacks of the season. According to ProFootballTalk (NBC Sports), McCarthy replaced Jameis Winston with the Giants trailing 34-10 and under 12 minutes to play, and nearly pulled it off — going 11-of-21 for 243 yards and a touchdown, with his 243 fourth-quarter passing yards ranking third-most in a single quarter since 2020. The Saints held on 34-27, but the story of this game is the quarterback situation McCarthy just blew wide open.

Winston threw two interceptions before getting pulled, and ProFootballTalk notes that run as the starter may now be "on the brink." The Giants head to Houston in Week 7 to face the Texans, and the outlet makes clear it's hard to argue Winston offers more upside than McCarthy given Sunday's performance. No official starter announcement is reported yet — but that decision carries serious fantasy consequences for the players catching passes from whoever starts.

Isaiah Likely

Likely was the primary beneficiary of McCarthy's surge, catching passes that moved the Giants into Saints territory late and hauling in the touchdown. He and Nabers combined for 18 catches and 264 yards on the day per ProFootballTalk, making them the only two Giants skill players with any real impact. If McCarthy wins the starting job, Likely's target upside climbs considerably — a young QB leaning on a reliable tight end in a two-man passing game is a classic fantasy-friendly situation. Likely is a strong add or hold heading into Week 7.

Malik Nabers

Nabers was the other half of that 18-catch, 264-yard tandem, and the story makes clear he and Likely are the only skill position weapons the Giants offense is working with right now. The QB upgrade potential from Winston to McCarthy is a genuine positive for Nabers' fantasy ceiling. He was already getting volume; a more mobile, aggressive quarterback could unlock more of it. The Giants' Week 7 opponent — the "suddenly surging Texans," per ProFootballTalk — is a tough draw, but Nabers' target share makes him a must-start regardless.

The connective tissue here is simple: McCarthy's play connected both players in a way Winston's hadn't. If he gets the nod in Week 7, Likely and Nabers are the clearest beneficiaries on this roster. Watch for the starting QB announcement — it's the single most important fantasy news coming out of New York this week.