Chris Manhertz

The New York Giants have announced that J.J. McCarthy will start Sunday’s Week 7 matchup against the Houston Texans. Acquired from the Vikings just a few weeks ago, the third-year quarterback threw for 243 yards in just over 11 minutes against the Saints in Week 6, picking apart soft coverage and nearly engineering a comeback after replacing Jameis Winston in the fourth quarter. Winston will serve as McCarthy’s backup, with Jake Haener third on the depth chart.

The Giants enter Sunday as 10-point road underdogs with a league-low implied team total of roughly 16 points. However, Houston’s defense has been a pass funnel, allowing the sixth-most passing yards while holding opposing running backs to just 3.4 yards per carry. This doesn’t look like the matchup where John Harbaugh will get his ground game going. Expect McCarthy to air it out, particularly to Malik Nabers and Isaiah Likely, who commanded over 60% of the Giants’ targets in Week 6, combining for 18 receptions and 264 yards. That concentrated volume should keep both players firmly in fantasy starting lineups despite the Giants’ bleak scoring outlook, while the remaining Giants pass catchers can be left on benches.