Following a humbling loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson said the team is being patient with their new starting quarterback, J.J. McCarthy. The superstar receiver still managed 81 yards on three catches, but the Vikings' offense has been mostly awful through two games. The second-year quarterback played in just his second NFL game on Sunday, which Jefferson noted after the loss, saying, "We're not expecting him to be perfect." McCarthy has struggled, though so have the rest of the Vikings, who allowed a whopping 16 pressures on Sunday and ran for only 78 yards. They'll look for a better showing in Week 3 against Cincinnati.
Sep 15, 2025 11:19 AM EST
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson faces a friendly matchup on Sunday with breakout potential against the Atlanta Falcons. Even in a down week for the superstar receiver in the season-opening game, he still went for four catches, 44 yards, and a touchdown, and now he takes on a Falcons defense near the bottom of the pile against fantasy wide receivers. With quarterback J.J. McCarthy making his first home start and up against a better matchup than last week, the Vikings should see a natural boost to their offense as a whole. That generally means good circumstances for their best player.
Sep 12, 2025 5:26 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson had 44 receiving yards on four catches and a touchdown in a 27-24 win against the Bears. Jefferson earned a team-high seven targets, but was unable to get touches early in the game as quarterback J.J. McCarthy struggled. The offense started moving the ball better and sustained some drives in the second half. Jefferson caught a laser beam from McCarthy for a 13-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Jefferson uncharacteristically dropped a pretty well-placed ball from McCarthy on a deep over, although McCarthy was a tad late. There should be better days for Jefferson as he and McCarthy continue to build rapport and gain more reps together. He is still locked in as one of the three best wide receivers in fantasy football.
Sep 9, 2025 1:04 AM EST
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is a must-start option, as usual, when the Vikings open the season against the Chicago Bears in Week 1. The sixth-year receiver dealt with a hamstring injury during training camp, but was not listed on Minnesota's final injury report and should continue to be the team's runaway top option for passing targets. Especially with fellow wide receiver Jordan Addison (suspension) out for the first three games, the All-Pro should receive plenty of volume from new starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Jefferson should be in starting lineups in every format.
Sep 6, 2025 3:44 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (hamstring) is not listed on the team's Week 1 injury report and was a full participant in the first practice of the week on Thursday. Jefferson injured his left hamstring way back on July 24 and didn't return to practice at training camp until Aug. 18. The 26-year-old's injury was minor, though, and Minnesota was just being extra cautious with one of the best wideouts in the NFL. The All-Pro receiver should be locked and loaded into all starting fantasy lineups in Week 1 when he and the Vikings take on the division-rival Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football. With Jordan Addison serving a three-game suspension to open the year, Jefferson could draw an even larger target share from quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Jefferson is a no-doubt, must-start in fantasy whenever he's active.
Sep 4, 2025 7:11 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell confirmed Monday that star wide receiver Justin Jefferson (hamstring) will return to practice and gradually ramp up ahead of Week 1. Jefferson missed time this summer, sparking concern about his readiness, but his return solidifies his status as one of fantasy football's elite first-round picks. The 26-year-old posted 103 catches for 1,533 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2024 and remains the focal point of Minnesota's offense. With Jefferson back on track, fantasy managers can confidently draft him among the top overall selections, expecting WR1 production in the Vikings' high-powered passing attack.
Aug 18, 2025 3:56 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (hamstring) remains without a firm return date as he continues his recovery from a preseason injury. Head coach Kevin O'Connell said Jefferson is "hopefully going to start doing more and more," but the team is being cautious with its superstar. Jefferson is coming off another elite season, posting 1,533 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in 2024. With rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy preparing for his first year as a starter and Jordan Addison suspended to open the season, Jefferson's health is critical. He remains an early first-round fantasy pick this season.
Aug 16, 2025 7:39 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said that star wide receiver Justin Jefferson (hamstring) won't take part in joint practices with the New England Patriots this week, although he has continued to take part in walk-throughs. Jefferson will be re-evaluated next week. The 26-year-old All-Pro will not play in the second preseason game against the Patriots, but he is making progress as he recovers from a hamstring. It's a bit worrisome not to see Jefferson practicing with the team in training camp, but the Vikings are playing this one very cautious with one of the best pass-catchers in all of football. They have more reason to play it safe with WR2 Jordan Addison to be suspended for the first four games of 2025. Jefferson is missing out on key chances to gain chemistry with quarterback J.J. McCarthy, but he's still the No. 2 fantasy wideout behind Ja'Marr Chase.
Aug 13, 2025 1:52 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (hamstring) remains sidelined at training camp practice on Wednesday, according to Kevin Seifert of ESPN. Jefferson's left-hamstring strain that he suffered on July 24 isn't serious, but the Vikings continue to play it safe with one of the top pass-catchers in the NFL during camp. The Vikings aren't at all concerned that the 26-year-old All-Pro will be in danger of missing Week 1 of the regular season, and the fact that he's been seen working on side fields with trainers could be a sign that he'll return to practice soon. It wouldn't be a surprise if we don't see Jefferson play at all in the preseason, but he should be ready come Week 1. Fantasy managers should be monitoring Jefferson's progress, but he's still RotoBaller's second-ranked fantasy receiver.
Aug 6, 2025 3:50 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (hamstring) was on a side field during practice on Friday working out with trainers, according to Emily Leiker of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Head coach Kevin O'Connell said there still isn't a timeline on Jefferson's full re-integration at practices, but that he would ramp back up into some work this week and that updates have been "really positive." The 26-year-old All-Pro wideout hasn't practiced with the rest of the team for a full week now, but the Vikings are likely just being overly cautious with one of the best pass-catchers in football. The Vikes want to rest Jefferson but also know he's going to need reps with quarterback J.J. McCarthy before the start of the regular season. We would expect him to return to the practice field sooner than later. Unless Jefferson's absence drags on longer, he should still be one of the first receivers taken in fantasy drafts.
Aug 1, 2025 5:07 PM EST
ESPN's Kevin Seifert writes that it doesn't sound like the Minnesota Vikings plan to mothball wide receiver Justin Jefferson (hamstring) until the start of the regular season. "I have zero worry about the opener, but there's a lot of time between now and then. What that looks like, we're going to be smart. But at the same time, he wants to get back out there. He doesn't want to stay wearing what I wear to practice much longer," head coach Kevin O'Connell said. Jefferson was held out of training camp practice last Thursday, and a day later it was announced that the 26-year-old All-Pro wideout is dealing with a mild left-hamstring strain. It's more of a day-to-day injury, the Jefferson has yet to return to practice. He's missing valuable time to develop chemistry with quarterback J.J. McCarthy, but Jefferson should return sooner than later and remains an elite fantasy wideout until further notice.
Jul 29, 2025 5:18 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (hamstring) has suffered a mild left-hamstring strain, according to Alec Lewis of The Athletic. Lewis reports that the team plans to be "really cautious" with its star receiver, but does not relay any sort of timeline for his return to practice. Jefferson missed seven games with an injury to his right hamstring back in 2023, so there's a history of soft-tissue injuries in his lower body. The 26-year-old is arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL, coming off a season in which he recorded 103 catches for 1,533 yards and 10 touchdowns. His presence on the field is critical to the success of Minnesota's offense and first-year starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy. It's too early to say that Jefferson is at risk of missing any significant time, but the Vikings are already likely facing an early-season suspension for their WR2, Jordan Addison.
Jul 25, 2025 3:28 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (legs) had some mild tightness in his legs during training camp practice on Thursday and sat out the end of practice as a result, according to Kevin Seifert of ESPN. The Vikings have no concerns, even in the short term, and they are just being extra cautious to prevent the leg issues that Jefferson experienced in 2023. It doesn't make sense to put the 26-year-old All-Pro pass-catcher in harm's way so early in camp. Fantasy managers shouldn't be at all concerned for now as he heads into his first season catching passes from former first-round quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Jefferson has had over 1,000 yards receiving in all five of his NFL seasons and went for a 103-1,533-10 line in 17 regular-season starts with Sam Darnold at QB in 2024. He's the No. 2 fantasy wideout, behind only Ja'Marr Chase.
Jul 24, 2025 6:04 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson had praise for second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy this week. McCarthy, who missed all of his 2024 rookie season with a knee injury, is still unproven as an NFL quarterback, but Jefferson is not worried. "I want him to be just as confident as I am of him to make the plays out there," the star receiver told reporters. The duo reportedly spent time together on and off the field this offseason as they look to build chemistry after barely getting any reps together last year. Many expect McCarthy to live up to the hype that made him the No. 10 pick in the 2024 NFL draft this season, and he has a good shot to do so with a talented collection of skill players around him and QB-whisperer Kevin O'Connell calling the plays. McCarthy should be viewed as a mid-range QB2 heading into fantasy drafts later this summer. Fantasy managers can continue to confidently snag Jefferson as the overall WR2 after Ja'Marr Chase in the first round.
Jul 17, 2025 8:46 AM EST
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson brought in 5-of-8 targets for 58 yards in his team's Wild Card loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The fantasy stalwart tied fellow wideout Jordan Addison for the team lead in targets but was mostly shut down by a stingy Rams defense. It was a rough day for the entire Vikes' offense, as quarterback Sam Darnold had trouble connecting with any of his pass catchers, even when he wasn't in the grass. Jefferson caught his last pass of the contest with just over three minutes to go in the first half. The superstar wideout had another excellent season, but he'll undoubtedly be left wanting more after a near first-round bye. At this time, it is difficult to tell who the 25-year-old's signal-caller will be in 2025. However, he'll still likely be chosen amongst the first few picks in next Summer's fantasy drafts.
Jan 14, 2025 12:12 AM EST
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is a locked-in WR1 for Monday night's road tilt with the Los Angeles Rams. The superstar wideout is coming off a three-catch, 54-yard outing in the team's Week 18 loss to the Lions -; marking his lowest reception total of 2024. It wasn't just him, as the entire Vikings offense sputtered against a Detroit defense that played lights out to clinch the NFC North. However, Jefferson will try to get back on track against a Rams D that's been a decent matchup for fantasy wideouts in 2024. Los Angeles tied for the third-most touchdowns allowed to the position (20) despite letting up the second-fewest receptions to wide receivers. If quarterback Sam Darnold can rebound from his poor showing in their most recent loss, the 25-year-old should be in store for a productive day. Jefferson ranks as RotoBaller's PPR WR2 for the Wild Card round.
Jan 11, 2025 4:59 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson reeled in 3-of-9 targets for 54 yards in Sunday's 31-9 loss to the Detroit Lions. It's a disappointing outcome for the fantasy stalwart, as he'd been on quite a tear and was entering a favorable spot against his division rivals. However, Detroit's defense clamped down on the Vikings during the season finale, consistently pressuring quarterback Sam Darnold and keeping their offense off-kilter. The loss breaks a nine-game winning streak for Minnesota and drops them down to the fifth seed in the NFC playoff picture. Instead of a week off and home-field advantage throughout the tournament, they'll now travel to SoFi Stadium in the Wild Card round to line up against the Los Angeles Rams. Expect Jefferson to get back on track next Monday night against a Rams squad that allowed the sixth-most yards per game in 2024.
Jan 5, 2025 11:53 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is primed for a massive outing this Sunday in his team's road matchup with the Detroit Lions. The LSU product reached 1,400 receiving yards for the fourth time in five years in last weekend's win over the Green Bay Packers. He's now tied for the third-most 1,400-yard seasons in NFL history -; trailing only Jerry Rice (6) and Julio Jones (5). Jefferson has notched ten touchdowns in 2024, tying his career-best set in 2021. He'll stand an excellent chance to break that in Week 18 against a Lions defense that's been abysmal on the back end this season. Detroit's allowed the second-most passing yards per game in the NFL (250.4) and the second-largest fantasy points per game figure to WRs (40.3). With a battle for the NFC North and the conference's No. 1 seed on tap, the superstar wideout ranks as RotoBaller's PPR WR1 ahead of the season's final slate of action.
Jan 3, 2025 4:44 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson hauled in 8-of-11 targets for 92 yards in his team's 27-25 win over the Green Bay Packers. Ho-hum. The fantasy stalwart was solid again, recording his fifth straight appearance with at least seven receptions and 73 receiving yards. The only thing missing from his line was a touchdown. Despite the scoreless outing, Jefferson still came through for fantasy managers -- racking up his thirteenth game with at least 15 fantasy points. His highlight of the day was a 37-yard catch-and-run early in the fourth quarter. The 25-year-old has now notched his third season of at least 100 receptions and 1,400 receiving yards in what's been one of the most outstanding starts to a wideout's career in NFL history. He'll square off with his division-rival Detroit Lions next week in a critical Week 18 contest.
Dec 29, 2024 8:15 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is a high-end WR1 play in Week 17 despite a stiff test against the visiting Green Bay Packers. The former LSU Tiger has been the hottest wideout in football since Week 14, ranking as the overall WR1 and averaging 29.6 PPR points per game. Over that stretch, he's racked up a robust 349 yards and 27 receptions with five trips to the end zone -; as many as he had through his first six games this season. Green Bay presents as one of the sounder defensive units against the pass and is tied for the fewest fantasy points allowed per game to WRs (29.3). Still, Jefferson is the PPR WR2 on the season and went for 6/85/1 in the two squads' previous meeting in Week 4. Fire up the 25-year-old as RotoBaller's top wide receiver option in Week 17.
Dec 27, 2024 5:27 PM EST
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