Van Jefferson

Los Angeles Rams
Wide Receiver #12
Los Angeles Rams
Wide Receiver #12

Van Jefferson News

Seven targets in season finale

Jefferson caught three of seven targets for 61 yards in Sunday's 19-16 overtime loss to Seattle.

Analysis: Jefferson led the low-octane Rams passing game in receiving yards in the season finale. The expected return of Matthew Stafford (neck) should provide Jefferson with better quarterback play in 2023, but Jefferson will likely slide down the depth chart once Cooper Kupp (ankle) is healthy. A knee injury limited Jefferson to 11 games in 2022, and the third-year wideout caught 24 of 44 targets for 369 yards and three touchdowns.

Jan 8, 2023 6:19 PM EST


Team-high receiving yardage tally

Jefferson secured all three targets for 77 yards in the Rams' 31-10 loss to the Chargers on Sunday.

Analysis: Jefferson co-led the Rams in receptions and paced the team in receiving yards during a lackluster day for the air attack overall. The third-year pro's game-long 39-yard grab was the highlight of his performance, but he recorded his other two catches -- of 16 and 22 yards -- on Los Angeles' only touchdown drive. Jefferson will aim to build on eight-game multi-reception streak in the Week 18 finale on the road versus the Seahawks.

Jan 1, 2023 5:29 PM EST



Sees five targets in blowout win

Jefferson had three receptions (five targets) for 19 yards in Sunday's 51-14 win over the Broncos.

Analysis: Jefferson failed to post notable numbers in a game where the Rams scored five offensive touchdowns. Perhaps the 26-year-old is best suited in a complementary role instead of being asked to be a team's top option. Jefferson will attempt to build some chemistry with quarterback Baker Mayfield when the Rams take on the Chargers on Sunday.

Dec 25, 2022 6:56 PM EST


Pair of grabs in loss

Jefferson brought in both targets for 32 yards in the Rams' 24-12 loss to the Packers on Monday night.

Analysis: Jefferson led the Rams wideouts in receptions and receiving yards, but on a night when Los Angeles finished with 84 net passing yards, his modest totals were only less productive than those of running back Cam Akers. Jefferson had caught the game-winning touchdown from Baker Mayfield in the latter's Week 14 team debut against the Raiders, making the low-volume night Monday especially disappointing. Jefferson and the rest of the Rams' air attack has another stiff challenge on its hands in a Week 16 home matchup against the talented Broncos secondary on Christmas Day.

Dec 19, 2022 8:41 PM EST


Snares game-winning grab Thursday

Jefferson secured two of four targets for 44 yards and a touchdown in the Rams' 17-16 win over the Raiders on Thursday night.

Analysis: Jefferson caught Baker Mayfield's first and last passes of the quarterback's Rams debut, hauling in a 21-yard catch on the first play of the team's second possession and a 23-yard game-tying reception with 10 seconds left that set up Matt Gay's game-winning PAT. The third-year speedster hasn't yet been able to truly capitalize on the absences of Cooper Kupp (IR-ankle) and Allen Robinson (IR-foot) and played a clear second fiddle to both Ben Skowronek and Tutu Atwell, but perhaps the scoring connection will kickstart his chemistry with Mayfield and lead to a productive stretch run.

Dec 8, 2022 9:11 PM EST



Quiet in Sunday's loss

Jefferson caught two of four targets for 39 yards in Sunday's 27-23 loss to the Seahawks.

Analysis: Nominally the Rams' No. 1 wideout in the absence of Cooper Kupp (ankle) and Allen Robinson (foot), Jefferson once again wasn't able to produce much volume. In the last four games, including the one in which Kupp was injured, Jefferson hasn't topped three receptions or 41 yards but he has scored two touchdowns. Despite his spot on the depth chart, he'll be a risky fantasy play in Week 14, even against the Raiders.

Dec 4, 2022 7:34 PM EST


Gets into end zone Sunday

Jefferson caught three of seven targets for 29 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 26-10 loss to Kansas City.

Analysis: There was little production to go around in the Rams offense with Bryce Perkins making his first career NFL start at quarterback in place of Matthew Stafford (neck), but Jefferson led the team in receiving yards and scored the team's only TD. Allen Robinson (foot) has been ruled out for the rest of the season and Cooper Kupp (IR) remains on IR, so Jefferson should be the No. 1 wideout for Los Angeles in Week 13 against the Seahawks, regardless of who is under center.

Nov 27, 2022 7:40 PM EST


Should be No. 1 wideout for Week 12

Jefferson is expected to serve as the Rams' No. 1 wideout for Sunday's game against the Chiefs with Cooper Kupp (ankle) on injured reserve and with Allen Robinson (ankle) listed as questionable but not expected to play, Cameron DaSilva of USA Today reports.

Analysis: Additionally, starting tight end Tyler Higbee (knee) is listed as questionable, though it's unclear whether he's trending toward playing or sitting out Sunday's contest. Regardless, Jefferson looks like one of the more established receiving options for the Rams, though that doesn't necessarily mean he profiles as a reliable fantasy option this week. He'll likely be working with an unproven third-year quarterback in Bryce Perkins, who is expected to make his first NFL start while top signal-caller Matthew Stafford (neck/concussion protocol) sits for the second time in three games. Though the matchup with the high-octane Chiefs offense could yield more possessions than usual for the Rams offense, Perkins will be working behind one of the NFL's worst offensive lines and a lack of established skill-position talent, which could make it difficult for Los Angeles to keep pace. Jefferson, who has produced a modest 6-68-1 receiving line on 13 targets through four appearances this season, thus might be little more than a risky flex play in the majority of fantasy leagues.

Nov 27, 2022 6:20 AM EST


Three grabs in Week 11 loss

Jefferson brought in three of five targets for 41 yards in the Rams' 27-20 loss to the Saints on Sunday.

Analysis: Jefferson was just behind co-leaders Allen Robinson and Tyler Higbee in receptions in the Rams' first game without Cooper Kupp (ankle). The speedy third-year wideout should continue to enjoy a progressively elevated role in coming weeks, but the fact Matthew Stafford was forced to re-enter concussion protocol Sunday casts doubt over the entirety of the air attack's potential for a Week 12 road battle against the Chiefs.

Nov 20, 2022 3:16 PM EST


Needed in larger role

Jefferson's teammate Cooper Kupp (ankle) was placed on injured reserve Wednesday, ruling him out for the next four games.

Analysis: Passes to Kupp are about the only thing that's worked for the Rams offense this year, with the star receiver averaging 10.9 targets and 90.2 receiving yards per game. Jefferson didn't catch any passes his first two weeks back in the lineup after missing six games to rehab from minor knee surgery, but he then caught three passes for 27 yards and a touchdown in the Week 10 loss to Arizona, and he'll now have an opportunity to see more snaps alongside Allen Robinson and Ben Skowronek. Jefferson played only 17 snaps (28 percent) last week, which actually was a decrease from the previous two games (53 percent in Week 8, 35 percent in Week 9). If Jefferson struggles this Sunday at New Orleans, the Rams could also give Lance McCutcheon, Brandon Powell or Tutu Atwell a look.

Nov 16, 2022 10:32 AM EST


Hauls in TD in loss

Jefferson caught all three of his targets for 27 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 27-17 loss to the Cardinals.

Analysis: After being held without a catch in his first two games of the season after recovering from knee surgery and coming off injured reserve, Jefferson finally made an impact. All three of his receptions came late in the fourth quarter after Cooper Kupp (ankle) has exited the game, but if Kupp is forced to miss a Week 11 clash with the Saints as well, Jefferson could find himself with a significant role in the offense whether Matthew Stafford (concussion) or John Wolford is under center.

Nov 13, 2022 9:02 PM EST


Zero catches again

Jefferson failed to secure any of his five targets during Sunday's 16-13 loss to the Buccaneers.

Analysis: Jefferson was looking to break into the stat column for the first time in the 2022 campaign after going without a target in his season debut in Week 8. Instead, the 26-year-old had a forgettable performance capped off by an ugly drop in the first quarter for what would've been a 30+ yard gain. Jefferson was tied for second on the team with five targets despite only being on the field for 20 offensive snaps, a somewhat encouraging stat to take away from an otherwise abysmal fantasy day.

Nov 7, 2022 9:19 AM EST


Active in Week 9

Jefferson (knee) is active for Sunday's game at Tampa Bay, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.

Analysis: In the wake of his season debut last Sunday against the 49ers, Jefferson was limited in practice Wednesday through Friday due to a preexisting knee issue. Now that the Rams have confirmed his availability for Week 9, he's a candidate to eat into Ben Skowronek's role as the team's third wide receiver behind Cooper Kupp (ankle) and Allen Robinson, though Jefferson still is in search of his first target of the campaign.

Nov 6, 2022 12:05 PM EST


Questionable, should play

Jefferson (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game in Tampa Bay, albeit with the expectation he'll play, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.

Analysis: Jefferson was a limited practice participant throughout the week after making his 2022 debut in the loss to San Francisco last Saturday. He shared the No. 3 receiver job with Ben Skowronek in that contest, finishing without a target in his first game back from a minor knee surgery. Jefferson could get more involved in the coming weeks but is only an option for the deepest of fantasy leagues until/unless he emerges as a regular starter with a near-every-down role.

Nov 4, 2022 1:21 PM EST


Limited again Thursday

Jefferson (knee) was limited in Thursday's practice, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.

Analysis: Jefferson made his season debut Week 8 against the 49ers, ultimately finishing fourth among Rams wide receivers in offensive snap share (53 percent) behind Cooper Kupp (95), Allen Robinson (93) and Ben Skowronek (62). While that trio combined for 20 targets, Jefferson wasn't looked at by quarterback Matthew Stafford. L.A. likely has placed a cap on his reps, both in practice and in games, until he's back to 100 percent, so it may be some time still before he's contributing to box scores on a weekly basis. In the end, though, Jefferson's status bears watching as the weekend approaches.

Nov 3, 2022 4:11 PM EST


Logs limited practice Wednesday

Jefferson (knee) practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.

Analysis: Prior to the session, coach Sean McVay told Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic that he'd be limited, and after the wide receiver was seen working on the side, he was listed as such to start Week 9 prep. The Rams likely are taking a cautious approach with Jefferson after he made his season debut this past Sunday against the 49ers, when he played 55 percent of the Rams' offensive snaps but wasn't targeted. He'll have two more chances this week to get back to full before L.A. potentially gives him a designation for Sunday's game at Tampa Bay.

Nov 2, 2022 4:09 PM EST


Zero targets in return

Jefferson failed to garner at target in Sunday's 31-14 loss to the 49ers.

Analysis: Making his season debut following a knee injury, Jefferson failed to get any looks from quarterback Matthew Stafford in the contest. On the bright side, the wide receiver did play 31 offensive snaps, which accounted for 55 percent of the team total. Jefferson produced 12 catches of over 20 yards last season, including four for 40 plus, so he'll likely get involved in the deep ball in the near future. The 26-year-old will look to make a bigger impact when the Rams take on the Buccaneers and their banged up secondary in Week 9.

Oct 31, 2022 7:34 AM EST


Activated as expected

Jefferson (knee) was activated off injured reserve Saturday and will play in the divisional Week 8 contest against the 49ers.

Analysis: Head coach Sean McVay said Jefferson would be activated off injured reserve and is expected to play upwards of 90 percent of the offensive snaps, so Saturday's designation comes as no surprise. Expect the 2020 second-round pick to push out Ben Skowronek from three wide-receiver sets if Jefferson does see his typical workload.

Oct 29, 2022 11:13 AM EST


Deemed ready for full workload

Coach Sean McVay said Friday that Jefferson (knee) will play in Sunday's game against the 49ers and should be ready for a normal workload, Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: Jefferson topped 90 percent snap share on seven occasions last season, and while that type of workload is unlikely after he missed six games recovering from knee surgery, it can't entirely be ruled out given McVay's penchant for running his starters hard. A lesser role is more likely, especially after Ben Skowronek showed signs of progress before the Week 7 bye, averaging 49.3 total yards over a four-game stretch. Allen Robinson has less yardage than Skowronek despite seeing a few more snaps and routes so far, and it's possible the 29-year-old eventually loses playing time if he doesn't start to produce.

Oct 28, 2022 11:44 AM EST


Designated to return from IR

The Rams designated Jefferson (knee) to return from injured reserve Monday.

Analysis: As expected, Jefferson is on track to make his season debut in Week 8 after starting the season on IR due to a knee procedure he underwent during training camp. Rams head coach Sean McVay has previously indicated that he expects the third-year wideout to be able to contribute right away, but Jefferson's participation in practice this week should provide further clarity on the situation. With Allen Robinson struggling to find a connection with Matthew Stafford to start the year, it's possible Jefferson's rapport with Stafford could elevate him to the No. 2 wideout behind Cooper Kupp. Last season, Jefferson caught 50 of 89 targets for 802 yards and solidified himself as a deep threat, catching 12 passes of 20-plus yards and four over 40 yards.

Oct 24, 2022 1:09 PM EST


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