Despite what could be additional opportunity, managers should steer clear of Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Van Jefferson in a Week 16 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. Top Pittsburgh receiver George Pickens (hamstring) missed the previous two contests and is out again against Baltimore, but that hasn't really led to much for Jefferson, who had two catches for 10 yards and a touchdown in those two games despite playing the majority of snaps. The Ravens rank 31st against fantasy wide receivers, but it's tough to trust the journeyman to be the benefactor. Managers holding Pickens should look elsewhere for a backup plan.
Dec 20, 2024 10:22 AM EST
With Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (hamstring) being ruled out for a second straight game, Van Jefferson will have an increased role again in a Week 15 battle on the road against the Philadelphia Eagles. In the Week 14 win over the division-rival Cleveland Browns last week with Pickens sidelined, Jefferson played a team-high 74 percent of the offensive snaps, but it resulted in just one catch on one target for a 10-yard touchdown reception, his second of the season. The 28-year-old pass-catcher will no doubt be on the field plenty this weekend in Philly, but expecting him to put up fantasy relevant numbers is unrealistic in Pittsburgh's low-volume passing attack against an Eagles defense that has been stingy against pass-catchers in 2024. Jefferson has caught only four of six targets in the last three weeks.
Dec 14, 2024 12:46 PM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Van Jefferson converted his lone target into a 10-yard touchdown reception during Sunday's Week 14 victory over the Cleveland Browns. With George Pickens (hamstring) inactive, Jefferson played 74 percent of the offense snaps, which was his highest mark since Week 8. Although he was targeted just once, the 28-year-old took advantage of his lone opportunity and scored a third-quarter touchdown that gave Pittsburgh a two-possession lead over its divisional opponent. Jefferson's reduced offensive role keeps him off the fantasy radar, especially with Pickens looking like he'll return to action in Week 15.
Dec 9, 2024 10:35 AM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Van Jefferson could be an intriguing deep-league play this weekend when he squares off against the Cleveland Browns. The 28-year-old typically wouldn't garner much fantasy consideration, considering his low-volume role in the Steelers' offensive attack. However, he could be featured more this weekend against their division rivals if fellow wideout George Pickens (hamstring) is unable to play. Pickens, a late-week addition to Pittsburgh's injury report, is now labeled as questionable for the home outing. Jefferson is the team's second-leading snap-getter, and while it has yet to amount to much in the box score -- he's still capable of snagging a long bomb or two from quarterback Russell Wilson. Additionally, Cleveland's defense is beatable on the back end, letting up the seventh-most fantasy points per game to WRs (37.9). If Pickens is out, Jefferson should be in line for an enhanced role. The veteran is RotoBaller's PPR WR73 ahead of Week 14.
Dec 7, 2024 10:57 PM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Van Jefferson (quad) is currently considered questionable to return to Thursday's game against the Cleveland Browns. Jefferson appears to have re-aggravated his quad injury during the first half of this contest. It's the same issue that Jefferson was dealing with last week, but he ultimately played in Week 11. He hauled in his lone target for 11 yards before exiting on Thursday. It wouldn't be shocking to see the Steelers hold out Jefferson until at least halftime. George Pickens and Calvin Austin III figure to see more targets with Jefferson absent currently.
Nov 21, 2024 9:12 PM EST
Per Brooke Pryor of ESPN, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Van Jefferson (quad) was officially a non-participant for the team's first practice ahead of Week 11. The fifth-year wideout is a new addition to the injury report, as he seemingly picked up a quad ailment sometime between Sunday's victory over the Washington Commanders and Wednesday. Jefferson may have sustained the injury during the win. However, it did not seem to hamper him as he operated in his typical capacity as Pittsburgh's WR2 despite not recording a reception. The severity of the injury is unknown, but head coach Mike Tomlin did not comment on the 28-year-old, suggesting it might not be that big a deal. If the former Florida Gator can't suit up for this weekend's divisional clash against the Baltimore Ravens, it would open the door for newly acquired wideout Mike Williams to see an uptick in usage.
Nov 13, 2024 9:52 PM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Van Jefferson (eye) exited Sunday's contest against the Chargers. He is questionable to return. The wideout has been quiet through the first two games of the 2024-25 campaign, amassing three catches (five targets) for 15 yards. While anyone on the Steelers offense is hard to trust, Jefferson's potential absence could allow Calvin Austin III to get more involved. At any rate, if Jefferson is ruled out, he'll finish Week 3 without a catch (or a target).
Sep 22, 2024 2:10 PM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Van Jefferson will face off against his former team, the Atlanta Falcons, in Week 1. Jefferson has flashed potential since entering the league in 2020 and begins his fifth professional season with an opportunity to become the WR2 in Pittsburgh. The 28-year-old impressed throughout camp and drew praise from the Steelers' coaching staff all summer. Unfortunately, he'll have his work cut out for him on Sunday against a Falcons defense that limited wideouts to the sixth-fewest fantasy points in the NFL last season. Jefferson's role in new play-caller Arthur Smith's offense is worth monitoring but he is best left on fantasy waiver wires for now.
Sep 6, 2024 9:56 PM EST
After signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency this offseason, he is in pole position to start the 2024 season as the No. 2 wideout behind George Pickens. Jefferson showed flashes of being able to handle that role in 2021 with 50 catches and 802 yards with the Los Angeles Rams, but he hasn't done much since then, which is concerning. The 27-year-old also didn't really stand out at all during offseason workouts, so he'll need to show more in training camp and the preseason to stick as the No. 2 as he competes mainly with Calvin Austin III and third-round rookie Roman Wilson. In 17 games (nine starts) with the Rams and Atlanta Falcons in 2023, Jefferson had just 20 receptions on 43 targets for 209 yards and no touchdowns. Even if he does win the WR2 job to open the year, Jefferson can probably be left to the waiver wire in 12-team fantasy leagues.
Jul 12, 2024 1:22 PM EST
The Pittsburgh Steelers needed wide receiver Van Jefferson to stand out during offseason workouts, but he didn't. Spring practices typically don't mean a ton, but nothing has jumped out to suggest that Jefferson can be a difference-maker in 2024 with both Diontae Johnson and Allen Robinson II now out of town. Outside of George Pickens, there is a lot of opportunity in the Steelers' receivers room, but it looks like Jefferson hasn't really seized a role. As we head to training camp at the end of July, Jefferson will be competing with Calvin Austin II, rookie Roman Wilson, Scotty Miller and Quez Watkins for a role in the passing game in his first year in Pittsburgh. The 27-year-old had 20 receptions for only 209 yards and no touchdowns in 17 games (nine starts) with the Falcons and Rams in 2023 and will be a long shot for fantasy relevance outside of very deep leagues as receiver depth.
Jun 17, 2024 2:54 PM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Van Jefferson signed a one-year, $1.29 million contract to join the organization this offseason, and Mark Kaboly of the Athletic said he looks like the team's No. 2 wide receiver after OTAs. After moving on from Diontae Johnson, third-year wideout George Pickens is the unquestioned No. 1 wide receiver, but the depth chart behind him is weak on paper. Rookie Roman Wilson and veterans Calvin Austin III, Quez Watkins, and Scotty Miller are also likely to compete for targets behind Pickens, but Jefferson could have more fantasy football value than expected. The former second-round pick out of Florida has tallied 113 receptions for 1,600 yards and 10 touchdowns in 61 games with the Rams and Atlanta Falcons. The Pittsburgh offense is tough to navigate for fantasy football in 2024, especially since many expect Russell Wilson to eventually be benched for Justin Fields. Ultimately, fantasy managers in shallow setups should likely opt to focus on acquiring Pickens or tight end Pat Freiermuth and the Steelers' running back tandem of Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren. Under new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, the offense will likely remain a run-heavy attack.
Jun 10, 2024 4:44 PM EST
The Pittsburgh Steelers are signing free-agent wide receiver Van Jefferson to an undisclosed one-year deal on Friday. After the trade of receiver Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers this week, the move to sign Jefferson will give new quarterback Russell Wilson a new weapon alongside George Pickens and Calvin Austin III. The 27-year-old former second-round pick of the Los Angeles Rams in 2020 spent time with new Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith with the Atlanta Falcons last year, catching 12 of 28 targets for 101 yards in 12 games (five starts) with the team. The move to Pittsburgh should be a boost for Jefferson's weak fantasy value, but the Steelers could also add to the position in the upcoming NFL draft. In four years in the NFL, Jefferson has 113 receptions for 1,600 yards and 10 touchdowns in 61 games (35 starts).
Mar 15, 2024 7:06 PM EST
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Van Jefferson is active and will make his debut for the team in Week 7 against the Washington Commanders. Atlanta acquired Jefferson from the Los Angeles Rams on Tuesday to give their receiving corps some more help. The 27-year-old probably will have his snaps limited in his first game with the Falcons, and it's not like Jefferson had been much of a fantasy option to begin with in LA, even with Cooper Kupp (hamstring) missing the first four games of the season. In five games with the Rams, Jefferson had just eight catches on 15 targets for 108 yards. Drake London will continue to be the Falcons' No. 1 receiver, even when Jefferson becomes even more comfortable with the playbook.
Oct 15, 2023 12:16 PM EST
The Los Angeles Rams are trading wide receiver Van Jefferson and a 2025 seventh-round pick to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round pick. With the emergence of Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell and the return of Cooper Kupp, Jefferson quickly became the odd man out in L.A. Jefferson could now start in three-wide sets for the Falcons, but he'll likely have very little fantasy value as the third or fourth option in the low-volume passing attack led by Desmond Ridder. Jefferson has posted just 1,499 yards through his first 49 NFL games.
Oct 10, 2023 2:10 PM EST
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Van Jefferson put together his best game of the season in Week 3, as he hauled in a 46-yard deep ball from Matthew Stafford. This was Jefferson's only catch of the game and one of just three targets, despite playing 93% of all offensive snaps. The 27-year-old receiver has been out-targeted by four different Rams through the first three games, making it clear that he's not someone Stafford is looking for often. Jefferson should be approached as a low-end WR4 at best, and a DFS dart throw in the team's Week 4 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.
Sep 30, 2023 6:11 AM EST
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Van Jefferson has been the disappointing fantasy option from the team's receiving trio. Despite leading all Rams' receivers in snaps through the first two games, Jefferson has caught just five of his nine targets on the season for 33 yards. It is clear that Matthew Stafford favors Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell over the 27-year-old receiver. Jefferson should only be started if necessary in deep leagues. He offers a very low floor and a relatively low ceiling and should be avoided in most formats in the team's Week 3 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Sep 23, 2023 9:02 PM EST
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Van Jefferson was the odd man out once again during the team's 30-23 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. The fourth-year receiver hauled in one of his four targets for just nine yards. It was assumed that Jefferson would be the Rams' primary receiving target with Cooper Kupp on injured reserve. However, this has yet to be the case. Jefferson has not been a big part of the offense the last two weeks and will try to bounce back against the Bengals in Week 3.
Sep 18, 2023 3:10 PM EST
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Van Jefferson will be the team's primary outside target with Cooper Kupp out. Jefferson is entering his fourth season in the league and is looking to earn himself a second contract. The 27-year-old receiver has flashed his significant playmaking ability but has yet to show if he can consistently be a reliable fantasy option. Facing Seattle, this will likely be a game where the Rams are playing from behind and forced to throw the ball. Jefferson is a high-risk/high-reward WR3/flex option this week, but he is still someone to look at for DFS lineups.
Sep 9, 2023 8:11 AM EST
With Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (hamstring) having been ruled out for Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks, Van Jefferson steps into the No. 1 receiving role for the Rams with Tutu Atwell and rookie Puka Nacua behind him. Kupp had over a third of the team's target share last year before going down with a season-ending ankle injury after nine games. His specific role as the "F" receiver, as well as his significant amount of option routes, means the Rams' passing game and their run-blocking system will be dramatically altered for however long he is out. Kupp could miss as many as four games if he's placed on Injured Reserve, so the 27-year-old Jefferson now becomes a prime waiver-wire target as receiver depth for fantasy managers.
Sep 7, 2023 11:13 AM EST
Jefferson could earn a larger role in 2023, as he's been healthy this offseason and is now the second-most experienced WR on the Rams' roster, Stu Jackson of the team's official website reports.
May 7, 2023 4:51 PM EST
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