Who Should I Start? Justin Jefferson or Elijah Moore

Tuesday, November 11, 10:12 AM

Coming off a frustrating loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 10, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson vowed to improve following a rare quiet game. Jefferson was targeted 12 times, but caught only four for 37 yards. A number of factors led to Minnesota's struggles, most notably eight false start penalties that had the offense playing from behind most of the day. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy, the NFL's youngest starter at age 22, has been inconsistent, but the Vikings saw promise in two near-connections with Jefferson. On the first, McCarthy saw Baltimore's zero coverage and heaved a deep ball to Jefferson, who lost his footing with incidental contact, leading to an interception. The star receiver also nearly caught a touchdown on an accurate ball in traffic that would have been a tough catch, but he said he views it as his job to "make the 50-50 opportunity catches look 70-30," according to The Athletic. For fantasy managers, Jefferson is a must-start player every week, but the Vikings look like they're going to be erratic as they weather McCarthy's growing pains.

Saturday, August 23, 11:58 PM

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Elijah Moore earned four targets from quarterback Shane Buechele in a 23-19 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday, but he was unable to do much with them. While Moore did haul in three passes, he totaled just eight yards and will wrap up his preseason with four catches (eight targets) for 13 yards. The former New York Jet and Cleveland Brown joined the Bills on a one-year deal in free agency and is expected to earn a roster spot, but he isn't necessarily a stone-cold lock. Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, and Joshua Palmer are the only Buffalo receivers who are guaranteed to make the team, leaving Moore grouped with several others (Curtis Samuel, Tyrell Shavers, Kristian Wilkerson, Laviska Shenault Jr., and KJ Hamler among them) fighting for two or three jobs. Except for Samuel (illness), who's also reportedly on the bubble and didn't play Saturday because of an illness, Moore has a more proven track record than the rest of the WRs competing for roles. That could help give him the edge in the competition.