Who Should I Start? Terry McLaurin or Justin Jefferson

Wednesday, May 21, 3:10 PM

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin was not at Wednesday's practice, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz. The 29-year-old has been a full participant in offseason workouts before this absence, but this is a situation to monitor as he heads into the final year of his contract. McLaurin's contract ranks 16th among wideouts in average salary ($23.2 million), and he could be looking for long-term security with a pay bump toward the top of the position after an 82-catch, 1,096-yard, 13-touchdown season in 2024. The former third-round pick has tallied five consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns and is finally playing with a high-level quarterback in rising sophomore Jayden Daniels. Fantasy managers should expect any issues to be resolved ahead of this season, and McLaurin has WR1 upside in Washington's explosive offense.

Tuesday, January 14, 12:12 AM

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.