Jefferson has proven to be an elite Fantasy wide receiver and will be drafted like one ... as in the No. 1 pick in your league. If it's a PPR format, it's warranted: Last year Jefferson averaged 10.8 targets, 7.5 receptions, 106.4 yards and 21.7 PPR Fantasy points per game. The Vikings' addition of rookie Jordan Addison is designed to make their offense tougher for defenses to cover, but the Vikings figure to stay pass-heavy, meaning Jefferson's targets won't shrivel up. His per-game Fantasy totals have gone up year over year and could potentially continue to rise in his fourth season, making the 24-year-old one of the safest elite picks you could make. No one would fault you if you took Jefferson over Ja'Marr Chase or Christian McCaffrey in a PPR league, but consider a running back over Jefferson if you're picking within the first three spots in half- or non-PPR.
Vikings' Justin Jefferson: Another limited listing
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Jefferson (hamstring) was listed as limited on Thursday's injury report, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.
As he has been since the Vikings designated him for return from injured reserve on Nov. 8, Jefferson remains limited on the team's injury report. Coach Kevin O'Connell told Lewis on Wednesday that Jefferson "is getting closer. He is feeling really, really good. ... We're not going to allow outside circumstances of the team" determine the decision to activate the wide receiver from IR. Minnesota doesn't need to do so until Monday afternoon in order for him to be available against the Bears in Week 12. Having said that, with a Week 13 bye on tap, the Vikings have leeway to make sure Jefferson truly is past the strained right hamstring that he suffered back in Week 5.
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Vikings' Justin Jefferson: Questionable for Week 11
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Jefferson (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game at Denver.
Per Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com, Jefferson remained limited at Friday's practice, as he has been since the Vikings designated him for return from injured reserve last Wednesday. The team didn't activate him Week 10, and while he's a bit closer to game action than he was a week ago, coach Kevin O'Connell implied that Jefferson isn't likely to be available this weekend. Still, Minnesota will have until Saturday afternoon to get Jefferson back on the active roster ahead of Sunday's contest. If Jefferson misses his sixth consecutive game, the Vikings again will rely on Jordan Addison, K.J. Osborn and Brandon Powell at wide receiver.
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Vikings' Justin Jefferson: Stays limited at practice
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Jefferson (hamstring) was a limited practice participant Thursday.
Jefferson continues to log capped sessions since the Vikings designated him for return from injured reserve last Wednesday. After coach Kevin O'Connell told Alec Lewis of The Athletic this Wednesday that Jefferson was slated to up his practice reps, the wide receiver himself said one day later that his main focus is increasing the endurance in his recovering right hamstring, per Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "Just making sure that after work, I'm not too sore and achy," Jefferson added. He also mentioned to Goessling that he's the "person who's gonna make the decision" regarding his return. Considering where he stands in the middle of Week 11 prep, Jefferson seems like a coin flip to be available Sunday at Denver, but the Vikings will have to activate him from IR on Saturday afternoon in order for him to have a chance to play this weekend.
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Vikings' Justin Jefferson: Ramping up activity level Wednesday
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Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said Wednesday that Jefferson (hamstring) will "do a little bit more today" than he did last week, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports. "We'll see how he responds to that," O'Connell added. "A little bit more [Thursday]. We're in that day-to-day, ramping-him-up phase. We'll determine if it's possible at all to have him for this weekend."
After the Vikings designated him for return from injured reserve last Wednesday, Jefferson practiced in a limited fashion all week before the team deemed him questionable on its final Week 10 injury report. Ultimately, he wasn't activated by Saturday's deadline in order to have a chance to play this past Sunday against the Saints. This time around, Jefferson is increasing his on-field work to begin Week 11 prep, but it's unclear if he'll be able to make enough progress to be available for Sunday's game in Denver. Wednesday's practice report will reveal the extent of his activity.
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Vikings' Justin Jefferson: Not cleared for Sunday
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Jefferson (hamstring) wasn't activated from injured reserve Saturday and won't be available for Sunday's game against the Saints, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Head coach Kevin O'Connell tipped his hand about Jefferson's status earlier this week, when he suggested it would be "a little aggressive" for the receiver to play Week 10 when first eligible to return from IR. Though Jefferson was able to practice in a limited fashion this week and had been listed as questionable heading into the weekend, he'll ultimately miss his fifth consecutive game. Jordan Addison and Brandon Powell will likely play prominent roles Sunday, especially if wideout K.J. Osborn (concussion) and tight end T.J. Hockenson (ribs) are unable to suit up. Jefferson's next chance to play will come Week 11 against the Broncos on Nov. 19.
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Vikings' Justin Jefferson: Status unclear for Week 10
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Head coach Kevin O'Connell said Monday that the Vikings are still determining whether to designate Jefferson (hamstring) for return from injured reserve this week, Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
After missing the required four games while on IR, Jefferson is eligible to resume practicing this week, but the team hasn't been clear with its plans, and it seems as though he's still being evaluated by the medical staff. Whenever Jefferson is available, he would provide a boost for the Minnesota offense that no longer has Kirk Cousins (Achilles) at quarterback, but the star wideout also is entering the final year of his contract in 2024, which may prompt both player and team to exercise caution in any return with the aim of avoiding a setback. More information about Jefferson's status could be known Wednesday, when the Vikings hold their first Week 10 practice in advance of Sunday's game against the Saints.
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Vikings' Justin Jefferson: To be re-evaluated in four weeks
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Jefferson is expected to miss four-to-six weeks with a hamstring injury, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Jefferson was placed on injured reserve this week and will be forced to miss Minnesota's next four games as a result. That said, the front end of this timeline doesn't come as much of a surprise. However, Jefferson will have imaging done in four weeks to determine when he can return, so activation from IR when he is immediately eligible appears unlikely. K.J. Osborn, Jordan Addison and Brandon Powell should all have the chance to step up in Jefferson's absence.
Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said Wednesday that he doesn't believe Jefferson's hamstring injury to be a season-ending one, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.
O'Connell didn't divulge the grade of Jefferson's right hamstring strain, but the injury is severe enough for him to miss at least the team's next four games while on injured reserve. While Jefferson is sidelined, Minnesota's passing attack may become more balanced between tight end T.J. Hockenson, wideouts K.J. Osborn and Jordan Addison and running back Alexander Mattison. However, Addison was a limited participant at Wednesday's practice due to an ankle injury, potentially removing another key pass catcher from the mix if he's unable to overcome the issue ahead of Sunday's game in Chicago.
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Vikings' Justin Jefferson: Placed on IR
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The Vikings placed Jefferson (hamstring) on injured reserve Wednesday, ruling him out for the next four games, Craig Peters of the team's official site reports.
Minnesota signed receiver N'Keal Harry off the practice squad in a corresponding move, while the likely beneficiaries in terms of targets are Jordan Addison, K.J. Osborn, Brandon Powell and tight end T.J. Hockenson. The Vikings seem to have hope that Jefferson will ready to play after missing the requisite four games, though it's also possible Minnesota's playoff hopes (or lack thereof) end up affecting the decision a month from now. His earliest possible return date is Nov. 12 against the Saints in Week 10.
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Vikings' Justin Jefferson: Still being evaluated
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Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said Jefferson is still going through the evaluation process on the right hamstring strain he suffered in Sunday's 27-20 loss to the Chiefs, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.
Jefferson went down early in the fourth quarter versus Kansas City and was unable to return, finishing the day with three catches for 28 scoreless yards on six targets. If Jefferson needs to miss time, Jordan Addison and K.J. Osborn are going to have to step up into expanded roles at receiver, while tight end T.J. Hockenson would become the favorite to pace Minnesota in targets. The Vikings return to action Week 6 with a matchup Sunday against the Bears.
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Vikings' Justin Jefferson: Catches two touchdowns
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Jefferson caught six of nine targets for 85 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 21-13 win over the Panthers.
Jefferson led Minnesota in all major receiving categories, helping the team clinch its first victory of the season. The star wideout first went uncovered for a four-yard touchdown during the second quarter, then made an impressive jump-ball reception for a 30-yard score to end the third. Although his streak of three 145-plus-yard games was snapped, Jefferson continued his spectacular start to the campaign with Sunday's pair of end-zone trips.
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Vikings' Justin Jefferson: Another massive output Thursday
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Jefferson brought in 11 of 13 targets for 159 yards in the Vikings' 34-28 loss to the Eagles on Thursday night. He also lost a fumble.
Jefferson finished with game-high reception, receiving yardage and target totals by a wide margin, putting together his second massive stat line in a span of four days. The Pro Bowl wideout wasn't on the receiving end of any of Kirk Cousins' four touchdown passes, however, although his final catch of the night, a 20-yard grab with 1:41 remaining, did get the ball down to the Eagles' five-yard line to set up a T.J. Hockenson scoring grab. Jefferson already has a 20-309 line through two games and now gets some extra down time before a Week 3 home matchup against the Chargers on Sunday, Sept. 24.
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Vikings' Justin Jefferson: Trademark numbers in Week 1 loss
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Jefferson secured nine of 12 targets for 150 yards in the Vikings' 20-17 loss to the Buccaneers on Sunday.
Jefferson's explosive numbers were thoroughly unsurprising, although the fact they came in a low-scoring loss was somewhat unexpected. The star wideout comfortably recorded game-high reception, receiving yardage and target totals, with the Buccaneers unable to find any answer for him. About the only blemishes on Jefferson's afternoon were the absence of a touchdown and the fact he was targeted just once over the Vikings' final two drives, which both stalled at three plays. Jefferson may be hard-pressed to replicate his season-opening performance Week 2, as Minnesota travels to face the Eagles on Thursday night.
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Vikings' Justin Jefferson: Has fifth-year option picked up
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The Vikings exercised Jefferson's fifth-year option for 2024 on Tuesday, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.
This was a no-brainer for Minnesota, but it would be a shock if the two sides don't have a long-term contract worked out well before the start of the 2024 campaign. This is likely just a placeholder keeping Jefferson tied to the Vikings for at least the next two seasons. Since being taken 22nd overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, Jefferson has 324 catches for 4,825 yards and 25 touchdowns and has yet to miss a game. Turning 24 in June, Jefferson is coming off Offensive Player of the Year honors last season.
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Vikings' Justin Jefferson: Takes home OPOY
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Jefferson was named the 2022 NFL Offensive Player of the Year on Thursday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.
Jefferson has taken a step forward in production in each of his three seasons in the NFL, and he finished 2022 with 128 receptions for 1,809 yards and eight touchdowns across 17 games. He consistently put up big receiving lines to reach those marks, surpassing 100 receiving yards in 10 games and 150 yards on four occasions. The Vikings will almost certainly pick up Jefferson's fifth-year option on his rookie deal that guarantees he will remain with the team through 2024, though it's also possible that he'll reach a long-term deal with Minnesota this offseason.
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Vikings' Justin Jefferson: Rested during second half
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Jefferson caught four of five targets for 38 yards in Sunday's 29-13 win over the Bears.
Jefferson's production came exclusively during the first half, as Minnesota opted to rest its offensive starters following halftime. The decision restricted Jefferson to his second straight game with under 40 receiving yards, a steep decline from his league-leading production. With the Vikings now slated to host a playoff game, however, Jefferson will strive to be back at his best the next time he takes the field.
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Vikings' Justin Jefferson: May not play full game
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Head coach Kevin O'Connell intimated Friday that Jefferson and other key starters on offense and defense may not play the entirety of the Vikings' Week 18 game in Chicago, Joe Nelson of SI.com reports. "We've got a pretty clear cut plan with how we want to go about the whole game, but we're going to go in with the expectation of our guys going and try to get off to a good start and play good football," O'Connell said.
Minnesota is assured no worse than the No. 3 seed in the NFC playoffs regardless of how this weekend's games transpire, but since the Vikings will need a win over the Bears plus a Cardinals win over the heavily-favored 49ers to climb to the No. 2 seed, O'Connell may not have much incentive to expose key players to an injury heading into the wild-card round. While Jefferson and all of the Vikings' other starting skill-position players look poised to play at least one series, the uncertainty of whether they'll play much beyond that makes it tough to reliably project any in Week 18 season-long or DFS lineups.
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Vikings' Justin Jefferson: Just one catch Sunday
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Jefferson caught one of five targets for 15 yards in Sunday's 41-17 loss to the Packers.
It was a brutal showing for Jefferson, one that likely cost him a chance to break Calvin Johnson's NFL record for receiving yards in a season, but the whole Vikings offense struggled after losing two offensive linemen to injuries early in the game. The team might prioritize the health of its stars in a relatively meaningless regular-season finale, so Jefferson may not see much of the field in Week 18 against the Bears.
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Vikings' Justin Jefferson: Tops 100 yards again
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Jefferson caught 12 of 16 targets for 133 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 27-24 win over the Giants.
It was another huge day for the NFL's receiving yards leader, as Jefferson reached triple digits for the 10th time this season while scoring his eighth TD. The third-year wideout is now 208 yards short of Calvin Johnson's all-time single-season record of 1,964 heading into a Week 17 road game against the Packers -- a defense he lit up for 184 yards and two touchdowns back in Week 1.
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Vikings' Justin Jefferson: Top DFS Play
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Jefferson is at home in one of the few games not expected to be impacted by weather this week. I don't see any way the Giants are slowing him down, with Kirk Cousins force-feeding him to the tune of 53 targets over his past four games.
