Ja'Marr Chase is playing on Thursday, CeeDee Lamb lost his QB, and Nico Collins is returning from an extended absence. That makes Justin Jefferson the pretty clear top option in cash games. It doesn't hurt that his opponent has allowed the third-most Fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this season.
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Vikings' Justin Jefferson: Leading receiver on SNF
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Jefferson hauled in seven of nine targets for 137 yards while completing his only pass attempt for 22 yards in Sunday's 21-13 win over the Colts.
Jefferson posted his usual WR1 stat line in a winning effort, but he also contributed 22 passing yards on a successful trick play. The superstar wideout upped his season line to 67-783-5 through eight starts, showing little dropoff with new starter Sam Darnold this season. Jefferson remains a must-start asset in all fantasy formats heading into a positive matchup against the Jaguars next Sunday.
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Vikings' Justin Jefferson: Eclipses century mark in loss
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Jefferson secured eight of nine targets for 115 yards in the Vikings' 30-20 loss to the Rams on Thursday night.
Jefferson comfortably paced the Vikings in receptions, receiving yards and targets on the night while generating his second 100-yard effort of the season. The catch total also was a season high for Jefferson, who had one of the highlights of the night for either club when he made a one-handed, contested juggling grab of 27 yards down the left sideline that took the ball down to the Rams' four-yard line. Jefferson next draws an enticing matchup against a vulnerable Colts secondary during a Week 9 home matchup on Sunday night, Nov. 3.
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Vikings' Justin Jefferson: Finds end zone in win
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Jefferson secured six of eight targets for 85 yards and a touchdown in the Vikings' 31-29 win over the Packers on Sunday.
Jefferson was in the customary position of leading the Vikings in receptions, receiving yards and targets, and he was able to record his fourth touchdown in as many games to open the season via a 14-yard grab with just over five minutes remaining in the second quarter. The star wideout now has back-to-back eight-target games and at least 81 receiving yards in three straight contests heading into a Week 5 matchup against the Jets in London.
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Vikings' Justin Jefferson: No concern about hand injury
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Head coach Kevin O'Connell said Monday that the Vikings have no concern about Jefferson's availability for Sunday's game against the Packers after the receiver jammed a finger on his right hand in a Week 3 win over the Texans, Andrew Krammer of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
The jammed finger may have contributed to the drop that Jefferson had on one of his two targets in the second half of the 34-7 win over the Texans, though he produced well enough in the first two quarters (six catches for 81 yards and a touchdown on six targets) to satisfy fantasy managers. While Jefferson was sent for X-rays after the game, the scans revealed no fractures to any of his fingers. He may be dealing with some discomfort, but the issue shouldn't affect his playing time and usage in Week 4.
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Vikings' Justin Jefferson: Avoids final injury report
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Jefferson (quadriceps) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against Houston, Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
As promised by the man himself, Jefferson will be out there Sunday as the Vikings try for a surprising 3-0 start. Fellow wideout Jordan Addison (ankle) has been ruled out, but coach Kevin O'Connell told Goessling on Friday that Addison should have a good chance to return Week 4 against Green Bay.
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Vikings' Justin Jefferson: No concern for Week 3 availability
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Jefferson (quadricep) remained a limited participant in practice Thursday for the second day in a row, but he said afterward that he "for sure" plans to play Sunday against the Texans, Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com reports.
Jefferson is tending to a bruised right quad in the aftermath of Sunday's win over the 49ers, but he said his body feels "great," and he's continuing to work with the Minnesota training staff to ensure he's in optimal condition by the weekend. A blowout win over the Giants in Week 2 and the injury in Week 2 have played a part in limiting Jefferson to six and seven targets in those respective contests, but he still ranks in the top five in the NFL in both receiving yards (192) and receiving touchdowns (two) through the first two weeks of the season.
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Vikings' Justin Jefferson: Limited again Thursday
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Jefferson (quadriceps) was a limited practice participant Thursday.
Jefferson maintained his activity level from Wednesday's session as he tends to the bruised right quadriceps that he picked up late in the third quarter of this past Sunday's win against the 49ers. Both the wide receiver and coach Kevin O'Connell have expressed optimism in the meantime that the injury isn't serious, but Jefferson now has just one more session this week to prove his health ahead the weekend. In the end, Jefferson appears destined to have a designation for Sunday's game versus the Texans.
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Vikings' Justin Jefferson: Logs limited practice Wednesday
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Jefferson (quadricep) practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday.
Meanwhile, fellow wide receiver Jordan Addison didn't practice at all, instead rehabbing his sore right ankle on a side field. Head coach Kevin O'Connell told Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune earlier Wednesday that the Vikings are hopeful Jefferson will be able to ramp up his activity level as the week goes on, but the quad contusion that he suffered this past Sunday against the 49ers may result in him carrying a designation for a Week 3 matchup with the Texans.
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Vikings' Justin Jefferson: Goes through walkthrough
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Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said Wednesday that Jefferson (quadricep) was able to go through the team's walk-through practice, Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
O'Connell has called Jefferson "day-to-day" due to a right quad bruise sustained during the Vikings' win over the 49ers in Week 2. Barring any setbacks in practice, Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com notes that the star wide receiver seems to be trending in the right direction to play Sunday versus the Texans. Meanwhile, O'Connell said No. 2 wide receiver Jordan Addison (ankle) is "still in that day-to-day world."
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Vikings' Justin Jefferson: Exits Sunday's game
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Jefferson left Sunday's game against the 49ers due to a leg injury, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Jefferson remained on the turf for a spell before making his way to the sideline tent near the end of the third quarter. He then went to the locker room. Prior to his exit, Jefferson recorded four catches (on seven targets) for 133 yards and one touchdown, a line fueled by a 97-yard score.
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Vikings' Justin Jefferson: Unlikely to suit up
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Jefferson and most other starters aren't expected to play in Saturday's preseason game against the Browns, Mark Craig of The Star Tribune reports.
It sounds like the Vikings will use fewer key players than they did in their preseason opener, although Jefferson was also held out for that one. He's set to open the season with Sam Darnold as his starting QB after J.J. McCarthy's season-ending meniscus surgery put an end to any thoughts of a job battle.
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Vikings' Justin Jefferson: Not expected to suit up Saturday
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Coach Kevin O'Connell said Thursday that Jefferson likely won't take the field during Saturday's preseason game against the Raiders.
Jefferson is fully healthy, per Alec Lewis of The Athletic, but with all he's proven in his excellent career, there Vikings simply believe there's no need to expose him to unnecessary game reps. Sam Darnold is slated to start Saturday's exhibition contest, with 10th overall pick J.J. McCarthy also in line to receive notable reps, but neither is expected to yet have an opportunity to demonstrate their chemistry with the Vikings' No. 1 receiver.
Jefferson reached agreement with the Vikings on Monday on a four-year contract extension, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Schefter and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network both report Jefferson's deal as a four-year, $140 million contract with $110 million guaranteed, giving the wideout the new record for average annual value ($35 million) among non-quarterbacks. He'll turn 25 years old later this month and already has 5,899 career receiving yards, with his average of 98.3 per game easily being the all-time record (Calvin Johnson is second at 86.1). Jefferson will enter the 2024 season without Kirk Cousins as his quarterback for the first time, instead catching passes from 10th overall pick J.J. McCarthy and/or Sam Darnold.
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Vikings' Justin Jefferson: Absent for start of OTAs
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Jefferson is not present for the start of OTAs on Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Jefferson is amid contract negotiations with Minnesota, so it won't be surprising if he doesn't show up for voluntary workouts with the team. The Vikings' mandatory minicamp won't begin until June 4, at which point Jefferson will incur fines if he isn't in attendance. The star wideout currently is heading into the final year of his rookie contract with a fifth-year option that will pay him $19.7 million. In just 10 games last season, Jefferson still managed to surpass 1,000 receiving yards, his fourth straight such campaign to begin his NFL career. His value to Minnesota's offense and his help in the development of rookie first-round quarterback J.J. McCarthy, are impossible to overstate, so the team has every incentive to agree to a new long-term extension with haste.
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Vikings' Justin Jefferson: Stellar performance to end season
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Jefferson brought in 12 of 14 targets for 192 yards and a touchdown and rushed once for minus-12 yards in the Vikings' 30-20 loss the Lions on Sunday.
The Vikings were eliminated from postseason contention with the loss, but Jefferson certainly finished off the season in grand fashion. The ultra-talented wideout terrorized the Lions secondary throughout the afternoon, comfortably leading Minnesota in receptions, receiving yards and targets while also recording a nifty 38-yard touchdown grab. Jefferson's totals were also season highs across the board, and with the prolific afternoon, he finishes the season with 1,074 receiving yards in only 10 games despite having played with four different quarterbacks.
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Vikings' Justin Jefferson: Poor QB play affects line
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Jefferson finished with five receptions on 10 targets for 59 yards in Sunday's 33-10 loss to the Packers.
The Vikings started Jaren Hall at quarterback against the Packers in a desperate attempt to save the team's fleeting playoff hopes. The move backfired after the rookie turned the ball over twice before halftime, prompting a switch back to Nick Mullens in the second half. Jefferson's pedestrian fantasy line was the result of the Vikings' debacle at the QB position following Kirk Cousins' (Achilles) season-ending injury. The star wideout did see 10 targets for the third week in a row while pacing his club in receptions and yards, but the only touchdown produced from either quarterback went to tight end Johnny Mundt. After the game head coach Kevin O'Connell did not comment on who his starting quarterback would be next week, according to ESPN's Kevin Seifert. While neither of Sunday's options are ideal when it comes to maximizing Jefferson's immense talent, it is worth noting that Mullens was the starter in the Week 16 loss to Detroit when the wideout went off for 141 yards and a touchdown. The Vikings will be facing those very same Lions in Week 18 to close out the 2023 regular season.
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Vikings' Justin Jefferson: Limited Tuesday
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Jefferson (chest) was listed as a limited participant on Tuesday's practice estimate.
Head coach Kevin O'Connell labeled Jefferson as day-to-day after the receiver exited Sunday's 3-0 win over the Raiders with a chest injury, and it's encouraging news that he wasn't estimated as a non-participant. More clarity on Jefferson's status for Saturday's game against the Bengals will come as the week progresses, but if the wideout does play, he'll be on the receiving end of passes from quarterback Nick Mullens, who has been named the Vikings' Week 15 starter.
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Vikings' Justin Jefferson: Deemed day-to-day by coach
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Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell labeled Jefferson (chest) as day-to-day Monday, adding that Jefferson has a "good chance" to play Saturday against the Bengals, Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com reports.
Jefferson's participation in practice this week will bear monitoring, but O'Connell's comments are the latest bit of encouraging news regarding the chest injury the wideout suffered in Sunday's 3-0 win over the Raiders. Though Jefferson was taken to the hospital as a precaution, he traveled home with the team and may avoid missing any further action. O'Connell didn't name a starting quarterback for Saturday's game, so if Jefferson plays, it remains to be seen whether Nick Mullens or Joshua Dobbs will be throwing him the ball.
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Vikings' Justin Jefferson: Traveling home with team
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Jefferson (chest) has been released from the hospital and will travel home with the Vikings on Sunday, per coach Kevin O'Connell, Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune reports.
Jefferson was taken to the hospital as a precaution after exiting in the first half of Sunday's 3-0 win over the Raiders due to what O'Connell described as an internal chest injury. The star wide receiver had been on injured reserve since Week 5 due to a hamstring injury, and while it's encouraging that Jefferson will fly home with the team, he could be in danger of missing additional action due to this new injury.
