Justin Jefferson Fantasy outlook, stats and Week 4 start/sit for 2026
- Age
- 27
- Height / weight
- 6'1", 195 lb
- Experience
- 7th season
- Drafted
- 2020 R1, #22
2026 Season
- PPR PPG
- 15.0
- Pos rank
- WR15
- Rostered
- 99%
Week 4 vs. Dolphins, Sun Oct 4, 4:05 PM ET 28th vs. WRs, tough
Justin Jefferson Fantasy Football Stats & Analysis
Scoring rate
15.0 PPG
Played
3 games
Role
Depth
Trend
Stable
Justin Jefferson's 2026 Season, Week by Week
3 games played: one top-5 week and two busts. The next four matchups include two of the league's softest pass defenses.
- Week 1, Win,vs GB,31.2,WR3
- Week 2, Win,at CHI,8.5,WR43
- Week 3, Win,at TB,5.2,WR72
- Up next. Week 4, Oct 4,vs MIA,Tough, OutDolphins vs. WRs
- Week 5, Oct 11,at NO,ToughSaints vs. WRs
- Week 6,Bye,No game
- Week 7, Oct 25,vs IND,FavorableColts vs. WRs
Matchup rank is PPR points allowed to WRs through Week 4. 1st allows the most, 32nd the fewest.
Should You Start or Roster Justin Jefferson?
Jefferson is averaging 15.0 PPR points per game through 3 games, with 13 catches for 179 yards and 2 TD on 17 targets. That ranks WR15, which makes him a weekly starter in 12-team leagues.
His fantasy points per target (2.64) is in the 92nd percentile among WRs, the best of his efficiency marks; his target share (25.4%) is the weakest, in the 77th. His quarterback has been Carson Wentz.
His best week was WR3 in Week 1 against the Packers (31.2 points); his worst, WR72 in Week 3 at the Buccaneers (5.2). Two favorable matchups are coming: the Colts (9th vs. WRs) in Week 7 and the Lions (2nd vs. WRs) in Week 8.
For the season-long call, whether to hold, trade or start him, check where Jefferson ranks among all WRs in Redraft Command.
What's Driving His Production
Percentile vs. every WR with at least 12 targets in 2026. The line marks the league median.
Target share
25.4%77th percentile, above average
Yards per target
10.579th percentile, above average
Catch rate
76.5%85th percentile, above average
Fantasy points per target
2.6492nd percentile, above average
Justin Jefferson 2026 Game Log
| Wk | Opp | Result | FPTS | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | vs Packers | W 39–22 | 31.2 | WR3 |
| 2 | @ Bears | W 9–3 | 8.5 | WR43 |
| 3 | @ Buccaneers | W 23–16 | 5.2 | WR72 |
| Total | 3–0 | 44.9 | WR15 |
Career Fantasy Stats by Season
| Season | Team | GP | Tgt | Rec | Rec yds | Rec TD | FPTS | PPG | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | MIN | 3 | 17 | 13 | 179 | 2 | 44.9 | 15.0 | — |
| 2025 | MIN | 17 | 141 | 84 | 1,048 | 2 | 201.5 | 11.8 | WR21 |
| 2024 | MIN | 17 | 154 | 103 | 1,533 | 10 | 317.5 | 18.7 | WR2 |
| 2023 | MIN | 10 | 100 | 68 | 1,074 | 5 | 202.2 | 20.2 | WR33 |
| 2022 | MIN | 17 | 184 | 128 | 1,809 | 8 | 368.7 | 21.7 | WR1 |
| Career | 97 | 888 | 592 | 8,659 | 44 | 1737.3 | 17.9 |
Rest-of-Season Outlook and Availability
Jefferson is listed out.
Injury status
Out
He has not missed a game this season. Career games missed to injury: 7. Injury history
- 2025left hamstringPlayed through
- 2024wristPlayed through
- 2024right quadPlayed through
- 2023chestPlayed through
Outlook
Compare 2024, when the same workload produced 1,533 yards, 10 scores, a 0.417 EPA mark and 214.5 fantasy points. Behind him on the depth chart: Tai Felton. Full outlook
WRs like Justin Jefferson
Justin Jefferson Fantasy Football FAQ
Should I start Justin Jefferson in Week 4?
No: Justin Jefferson is listed as out for Week 4 against the Dolphins, so he should sit. Get the start/sit call for Jefferson.
How many fantasy points is Justin Jefferson averaging in 2026?
Justin Jefferson is averaging 15.0 PPR fantasy points per game in 2026, 44.9 points across 3 games. His last game produced 5.2 points.
Where does Justin Jefferson rank in fantasy football in 2026?
Justin Jefferson ranks WR15 in PPR total points in 2026, through 3 games. That makes him a weekly starter in 12-team leagues. View his complete season statistics.
Is Justin Jefferson worth rostering in fantasy football?
Yes, in the right league: Justin Jefferson is a bench stash in 12-team PPR, 10-team PPR and half-PPR leagues. He is rostered in 100% of Sleeper leagues.
What is Justin Jefferson's fantasy football role?
Justin Jefferson is the Vikings' starting WR, with Tai Felton behind him. He is averaging 5.7 targets a game, on 68% of the offensive snaps in 2026.
What are Justin Jefferson's upcoming fantasy football matchups?
Justin Jefferson's next three games are Week 4 vs. the Dolphins (28th in PPR points allowed to WRs, tough), Week 5 at the Saints (24th in PPR points allowed to WRs, tough) and Week 7 vs. the Colts (9th in PPR points allowed to WRs, favorable). One of them is favorable by points allowed to the position.
How consistent has Justin Jefferson been in fantasy football this season?
Justin Jefferson has finished as a top-12 WR in 1 of his 3 games this season and outside the top 36 in 2. His weekly scoring has a standard deviation of 14.2 points around his 15.0-point average.
What is Justin Jefferson's fantasy floor and ceiling?
This season Justin Jefferson's floor has been 5.2 PPR points (Week 3, WR72) and his ceiling 31.2 (Week 1, WR3). His median week has been 8.5 points. See Jefferson's full game log.
Justin Jefferson 2026 Stats
2026 through Week 4 · Minnesota VikingsTouchdowns account for 27% of his fantasy production, so his weekly output leans on volume more than scoring.
Receiving
- Rec
- 13
- Yards
- 179
- TD
- 2
- Targets
- 17
13.8 Y/R76.5% Catch %
Fantasy (PPR)
- Points
- 44.9
- Pos rank
- WR15
31.2 Best Week 1 vs GB5.2 Worst Week 3 @ TB
Advanced Receiving Stats
Jefferson is an intermediate target (10.5 yards per target last season), with a 25.4% target share this season.
| Stat | 2026 Thru Wk 4 | 2025 16 games | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Efficiency | ||||
| Yards per target | 10.5 | 77th | 7.3 | 37th |
| Fantasy points per target | 1.88 | 90th | 0.82 | 13th |
| Yards per route run | — | — | 1.91 | 74th |
| YAC per reception | 4.0 | 52nd | 5.3 | 83rd |
| Catch rate | 76.5% | 80th | 58.5% | 30th |
| Usage | ||||
| Target share | 25.4% | 88th | 29.7% | 97th |
| Snap share | 68.0% | 51st | 95.3% | 100th |
| Air-yards share | 32.3% | 79th | 38.5% | 97th |
| Red-zone targets | 3 | 66th | 17 | 90th |
| Route participation | — | — | 97.0% | 99th |
| Style | ||||
| Average depth of target | 11.1 | 47th | 10.5 | 41st |
Percentiles: 2026 through Week 4 among 102 qualified WRs · 2025 (16 games, weeks 1–17) among 116. Grey bars describe style, not quality.
Profile: Jefferson runs a route on most dropbacks and draws a big target share.
For fantasy: his floor is his volume, 5.7 targets a game this season; efficiency decides how much of it becomes points.
Fantasy Points per Game, Every Season
15.0
Fantasy PPG
5.7
Targets/g
60
Rec yds/g
Justin Jefferson career stats by season
| Season | GP | Tgt | Rec | Rec yds | Rec TD | Rush yds | FPTS | PPG | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026to date | 3 | 17 | 13 | 179 | 2 | 0 | 44.9 | 15.0 | — |
| 2025 | 17 | 141 | 84 | 1,048 | 2 | 7 | 201.5 | 11.8 | WR21 |
| 2024 | 17 | 154 | 103 | 1,533 | 10 | 3 | 317.5 | 18.7 | WR2 |
| 2023 | 10 | 100 | 68 | 1,074 | 5 | -12 | 202.2 | 20.2 | WR33 |
| 2022 | 17 | 184 | 128 | 1,809 | 8 | 24 | 368.7 | 21.7 | WR1 |
| 2021 | 17 | 167 | 108 | 1,616 | 10 | 14 | 329.4 | 19.4 | WR4 |
| 2020 | 16 | 125 | 88 | 1,400 | 7 | 2 | 273.2 | 17.1 | WR6 |
| Career | 97 | 888 | 592 | 8,659 | 44 | 38 | 1737.3 | 17.9 | — |
What His Career Numbers Say
17.9
Career PPG
97 games over 7 seasons
93%
Availability
Share of team games he played
61%
Top-24 weeks
Share of his games as a top-24 WR
9.6
Weekly swing
Standard deviation, moderate
Jefferson has averaged 17.9 fantasy points per game over 97 games and 7 seasons, with four top-12 finishes (2020, 2021, 2022, 2024).
So far in 2026 he is at 15.0 per game, up 3.1 from 2025. That is despite less volume (5.7 targets a game against 8.3), so efficiency and scoring are doing it. His quarterback this season has been Carson Wentz.
Career numbers describe the past; for what he is worth from here, see Jefferson's rest-of-season rank and trade value in Redraft Command.
Career highs
- 1,809Rec yards2022
- 10Rec TD2024
- 368.7Fantasy pts2022 · WR1
- 8,659Career rec yds2020–2026
WRs like Justin Jefferson
Justin Jefferson Stats FAQ
How many fantasy points does Justin Jefferson have in 2026?
Justin Jefferson has 44.9 PPR fantasy points in 2026 through Week 4, 15.0 per game across 3 games. That total ranks WR15 at the position. See how those numbers break down week by week.
How many receiving yards does Justin Jefferson have this season?
Justin Jefferson has 179 receiving yards in 2026 through Week 4, on 13 catches and 17 targets. His high was 92 yards, in Week 1 against the Packers.
How many receptions does Justin Jefferson have this season?
Justin Jefferson has 13 receptions in 2026 through Week 4, 4.3 a game, on 17 targets. His high was 8 catches, in Week 1 against the Packers.
How many targets does Justin Jefferson have this season?
Justin Jefferson has drawn 17 targets in 2026 through Week 4, 5.7 a game, and caught 76% of them. His high was 9 targets, in Week 1 against the Packers.
How many receiving touchdowns does Justin Jefferson have this season?
Justin Jefferson has 2 receiving touchdowns in 2026 through Week 4.
How many receiving yards per game is Justin Jefferson averaging?
Justin Jefferson is averaging 59.7 receiving yards per game in 2026, 179 yards across 3 games.
How many yards per reception is Justin Jefferson averaging?
Justin Jefferson is averaging 13.8 yards per reception in 2026, 179 yards on 13 catches.
How many games has Justin Jefferson played in 2026?
Justin Jefferson has played 3 games in the 2026 season through Week 4.
What were Justin Jefferson's stats last season?
In 2025, Justin Jefferson caught 84 of 141 targets for 1,048 yards and 2 touchdowns in 17 games. That was 201.5 PPR points (11.8 per game), a WR21 finish.
What are Justin Jefferson's career NFL stats?
Across 7 seasons and 97 games, Justin Jefferson has 592 catches for 8,659 yards and 44 touchdowns, for 1737.3 PPR fantasy points (17.9 per game).
How many touchdowns does Justin Jefferson have in his career?
Justin Jefferson has 45 touchdowns in his NFL career: 1 rushing and 44 receiving, over 97 games.
How many career receiving yards does Justin Jefferson have?
Justin Jefferson has 8,659 career receiving yards over 7 seasons, on 592 catches.
Justin Jefferson Game Log 2026
Games played
3
FPTS/G (PPR)
15.0
Targets/g
5.7
Rec/g
4.3
Rec yds/g
59.7
Yds/rec
13.8
Across 3 games in 2026, Justin Jefferson has averaged 5.7 targets, 4.3 receptions and 15.0 PPR fantasy points per game. Justin Jefferson has finished as a top-12 WR in 1 of those weeks, and inside the top 24 in 1. The best week was Week 1 against GB (31.2 points); the lowest was Week 3 against TB (5.2).
| Wk | Opp | Result | FPTS | TGT | REC | REC YDS | REC TD | YPR | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GB8th | W 39-22 | 31.2 | 9 | 8 | 92 | 2 | 11.5 | WR3 |
Week 1 · GB · W 39-22 · 31.2 pts
How the 31.2 points scored (PPR)
| |||||||||
| 2 | CHI23rd | W 9-3 | 8.5 | 6 | 3 | 55 | 0 | 18.3 | WR43 |
Week 2 · CHI · W 9-3 · 8.5 pts
How the 8.5 points scored (PPR)
| |||||||||
| 3 | TB27th | W 23-16 | 5.2 | 2 | 2 | 32 | 0 | 16.0 | WR72 |
Week 3 · TB · W 23-16 · 5.2 pts
How the 5.2 points scored (PPR)
| |||||||||
Opponent rank is fantasy points allowed to WRs across 2026: 1st allows the most, 32nd the fewest.
Where His Weeks Finished
One WR1 week and two busts. For a wide receiver ranked WR15 overall, the spread matters more than the average: you get a top-5 ceiling and a waiver-wire floor.
Game-by-Game Breakdown
Held in check by Tampa Bay
2/2, 32 yds.
A clean, mistake-free game that landed well below his season average.
Held in check by Chicago
3/6, 55 yds.
A clean, mistake-free game that landed well below his season average.
Season high in a shootout
8/9, 92 yds, 2 TD.
A clean, mistake-free game that landed well above his season average.
Fantasy Points By Week
- Weekly points
- Season average (15.0)
Upcoming Matchups
View matchup — Minnesota Vikings vs Miami Dolphins
View matchup — Minnesota Vikings vs New Orleans Saints
View matchup — Minnesota Vikings vs Indianapolis Colts
View matchup — Minnesota Vikings vs Detroit Lions
Justin Jefferson Game Log 2025
Games played
17
FPTS/G (PPR)
11.9
Targets/g
8.3
Rec/g
4.9
Rec yds/g
61.6
Yds/rec
12.5
Across 17 games in 2025, Justin Jefferson has averaged 8.3 targets, 4.9 receptions and 11.9 PPR fantasy points per game. Justin Jefferson has finished as a top-12 WR in 3 of those weeks, and inside the top 24 in 7. The best week was Week 4 against PIT (22.6 points); the lowest was Week 13 against SEA (2.4).
| Wk | Opp | Result | FPTS | TGT | REC | REC YDS | REC TD | YPR | CAR | RUSH YDS | RUSH TD | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CHI3rd | W 27-24 | 14.8 | 7 | 4 | 44 | 1 | 11.0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | WR20 |
Week 1 · CHI · W 27-24 · 14.8 pts
How the 14.8 points scored (PPR)
| ||||||||||||
| 2 | ATL11th | L 6-22 | 11.1 | 6 | 3 | 81 | 0 | 27.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | WR38 |
Week 2 · ATL · L 6-22 · 11.1 pts
How the 11.1 points scored (PPR)
| ||||||||||||
| 3 | CIN30th | W 48-10 | 12.5 | 7 | 5 | 75 | 0 | 15.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | WR30 |
Week 3 · CIN · W 48-10 · 12.5 pts
How the 12.5 points scored (PPR)
| ||||||||||||
| 4 | PIT2nd | L 21-24 | 22.6 | 11 | 10 | 126 | 0 | 12.6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | WR8 |
Week 4 · PIT · L 21-24 · 22.6 pts
How the 22.6 points scored (PPR)
| ||||||||||||
| 5 | CLE23rd | W 21-17 | 19.3 | 11 | 7 | 123 | 0 | 17.6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | WR11 |
Week 5 · CLE · W 21-17 · 19.3 pts
How the 19.3 points scored (PPR)
| ||||||||||||
| 6 | Bye week | |||||||||||
| 7 | PHI24th | L 22-28 | 12.9 | 10 | 5 | 79 | 0 | 15.8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | WR26 |
Week 7 · PHI · L 22-28 · 12.9 pts
How the 12.9 points scored (PPR)
| ||||||||||||
| 8 | LAC21st | L 10-37 | 14.4 | 11 | 7 | 74 | 0 | 10.6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | WR21 |
Week 8 · LAC · L 10-37 · 14.4 pts
How the 14.4 points scored (PPR)
| ||||||||||||
| 9 | DET4th | W 27-24 | 16.7 | 9 | 6 | 47 | 1 | 7.8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | WR18 |
Week 9 · DET · W 27-24 · 16.7 pts
How the 16.7 points scored (PPR)
| ||||||||||||
| 10 | BAL7th | L 19-27 | 7.7 | 12 | 4 | 37 | 0 | 9.3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | WR42 |
Week 10 · BAL · L 19-27 · 7.7 pts
How the 7.7 points scored (PPR)
| ||||||||||||
| 11 | CHI3rd | L 17-19 | 11.1 | 9 | 5 | 61 | 0 | 12.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | WR26 |
Week 11 · CHI · L 17-19 · 11.1 pts
How the 11.1 points scored (PPR)
| ||||||||||||
| 12 | GB10th | L 6-23 | 8.8 | 6 | 4 | 48 | 0 | 12.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | WR37 |
Week 12 · GB · L 6-23 · 8.8 pts
How the 8.8 points scored (PPR)
| ||||||||||||
| 13 | SEA26th | L 0-26 | 2.4 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | WR86 |
Week 13 · SEA · L 0-26 · 2.4 pts
How the 2.4 points scored (PPR)
| ||||||||||||
| 14 | WAS8th | W 31-0 | 3.1 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 5.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | WR77 |
Week 14 · WAS · W 31-0 · 3.1 pts
How the 3.1 points scored (PPR)
| ||||||||||||
| 15 | DAL1st | W 34-26 | 4.2 | 8 | 2 | 22 | 0 | 11.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | WR76 |
Week 15 · DAL · W 34-26 · 4.2 pts
How the 4.2 points scored (PPR)
| ||||||||||||
| 16 | NYG13th | W 16-13 | 14.5 | 8 | 6 | 85 | 0 | 14.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | WR20 |
Week 16 · NYG · W 16-13 · 14.5 pts
How the 14.5 points scored (PPR)
| ||||||||||||
| 17 | DET4th | W 23-10 | 7.0 | 5 | 4 | 30 | 0 | 7.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | WR52 |
Week 17 · DET · W 23-10 · 7.0 pts
How the 7.0 points scored (PPR)
| ||||||||||||
| 18 | GB10th | W 16-3 | 18.4 | 11 | 8 | 101 | 0 | 12.6 | 1 | 3 | 0 | WR9 |
Week 18 · GB · W 16-3 · 18.4 pts
How the 18.4 points scored (PPR)
| ||||||||||||
Opponent rank is fantasy points allowed to WRs across 2025: 1st allows the most, 32nd the fewest.
Where His Weeks Finished
Seven WR1 weeks, three WR2 weeks and seven busts. For a wide receiver who finished WR32 overall, the spread mattered more than the average: you got a top-24 ceiling and a waiver-wire floor.
Wk 1 WR20 · Wk 2 WR38 · Wk 3 WR30 · Wk 4 WR8 · Wk 5 WR11 · Wk 7 WR26 · Wk 8 WR21 · Wk 9 WR18 · Wk 10 WR42 · Wk 11 WR26 · Wk 12 WR37 · Wk 13 WR86 · Wk 14 WR77 · Wk 15 WR76 · Wk 16 WR20 · Wk 17 WR52 · Wk 18 WR9
Game-by-Game Breakdown
WR1 week vs. Green Bay
8/11, 101 yds. 1 carry, 3 rush yds.
A clean, mistake-free game that landed well above his season average.
Held in check by Detroit
4/5, 30 yds.
A clean, mistake-free game that landed well below his season average.
WR1 week at the Giants
6/8, 85 yds.
A clean, mistake-free game that landed well above his season average.
Held in check by Dallas
2/8, 22 yds.
Just 2.8 yards per target. A clean, mistake-free game that landed well below his season average.
Held in check by Washington
2/4, 11 yds.
Just 2.8 yards per target. A clean, mistake-free game that landed well below his season average.
Shut down by Seattle
2/6, 4 yds.
Just 0.7 yards per target. A clean, mistake-free game that landed well below his season average.
Shut down by Green Bay
4/6, 48 yds.
A clean, mistake-free game that landed well below his season average.
Steady in a loss vs. Chicago
5/9, 61 yds.
A clean, mistake-free game that landed right at his season average.
Shut down by Baltimore
4/12, 37 yds.
Just 3.1 yards per target. A clean, mistake-free game that landed well below his season average.
WR1 week at Detroit
6/9, 47 yds, 1 TD.
Just 5.2 yards per target. A clean, mistake-free game that landed well above his season average.
WR1 week at the Chargers
7/11, 74 yds.
A clean, mistake-free game that landed well above his season average.
Steady in a loss vs. Philadelphia
5/10, 79 yds.
A clean, mistake-free game that landed right at his season average.
WR1 week at Cleveland
7/11, 123 yds.
A clean, mistake-free game that landed well above his season average.
WR1 week at Pittsburgh
10/11, 126 yds.
A clean, mistake-free game that landed well above his season average.
Efficient in a home win
5/7, 75 yds.
A clean, mistake-free game that landed right at his season average.
Shut down by Atlanta
3/6, 81 yds.
A clean, mistake-free game that landed right at his season average.
WR1 week at Chicago
4/7, 44 yds, 1 TD. 1 carry, 4 rush yds.
A clean, mistake-free game that landed well above his season average.
WRs like Justin Jefferson
Justin Jefferson Game Log FAQ
How did Justin Jefferson do in his last game?
Justin Jefferson scored 5.2 PPR points in Week 3 at the Buccaneers, a 23–16 win, a WR72 finish. He caught 2 of 2 targets for 32 yards. View his 2026 season totals.
How many fantasy points did Justin Jefferson score in his last game?
Justin Jefferson scored 5.2 PPR fantasy points in his last game, Week 3 at the Buccaneers, a WR72 finish for the week. That was 9.8 below his season average of 15.0.
How many receiving yards did Justin Jefferson have in his last game?
Justin Jefferson had 32 receiving yards on 2 catches in Week 3 at the Buccaneers, from 2 targets.
How many touchdowns did Justin Jefferson score in his last game?
Justin Jefferson did not score a touchdown in Week 3 at the Buccaneers; his 5.2 points came from yardage and catches.
How many receptions did Justin Jefferson have in his last game?
Justin Jefferson caught 2 of 2 targets for 32 yards in Week 3 at the Buccaneers.
What were Justin Jefferson's stats in Week 2?
In Week 2 at the Bears, a 9–3 win, Justin Jefferson caught 3 of 6 targets for 55 yards. That was 8.5 PPR points, a WR43 finish.
What was Justin Jefferson's best game this season?
Justin Jefferson's best 2026 game was Week 1 against the Packers: 31.2 PPR points, a WR3 finish. He caught 8 of 9 targets for 92 yards and 2 touchdowns.
What was Justin Jefferson's worst game this season?
Justin Jefferson's lowest-scoring 2026 game was Week 3 at the Buccaneers: 5.2 PPR points, a WR72 finish. He caught 2 of 2 targets for 32 yards.
How many games has Justin Jefferson scored a touchdown in this season?
Justin Jefferson has scored a touchdown in 1 of his 3 games this season, most recently in Week 1.
Can I see Justin Jefferson's game logs from previous seasons?
Yes. The season selector above the game log switches it to Jefferson's weekly results from any season from 2020 through 2025.
Justin Jefferson Rest-of-Season Outlook
Target-heavy WR2 on the sideline for now
Out, ankle.
Preseason Projection vs. Reality
He finished WR21 last season at 11.9 points per game.
Our Take After Week 4
Through 3 games he's WR15 at 15.0 PPR points per game, against 11.9 over 17 games last season (WR21). He's running ahead of last season's pace.
Last season he ranked 4th of 142 in target volume (30.1% target share), 5th of 142 in downfield role (38.3% air-yards share) and 30th of 142 in efficiency (2.00 yards per route run). His points come from his target volume. Carson Wentz is his quarterback.
He's out, ankle. Until he's back, his value is a bench spot at most, and Tai Felton takes his snaps.
The next favorable matchups are the Colts in Week 7 (9th against WRs) and the Lions in Week 8 (2nd against WRs).
Read our preseason outlook (June 2026)
Published June 17, 2026. Kept for reference; the take above replaces it.
The volume that built Jefferson's reputation never left. In 2025 he ran 96.3% of routes, commanded a 30.1% target share and a 0.72 WOPR on 141 looks, with 18 red-zone and 10 end-zone targets. The collapse was purely downstream: his EPA per play cratered to -0.091 with a 49.6% success rate, and just two touchdowns despite that target diet. Yards per reception sank to 12.48 and catch rate to 59.6%, the fingerprints of broken quarterback play rather than a fading receiver.
Compare 2024, when the same workload produced 1,533 yards, 10 scores, a 0.417 EPA mark and 214.5 fantasy points. The role is identical; only the trigger man changed. With Kyler Murray or J.J. McCarthy stepping in, the touchdown and efficiency regression points strongly back up. Drafting him around WR6 and inside the top ten is a bet on quarterback competence, and the alpha usage makes that bet an easy one.
What Drives His Outlook
His 2025 rank among the 142 receivers who played at least six games. Each bar is one receiver, best on the left; his is highlighted.
Target volume
Downfield role
Efficiency
- Average depth of target
- 10.2
- Drop rate
- 2.1%
- Red-zone targets
- 18
- Route participation
- 96.3%
- YAC per reception
- 5.4
What Could Change His Value
Upside
- A soft stretchThe Colts in Week 7 and the Lions in Week 8 are top-10 matchups for WRs.Wk 4 MIA, 28thWk 5 NO, 24thWk 7 IND, 9thWk 8 DET, 2nd
- Heavy target volume30.1% target share, 4th of 142 WRs in 2025.
- Downfield role38.3% air-yards share, 5th of 142 WRs in 2025.
Risk
- InjuryHe's out, ankle, and Tai Felton is next on the depth chart.
- Tough matchupsThe Dolphins in Week 4 (28th) and the Saints in Week 5 (24th) are among the stingiest defenses against WRs.
WRs like Justin Jefferson
Justin Jefferson Fantasy Outlook FAQ
What is Justin Jefferson's fantasy outlook for the rest of the 2026 season?
Justin Jefferson projects as a target-heavy WR2 on the sideline for now for the rest of the 2026 season: a bench stash in 12-team PPR, 10-team PPR and half-PPR leagues. His target volume (30.1% target share, 4th of 142 WRs in 2025) supports that. See his live rank in Redraft Command.
What is Justin Jefferson's rest-of-season fantasy ranking?
Justin Jefferson is the WR15 in PPR points per game through Week 4. That puts him in WR2 territory, a bench stash in 10-team PPR leagues.
What is Justin Jefferson's projected role going forward?
Justin Jefferson is the listed starting WR, with Tai Felton next on the depth chart. He is out, ankle for now, which puts that role on hold.
Will Justin Jefferson get more targets?
Justin Jefferson's targets are trending down: 4.0 a game over his last two games against 5.7 for the season. His share of the offense is what his fantasy value rides on.
What is Justin Jefferson's fantasy football upside?
Justin Jefferson's upside: his ceiling this season is 31.2 PPR points (Week 1, WR3), his target volume (30.1% target share, 4th of 142 WRs in 2025) gives him a weekly floor to build on and the Colts in Week 7 and the Lions in Week 8 are top-10 matchups for WRs.
What could hurt Justin Jefferson's fantasy value?
Justin Jefferson's risks: he is out, ankle and the Dolphins in Week 4 and the Saints in Week 5 are tough matchups. See his injury status and history.
How difficult is Justin Jefferson's remaining fantasy schedule?
Favorable: of his next seven games, 4 come against a top-10 matchup for WRs and 3 against one of the stingiest defenses, by PPR points allowed to the position.
Justin Jefferson Injury Update & History
Practice participation
Week 4 reports: Wed, Thu, Fri| Week | Injury | Wed | Thu | Fri | Game status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 4vs MIA, Oct 4 | Ankle | — | — | DNP | Out |
If Jefferson Misses Time
Next man up: Tai Felton
Tai Felton is next on the Vikings depth chart at wide receiver. The targets would likely spread across the offense rather than pass to one player, so he's a waiver add only if Jefferson misses time.
Who else it affects
His absence would move work to the rest of the offense, and Carson Wentz would lose one of his main options.
Injury History at a Glance
Seven logged injuries in seven seasons, including two hamstring injuries. Most of his lost time came from a hamstring strain in 2023; nothing else has cost him a game.
Durability
91/100
Games missed
Injuries
Longest absence
Hamstring strain · 2023
Where He's Been Hurt
Marker size shows games missed. A dashed ring means he played through it.
| Body part | Injuries | Games missed |
|---|---|---|
| Hamstring | 2 | 7 |
| Chest / ribs | 1 | 0 |
| Foot / toe | 1 | 0 |
| Hand / thumb | 1 | 0 |
| Quad / thigh | 1 | 0 |
| Shoulder | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 7 | 7 |
Injury risk profile: Moderate
- Hamstring injuries in 2023 and 2025
- Hamstring strain in 2025, played through
- 7 games in 7 seasons
- 7 injuries spread across 6 body parts
Justin Jefferson Injury History
Every logged injury, most recent first. Games missed are regular-season games.
- 2026
Healthy 0 games missed
No injury has cost Jefferson a game this season.
- 2025
Hamstring Strain · Left Played through
Sustained a very minor left hamstring strain during the second day of training camp and was held out of practice as a precaution.
- 2024
Jammed Finger Played through
Suffered a jammed finger during the Week 3 game against the Texans but played through the injury.
- 2024
Quad Contusion · Right Played through
Sustained a right quad contusion in Week 2 against the 49ers but was not listed on the following week's injury report.
- 2023
Chest Injury Played through
Took a hard hit against the Raiders, resulting in a chest injury that required a precautionary hospital visit, but he returned for the next game.
- 2023
Hamstring Strain · Right 7 games
Suffered a right hamstring injury in Week 5 against the Chiefs, which led to him being placed on Injured Reserve and missing seven games.
- 2022
Turf Toe Played through
Developed turf toe after the Week 10 game against the Bills but did not miss any games.
- 2021
AC Joint Sprain Played through
Sprained his AC joint during a practice in early August but was ready for the start of the season.
WRs like Justin Jefferson
Justin Jefferson Injury FAQ
Is Justin Jefferson injured?
Yes. As of October 2, 2026, Justin Jefferson is out with an ankle injury. He has played every game in 2026. See how the injury changes his rest-of-season value.
Is Justin Jefferson playing this week?
No. Justin Jefferson is out for Week 4 against the Dolphins on Sunday, October 4. Should you start him?
Did Justin Jefferson practice today?
Justin Jefferson was a non-participant in today's practice. His Week 4 report so far: Fri did not practice.
What injury does Justin Jefferson have?
Justin Jefferson has an ankle injury and is out for Week 4. He has played every game in 2026.
Why isn't Justin Jefferson playing?
Justin Jefferson is out with an ankle injury, the designation his club filed as of October 2, 2026. That rules him out of Week 4.
Has Justin Jefferson missed any games this season?
No. Justin Jefferson has played in every Vikings game in 2026, 3 games so far.
What is Justin Jefferson's injury history?
Justin Jefferson has 7 logged NFL injuries, which have cost him 7 games in all: 7 for a right hamstring strain in 2023.
What was Justin Jefferson's most recent injury?
Justin Jefferson's most recent logged injury was a left hamstring strain in the 2025 preseason. He played through it and missed no regular-season games.
Does Justin Jefferson have any recurring injuries?
Yes: hamstring injuries in 2023 and 2025 (7 games missed).
What was Justin Jefferson's worst injury?
Justin Jefferson's longest absence came from a right hamstring strain in 2023, which cost him 7 games, all of the games he has missed to injury.
Latest Justin Jefferson News & Updates
Imaging on ankle returns clean (opens in new tab)
Avoids serious ankle injury after imaging comes back clean.
Fantasy take: He is listed as out for Week 4; check his status before kickoff.
Season Timeline
Every update this season, grouped by week, newest first.
Week 3Sep 27W 23–16 @ TB
Fantasy impact: Negative. Jefferson struggles at Tampa Bay
5.2 fantasy points · WR72 · 9.8 below his 15.0 average
Jefferson caught 2 of 2 targets for 32 yards in the 23–16 win at Tampa Bay. That was 8% of the team's targets.
Game logWeek 2Sep 20W 9–3 @ CHI
Fantasy impact: Neutral. Held in check by weather in Sunday's win (opens in new tab)
Weather limited his production in Sunday's victory.
Fantasy take: He played in Week 2: 8.5 PPR points, a WR43 finish.
Read full report (opens in new tab)Fantasy impact: Negative. Jefferson struggles at Chicago
8.5 fantasy points · WR43 · 6.5 below his 15.0 average
Jefferson caught 3 of 6 targets for 55 yards in the 9–3 win at Chicago. That was 32% of the team's targets.
Game logWeek 1Sep 13W 39–22 vs GB
Fantasy impact: Positive. Jefferson posts season high in win vs. Green Bay
31.2 fantasy points · WR3 · 16.2 above his 15.0 average
Jefferson caught 8 of 9 targets for 92 yards and two touchdowns in the 39–22 win vs. Green Bay. That was 39% of the team's targets.
Game log
No updates of this type yet this season.
Vikings Teammates News
Updates on Jefferson's quarterback and target competition.
- Jordan Addison: Will be Vikes' top WR for Week 4 (opens in new tab)Jordan Addison, WR. 16 targets this season. Via Dynasty CommandNeutral
- Carson Wentz: Will start Sunday at Chicago (opens in new tab)Carson Wentz, QB. 39 pass attempts this season. Via Dynasty CommandNeutral
- Carson Wentz: Will likely start in Murray absence (opens in new tab)Carson Wentz, QB. 39 pass attempts this season. Via Dynasty CommandNeutral
Around the Vikings
WRs like Justin Jefferson
Justin Jefferson News FAQ
What is the latest news on Justin Jefferson?
The latest Jefferson update, from September 28: Imaging on ankle returns clean. Avoids serious ankle injury after imaging comes back clean.
How does the latest Justin Jefferson news affect his fantasy value?
Negatively: He is listed as out for Week 4; check his status before kickoff. See the updated fantasy outlook.
Justin Jefferson Bio
Justin Jefferson is a wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings, where he wears No. 18. Born June 16, 1999, in St. Rose, LA, he attended Destrehan and played college football at LSU.
The Minnesota Vikings selected Jefferson in round 1, pick 22, of the 2020 NFL Draft. He was traded to the Minnesota Vikings on March 18, 2020.
In 97 regular-season games since 2020, he has caught 592 passes for 8,659 yards and 44 touchdowns.
Career Timeline
1 stop with 1 team in 7 seasons. Each block's width is the time he spent there.
What happened at each stop
Minnesota Vikings Current team2020–present
Selected in round 1, pick 22, of the 2020 NFL Draft. He was a starter, playing at least half the offensive snaps in 95 of 97 games.
College: LSU
Transactions
- SignedSigned with the Cleveland Browns.
- ContractAgreed to a four-year, $140 million contract extension with the Minnesota Vikings.
- ContractAgreed to terms on a contract extension with the Minnesota Vikings.
- ActivatedActivated by the Minnesota Vikings.
- Placed on IRPlaced on injured reserve by the Minnesota Vikings.
- ContractVikings exercised his fifth-year option.
- SignedSigned his rookie contract with the Vikings.
- DraftedSelected by the Minnesota Vikings in round 1, pick 22.
- TradedTraded by the Buffalo Bills to the Minnesota Vikings for WR Stefon Diggs and CB Dane Jackson.
WRs like Justin Jefferson
About Justin Jefferson: Bio FAQ
How old is Justin Jefferson?
Justin Jefferson is 27 years old. He was born on June 16, 1999. 2026 is his 7th NFL season.
How tall is Justin Jefferson?
Justin Jefferson is 6 feet 1 inch tall (6'1"), listed at 195 pounds, and plays wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings.
How much does Justin Jefferson weigh?
Justin Jefferson weighs 195 pounds, his listed weight on the Minnesota Vikings roster. He is listed at 6'1".
What number does Justin Jefferson wear?
Justin Jefferson wears number 18 for the Minnesota Vikings. He plays wide receiver.
What position does Justin Jefferson play?
Justin Jefferson plays wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings, wearing number 18. 2026 is his 7th season in the NFL.
What team does Justin Jefferson play for?
Justin Jefferson plays for the Minnesota Vikings as a wide receiver. He has been with the Vikings since 2020.
Where did Justin Jefferson go to college?
Justin Jefferson played college football at LSU, after attending Destrehan (LA). The Minnesota Vikings drafted him out of LSU in 2020.
When was Justin Jefferson drafted?
The Minnesota Vikings selected Justin Jefferson in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft with the 22nd overall pick, out of LSU.
What round was Justin Jefferson drafted in?
Justin Jefferson was a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, taken 22nd overall by the Minnesota Vikings.
What pick was Justin Jefferson in the NFL Draft?
Justin Jefferson was the 22nd overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft, selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round.
Where is Justin Jefferson from?
Justin Jefferson went to high school in Louisiana, at Destrehan, before playing college football at LSU.
When is Justin Jefferson's birthday?
Justin Jefferson's birthday is June 16. He was born on June 16, 1999 and is 27 years old.
How long has Justin Jefferson been in the NFL?
2026 is Justin Jefferson's 7th NFL season; he entered the league in 2020 as a first-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings. View his career statistics.
What teams has Justin Jefferson played for?
Justin Jefferson has played for the Minnesota Vikings. View his career statistics.
What year did Justin Jefferson enter the NFL?
Justin Jefferson entered the NFL in 2020, when the Minnesota Vikings drafted him in the first round. 2026 is his 7th season.