Justin Jefferson has reached 1,400 receiving yards in each of his first three seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. Jefferson is already hearing Jerry Rice comparisons. He seems to be always open, and the connection he has developed with Kirk Cousins has proven strong since the moment he stepped onto an NFL field. Is Jefferson worthy of being your first overall selection in fantasy football drafts, regardless of format?
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Justin Jefferson’s Fantasy Outlook for the 2023 NFL Season
Dalvin Cook and Adam Thielen are no longer on this roster, their roles replaced by Alexander Mattison and Jordan Addison respectively. Evaluate those four players however you’d like, but in my books, that’s not much of a change in overall offense.
Kirk Cousins has been the man under center for each of Jefferson’s first three amazing seasons and will again be the man responsible for getting him the rock as often as possible in 2023.
T.J. Hockenson enters his first full season with the Vikes, and I like him more than anyone. And even I can’t use him as an excuse to regress Jefferson’s production.
Is Jefferson a Good Fantasy Pick?
Some websites require you to start two receivers, while others have three in your starting lineup. Some default leagues are full-PPR; others award no points for a catch. I really don’t care what the set-up of your league is, Jefferson is as solid an option as there is in fantasy football 2023.
Justin Jefferson is on a SCARY pace pic.twitter.com/SiPqUbwN42
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) August 21, 2023
Could you justify taking your favorite running back with the first overall pick? Sure. Maybe your draft room overvalues the position and you’re worried about what will be left when you next pick. Fine. The matter of fact here is that you’re not losing because you drafted Jefferson first overall.
Last season, Jefferson had 10 games with 100 yards. Did he disappoint at the worst possible time (15 yards in Week 16)? Yes, yes he did. And that stung if you had him last season. But if you use that as your rationale for passing on him with the first pick, you’ve got to second guess your outlook on fantasy sports.
- PFN Consensus Rankings: Second overall
- Current ADP: First overall