The Minnesota Vikings will face the Detroit Lions in Week 18. Here’s the latest fantasy football news and advice to help you with your lineups this week and moving forward, especially regarding WR Justin Jefferson.
Is Justin Jefferson Playing in Week 18?
Jefferson is not listed on the injury report this week, so barring any setbacks, he is on track to play this weekend.
We’ll continue to monitor the Vikings’ injury report. You can also visit and bookmark our NFL Injury Tracker and Fantasy News Tracker for the latest updates.
Should You Start or Sit Justin Jefferson in Week 18?
The best receiver in the game in the biggest game of the week – do I really need to sell you here?
Justin Jefferson earned a 30.8% target share when these teams first met (Week 7), and with injuries ravaging this Detroit defense, I’m not sure they have the manpower to defend Minnesota’s alpha WR.
Last week, the Packers did everything in their power to take away Jefferson – he earned 11 targets anyway and nearly decided the game with one of the better catches in the middle of the field that you’ll see, a highlight that was called back by penalty.
In football, as we know it today, I’m not sure you can guard greatness in the receiver position. The development of Jordan Addison adds just another wrinkle to this offense that Detroit might have problems with – this is going to be such a fun game, and you are lucky to have the fate of your matchup in the hands of a Jefferson hammer.
Are you looking for start/sit advice for other players in your lineup? Read our Week 18 Fantasy Start-Sit Advice Cheat Sheet for every fantasy-relevant player in every game.
Justin Jefferson’s Fantasy Points Projection in Week 18
As of Sunday, Jefferson is projected to score 21 fantasy points in PPR formats. This includes 6.9 receptions for 105.1 yards and 0.6 touchdowns.
Check out the free PFN Fantasy Start-Sit Optimizer for the latest projections and advice for your lineups this week.
PFN Insight on the Lions' Defense
The massive spate of injuries to the Detroit Lions defense will remain the team's biggest question mark heading into the playoffs. Thanks to a disastrous start in the team's Week 17 Monday night contest at the San Francisco 49ers, the Lions posted a 60.2 (D-) grade, their worst over the past two seasons.
The scary thing is that things could have been much worse. Detroit had the second-worst EPA-per-play average in the first half of any defense in Week 17 (-0.56) but improved to a more reasonable (but still woeful) -0.15 in the second half.
The pass defense has become a major concern. Monday night saw Detroit record a 29.5% pass defense success rate. That's the second-lowest by any team in a game this year, with the Lions being on the other end of the worst game (Jacksonville Jaguars had a 24.3% pass defense success rate in Week 11 when the Lions scored 52 points).
This unit is a major concern in its current state, though the likes of Alex Anzalone and Carlton Davis could return in the playoffs. The Lions sorely need to hold serve at home in Week 18 vs. the Vikings and buy a week off for its ailing roster, which had its bye week way back in Week 5.
For more insight on all other team defenses, head to our PFN Defense+ Metric Analysis.
Justin Jefferson’s Fantasy Ranking
Our Weekly Consensus PPR Rankings are below — both positional and overall. They were last updated at 7:00 AM ET on Sunday, January 5. If you're in a Superflex league, make sure you check out our Week 18 Consensus Superflex Rankings.
Week 18 WR PPR Rankings
1) Ja'Marr Chase | CIN (at PIT)
2) Amon-Ra St. Brown | DET (vs. MIN)
3) Justin Jefferson | MIN (at DET)
4) Mike Evans | TB (vs. NO)
5) Brian Thomas Jr. | JAX (at IND)
6) Drake London | ATL (vs. CAR)
7) Ladd McConkey | LAC (at LV)
8) Jaxon Smith-Njigba | SEA (at LAR)
9) Terry McLaurin | WAS (at DAL)
10) Malik Nabers | NYG (at PHI)
11) Tee Higgins | CIN (at PIT)
12) George Pickens | PIT (vs. CIN)
13) Davante Adams | NYJ (vs. MIA)
14) Courtland Sutton | DEN (vs. KC)
15) Jauan Jennings | SF (at ARI)
16) Jordan Addison | MIN (at DET)
17) DJ Moore | CHI (at GB)
18) Nico Collins | HOU (at TEN)
19) Zay Flowers | BAL (vs. CLE)
20) Tyreek Hill | MIA (at NYJ)
21) Jameson Williams | DET (vs. MIN)
22) Jalen McMillan | TB (vs. NO)
23) Calvin Ridley | TEN (vs. HOU)
24) Garrett Wilson | NYJ (vs. MIA)
25) DK Metcalf | SEA (at LAR)
26) Adam Thielen | CAR (at ATL)
27) Keenan Allen | CHI (at GB)
28) Jakobi Meyers | LV (vs. LAC)
29) Jayden Reed | GB (vs. CHI)
30) Marvin Harrison Jr. | ARI (vs. SF)
31) Josh Downs | IND (vs. JAX)
32) Quentin Johnston | LAC (at LV)
33) Jaylen Waddle | MIA (at NYJ)
34) Michael Pittman Jr. | IND (vs. JAX)
35) Romeo Doubs | GB (vs. CHI)
36) Darnell Mooney | ATL (vs. CAR)
37) Jerry Jeudy | CLE (at BAL)
38) Khalil Shakir | BUF (at NE)
39) Rashod Bateman | BAL (vs. CLE)
40) Rome Odunze | CHI (at GB)
41) DeMario Douglas | NE (vs. BUF)
42) Wan'Dale Robinson | NYG (at PHI)
43) Jalen Coker | CAR (at ATL)
44) Dontayvion Wicks | GB (vs. CHI)
45) Xavier Worthy | KC (at DEN)
46) Olamide Zaccheaus | WAS (at DAL)
47) DeAndre Hopkins | KC (at DEN)
48) Nick Westbrook-Ikhine | TEN (vs. HOU)
49) Hollywood Brown | KC (at DEN)
50) Amari Cooper | BUF (at NE)
51) Brandin Cooks | DAL (vs. WAS)
52) Parker Washington | JAX (at IND)
53) Marvin Mims Jr. | DEN (vs. KC)
54) Tim Patrick | DET (vs. MIN)
55) Kayshon Boutte | NE (vs. BUF)
56) Ray-Ray McCloud III | ATL (vs. CAR)
57) Marquez Valdes-Scantling | BUF (at NE)
58) Devaughn Vele | DEN (vs. KC)
59) Andrei Iosivas | CIN (at PIT)
60) Calvin Austin III | PIT (vs. CIN)
61) Jalen Tolbert | DAL (vs. WAS)
62) Ricky Pearsall | SF (at ARI)
63) Michael Wilson | ARI (vs. SF)
64) Joshua Palmer | LAC (at LV)
65) Keon Coleman | BUF (at NE)
66) Tre Tucker | LV (vs. LAC)
67) Jalen Nailor | MIN (at DET)
68) Elijah Moore | CLE (at BAL)
69) Jamison Crowder | WAS (at DAL)
70) Xavier Legette | CAR (at ATL)
71) Kendrick Bourne | NE (vs. BUF)
72) KaVontae Turpin | DAL (vs. WAS)
73) David Moore | CAR (at ATL)
74) Adonai Mitchell | IND (vs. JAX)
75) Demarcus Robinson | LAR (vs. SEA)
76) Mike Williams | PIT (vs. CIN)
77) Malik Washington | MIA (at NYJ)
78) Alec Pierce | IND (vs. JAX)
79) Allen Lazard | NYJ (vs. MIA)
80) Tyler Lockett | SEA (at LAR)
81) John Metchie III | HOU (at TEN)
82) Robert Woods | HOU (at TEN)
83) Darius Slayton | NYG (at PHI)
84) Van Jefferson | PIT (vs. CIN)
85) Troy Franklin | DEN (vs. KC)
86) Mack Hollins | BUF (at NE)
87) Tutu Atwell | LAR (vs. SEA)
88) Kevin Austin Jr. | NO (at TB)
89) Dante Pettis | CHI (at GB)
90) Luke McCaffrey | WAS (at DAL)
91) Xavier Hutchinson | HOU (at TEN)
92) Ryan Miller | TB (vs. NO)
93) Greg Dortch | ARI (vs. SF)
94) Lil'Jordan Humphrey | DEN (vs. KC)
95) DJ Chark | LAC (at LV)
96) Michael Woods II | CLE (at BAL)
97) Cedrick Wilson Jr. | NO (at TB)
98) JuJu Smith-Schuster | KC (at DEN)
99) Devin Duvernay | JAX (at IND)
100) Justin Watson | KC (at DEN)
101) Tylan Wallace | BAL (vs. CLE)
102) Jahan Dotson | PHI (vs. NYG)
103) Josh Reynolds | DEN (vs. KC)
104) Ryan Flournoy | DAL (vs. WAS)
105) Trey Palmer | TB (vs. NO)
Vikings at Lions Trends and Insights
Minnesota Vikings
Team: Since the start of 2022, Minnesota has played two more games and won two more wins than any other team in games decided by a single score.
QB: Sam Darnold has 12 multi-pass touchdown games this season; only Joe Burrow has more (13).
Offense: Sunday was the third time this season that Minnesota has averaged over 40 yards per drive (they are 8-0 when averaging 32+ yards per drive).
Defense: Green Bay picked up 57.1% of their third downs against Minnesota last weekend, the highest rate the Vikings have allowed this season.
Fantasy: Jordan Addison ranks sixth among receivers with at least 75 targets this season in production over expectation (+28.9%, just ahead of Ladd McConkey and Ja’Marr Chase).
Betting: Minnesota is 4-1-1 ATS in their past six road divisional games.
Detroit Lions
Team: The Lions currently have a +200 point differential. Nine teams in the 2000s finished a regular season with such a mark—none of them won the Super Bowl.
QB: Jared Goff stands alone at the top of the NFL in terms of games with at least three touchdown passes and zero interceptions (six; Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow are the only others with more than three).
Offense: Jahmyr Gibbs is now one touchdown away from tying the franchise record (Jamaal Williams and Barry Sanders currently hold the mark with 17).
Defense: Detroit allowed 55.4 yards per drive on Monday night, their worst defensive showing of the season.
Fantasy: Sam LaPorta has three straight games with 100 yards or a touchdown catch -- he had three such games all season prior to this run.
Betting: After a run where they covered eight straight home divisional games, the Lions are just 1-3-1 in their past five such spots.