Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson has been on the injured reserve list for over four weeks now. However, this week, he was designated to return by the Vikings. This opens up a 21-day practice window in which he can get himself in football shape before he returns to the lineup. It is rare that a player takes most of this time, but it is important to note that a designation to return does not mean the player is fully 100% ready to play.
As a result, fantasy football managers should be cautious with Jefferson and make sure they get the latest news available via our player news tracker here at PFN.
However, will Jefferson play today versus the New Orleans Saints? What is the latest injury news regarding his return? And, if he is unlikely to play today, who should fantasy managers look to start instead?
Is Justin Jefferson Going To Play Week 10?
Jefferson is officially listed as questionable on their website with a hamstring injury that placed him on IR a little over a month ago.
He practiced in every practice this week, albeit in a limited capacity. He has shown that he is close to a return with practicing this week.
However, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN Network, who posted on X yesterday afternoon, there is no chance Jefferson will play in Week 10. He wrote, “Vikings officially downgraded WR Justin Jefferson to out for Sunday’s game vs. the Saints.”
Therefore, with Jefferson ruled out against the Saints, who can fantasy managers turn to instead?
Potential Fantasy Options With Jefferson Out Include DK Metcalf, DeAndre Hopkins, and Drake London
With Jefferson ruled out, fantasy managers will need to look for alternative options for today.
The first option fantasy managers could explore is Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf. Metcalf comes into Week 10 as the WR42. However, he is up against the Washington Commanders and cornerback Emmanual Forbes.
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Metcalf has the best WR/CB matchup available this week. He is currently averaging 0.41 fantasy points per route run, according to FantasyPoints Data. However, Forbes is giving up 0.60 fantasy points per route run against this. This is the most of any cornerback playing in Week 10, and in fact, the most of any cornerback in the NFL this season.
Forbes is also being targeted on 22.4% of the routes run against him, which is the third-most of any CB playing in Week 10. Expect Metcalf to have a bounce-back week this week. Metcalf is currently ranked as the WR16 in our PFN Consensus Rankings.
The next fantasy option fantasy managers could utilize is Tennessee Titans WR DeAndre Hopkins. Hopkins comes into this week as the WR19 in fantasy football. Our PFN Consensus Rankings have Hopkins as the WR20 this week.
Hopkins is up against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jamel Dean. The Buccaneers gave up the WR1 and WR3 overall performance last week against the Houston Texans. Dean was particularly bad in that game. His 0.33 fantasy points per route run against him rank 13th amongst all cornerbacks.
The Buccaneers also are giving up the second-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season, giving up 35.7 fantasy points per game. With Dean struggling for confidence, as is the rest of the Buccaneers’ secondary, Hopkins brings WR2 numbers with potential WR1 upside this week.
The last potential option for fantasy managers this week is Atlanta Falcons WR Drake London. London comes into today as the WR41 and is currently ranked as the WR29 in our PFN Consensus Rankings.
London goes up against the Arizona Cardinals and CB Antonio Hamilton today. While London has been on the injury report, he is not listed with a designation for today’s game.
Hamilton is currently allowing 0.30 fantasy points per route run against him, tying him for 20th among all cornerbacks playing in Week 10. However, London should be able to exploit this matchup with Taylor Heinicke at quarterback and bringing increased passing volume into the Falcons’ offense.
London has low-end WR2 numbers in his grasp today with a high WR2 upside. He should be considered a start option by all fantasy managers today.
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