The Minnesota Vikings will face the Green Bay Packers in Week 17. 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 17?
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 17?
Jefferson is as good as it gets, and taking time out from a busy football weekend to watch this man work is something I’d recommend to any football fan. We saw him put together a 6-85-1 stat line (29.6% target share) in the Week 4 meeting with these Packers when they were at the peak of their powers in terms of opportunistic playmaking.
This unit is still solid, but Jefferson is as matchup-proof as anybody in the business, and I expect to get more evidence of that this weekend.
Jordan Addison is ascending quickly, and guess what? It doesn’t matter. In December, Jefferson produced 45.5% more points than expected on his targets. Is it possible that the small target volume of Addison’s breakout takes off Jefferson’s plate and is more than replaced by increased efficiency?
That’s a scary thought. There’s never a reason to be concerned about Jefferson — watch him play this week and start putting together what you think the first round of 2025 drafts is going to look like. Spoiler alert: There won’t be many names called before JJetta.
Are you looking for start/sit advice for other players in your lineup? Read our Week 17 Fantasy Start-Sit Advice Cheat Sheet for every fantasy-relevant player in every game.
Justin Jefferson’s Fantasy Points Projection in Week 17
As of Sunday morning, Jefferson is projected to score 19.9 fantasy points in PPR formats. This includes 6.5 receptions for 99.4 yards and 0.5 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 Packers' Defense
The Green Bay Packers surge into the top 10 after delivering the NFL's first shutout of the season. Surprisingly, Defense+ actually "only" graded it as Green Bay's second-best game of the year at 85.4 (B), trailing last week's 89.7 grade in the win over Seattle.
Green Bay's shutout in Week 16 didn't grade as highly as its Week 15 performance because PFN's metrics weigh pass defense more than run defense. The Packers were just a little bit better defending the pass against the Seahawks, averaging more EPA per dropback (0.41 vs. 0.30) and a higher pass-defense success rate (71% vs. 63%).
Still, this unit has risen steadily thanks to a pass rush that has suddenly come alive. A week after posting a season-best 50% non-blitz pressure rate, Green Bay topped that with a new season-best rate of 51.4% vs. the New Orleans Saints.
It's only the third time this season a team has posted back-to-back games of at least a 50% non-blitz pressure rate (Chiefs did it Weeks 4-5, Commanders in Weeks 7-8).
The Packers are headed for a Wild Card spot with both the Lions and Vikings at 13-2. Still, if this level of pass rush can travel on the road in the playoffs, Green Bay will have a meaningful chance at a postseason upset.
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 7:25 AM ET on Sunday, December 29. If you're in a Superflex league, make sure you check out our Weekly Consensus Superflex Rankings.
Week 17 WR PPR Rankings
1) Ja'Marr Chase | CIN (vs. DEN)
2) Puka Nacua | LAR (vs. ARI)
3) Amon-Ra St. Brown | DET (at SF)
4) Justin Jefferson | MIN (vs. GB)
5) Mike Evans | TB (vs. CAR)
6) Nico Collins | HOU (vs. BAL)
7) Terry McLaurin | WAS (vs. ATL)
8) Davante Adams | NYJ (at BUF)
9) Tyreek Hill | MIA (at CLE)
10) A.J. Brown | PHI (vs. DAL)
11) Tee Higgins | CIN (vs. DEN)
12) Brian Thomas Jr. | JAX (vs. TEN)
13) Courtland Sutton | DEN (at CIN)
14) Ladd McConkey | LAC (at NE)
15) Drake London | ATL (at WAS)
16) Jaxon Smith-Njigba | SEA (at CHI)
17) Malik Nabers | NYG (vs. IND)
18) Cooper Kupp | LAR (vs. ARI)
19) Garrett Wilson | NYJ (at BUF)
20) Jauan Jennings | SF (vs. DET)
21) Zay Flowers | BAL (at HOU)
22) Keenan Allen | CHI (vs. SEA)
23) DJ Moore | CHI (vs. SEA)
24) Jakobi Meyers | LV (at NO)
25) Jordan Addison | MIN (vs. GB)
26) DK Metcalf | SEA (at CHI)
27) George Pickens | PIT (vs. KC)
28) Calvin Ridley | TEN (at JAX)
29) Adam Thielen | CAR (at TB)
30) Khalil Shakir | BUF (vs. NYJ)
31) Jameson Williams | DET (at SF)
32) Josh Downs | IND (at NYG)
33) Deebo Samuel Sr. | SF (vs. DET)
34) Jayden Reed | GB (at MIN)
35) DeVonta Smith | PHI (vs. DAL)
36) DeAndre Hopkins | KC (at PIT)
37) Xavier Worthy | KC (at PIT)
38) Marvin Harrison Jr. | ARI (at LAR)
39) Jalen McMillan | TB (vs. CAR)
40) Jaylen Waddle | MIA (at CLE)
41) Darnell Mooney | ATL (at WAS)
42) Jerry Jeudy | CLE (vs. MIA)
43) Hollywood Brown | KC (at PIT)
44) Rome Odunze | CHI (vs. SEA)
45) Romeo Doubs | GB (at MIN)
46) Michael Pittman Jr. | IND (at NYG)
47) Amari Cooper | BUF (vs. NYJ)
48) Rashod Bateman | BAL (at HOU)
49) Quentin Johnston | LAC (at NE)
50) Jalen Coker | CAR (at TB)
51) DeMario Douglas | NE (vs. LAC)
52) Xavier Legette | CAR (at TB)
53) Wan'Dale Robinson | NYG (vs. IND)
54) Christian Watson | GB (at MIN)
55) Nick Westbrook-Ikhine | TEN (at JAX)
56) Elijah Moore | CLE (vs. MIA)
57) Marquez Valdes-Scantling | BUF (vs. NYJ)
58) Calvin Austin III | PIT (vs. KC)
59) Joshua Palmer | LAC (at NE)
60) Robert Woods | HOU (vs. BAL)
61) Parker Washington | JAX (vs. TEN)
62) Tim Patrick | DET (at SF)
63) Ray-Ray McCloud III | ATL (at WAS)
64) John Metchie III | HOU (vs. BAL)
65) Keon Coleman | BUF (vs. NYJ)
66) David Moore | CAR (at TB)
67) Devaughn Vele | DEN (at CIN)
68) Michael Wilson | ARI (at LAR)
69) Tre Tucker | LV (at NO)
70) Kendrick Bourne | NE (vs. LAC)
71) Mike Williams | PIT (vs. KC)
72) Marvin Mims Jr. | DEN (at CIN)
73) Andrei Iosivas | CIN (vs. DEN)
74) Olamide Zaccheaus | WAS (vs. ATL)
75) Kayshon Boutte | NE (vs. LAC)
76) Jalen Tolbert | DAL (at PHI)
77) Malik Washington | MIA (at CLE)
78) Brandin Cooks | DAL (at PHI)
79) Tyler Lockett | SEA (at CHI)
80) Demarcus Robinson | LAR (vs. ARI)
81) Adonai Mitchell | IND (at NYG)
82) Alec Pierce | IND (at NYG)
83) Dontayvion Wicks | GB (at MIN)
84) Allen Lazard | NYJ (at BUF)
85) Van Jefferson | PIT (vs. KC)
86) KaVontae Turpin | DAL (at PHI)
87) Darius Slayton | NYG (vs. IND)
88) Ricky Pearsall | SF (vs. DET)
89) Jamison Crowder | WAS (vs. ATL)
90) Tyler Boyd | TEN (at JAX)
91) Troy Franklin | DEN (at CIN)
92) Kevin Austin Jr. | NO (vs. LV)
93) Mack Hollins | BUF (vs. NYJ)
94) Tutu Atwell | LAR (vs. ARI)
95) Jalen Nailor | MIN (vs. GB)
96) JuJu Smith-Schuster | KC (at PIT)
97) Michael Woods II | CLE (vs. MIA)
98) Justin Watson | KC (at PIT)
99) Devin Duvernay | JAX (vs. TEN)
100) Greg Dortch | ARI (at LAR)
101) Dante Pettis | CHI (vs. SEA)
102) Lil'Jordan Humphrey | DEN (at CIN)
103) Curtis Samuel | BUF (vs. NYJ)
104) Jahan Dotson | PHI (vs. DAL)
105) Cedrick Wilson Jr. | NO (vs. LV)
106) Tylan Wallace | BAL (at HOU)
107) DJ Chark | LAC (at NE)
108) River Cracraft | MIA (at CLE)
109) Luke McCaffrey | WAS (vs. ATL)
110) Jalin Hyatt | NYG (vs. IND)
111) Ja'Lynn Polk | NE (vs. LAC)
Packers at Vikings Trends and Insights
Green Bay Packers
Team: Since the beginning of October, the Packers are 0-2 against the Lions (-13 point differential) and 9-0 against the rest of the NFL (+124 point differential)
QB: Jordan Love’s average QB+ is a point higher this season on the road than at home – he’s the only quarterback among the four NFC favorites with a split favoring the road games.
Offense: In the first half on Monday night, Tucker Kraft (63 yards) had more receiving yards than the Saints had passing yards, and Josh Jacobs had as many catches as New Orleans had completions (four).
Defense: Green Bay has taken a double-digit lead into the halftime locker room in four of their past five games – in those four games, they’ve allowed a total of 13 points in the first 30 minutes.
Fantasy: Josh Jacobs has 108 first-quarter touches this season, the third most through 16 weeks of a season over the past decade (Adrian Peterson had 112 in 2015, and so did David Johnson in 2016).
Betting: Over tickets have come through in seven of Green Bay’s past 10 road divisional games.
Minnesota Vikings
Team: The Packers were the last team without a tie to Matthew Stafford to have defeated the Vikings (Week 17 of last season).
QB: Since Week 11, Sam Darnold is 29-of-38 with 11 touchdowns and zero interceptions when in the red zone.
Offense: Minnesota has cashed in nine of 10 red zone trips over their past three games.
Defense: Over the past two weeks, the Vikings have held the Bears/Seahawks to three conversions on 22 third downs (13.6%).
Fantasy: Over the past two weeks, none of Jordan Addison’s 12 catches have gained 20 yards (career prior: one of every 4.2 receptions picked up 20 yards).
Betting: The Vikings are 6-2 ATS at home this season (previous two seasons: 6-12 ATS).