Justin “Jets” Jefferson is a starting wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings. Born and raised in Louisiana, Jefferson followed in his brothers’ footsteps and played football at Louisiana State University. He tied for the lead among NCAA Division I wide receivers with 111 receptions, finished 3rd with 1540 receiving yards, and 2nd with 18 touchdowns during his 2019 senior year. Jefferson took the world by storm during the playoffs, where he utilized his 78-inch wingspan and 9 ⅛-inch hands to light up the Oklahoma Sooners for over 200 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns. He also helped the Tigers win the national championship that season against Clemson.
Justin Jefferson's college stats and a blazing 4.43 second 40 time inspired the Vikings to select him with the 22nd overall pick in the 2020 draft. Jefferson saw his first snaps as a starting receiver in week 3 of the 2020 NFL season, where he torched the Tennessee Titans in spectacular fashion for 175 receiving yards and a touchdown. There was no looking back from there. Jefferson averaged an efficient 2.65 yards per route run in that rookie season en route to over 1400 receiving yards and just two drops. He finished the season as fantasy WR4, which made him a second round pick in fantasy drafts the following season.
Jefferson's Next Gen Stats in his sophomore season indicated he had no intention of slowing down. He dominated opportunity in Minnesota with a 43.9-percent Air Yards Share, a 29.9-percent Target Share, and 34 Deep Balls. He developed quite the connection with quarterback Kirk Cousins, and rose to the top of dynasty wide receiver rankings.
In just the third year of his rookie contract in 2022, Jefferson continued to dominate the volume in Minnesota, as well as opposing DBs. He led the league in receptions with 128, receiving yards with 1,809 and yards after catch with 630. He also led the league with 113.1 EPA and was No. 2 in fantasy points per game, trailing only Cooper Kupp, who played just nine games. The Vikings traded for T.J. Hockenson during the 2022 season and added receiver Jordan Addison in the 2023 draft and the Vikings offense was clicking. Jefferson then suffered a hamstring injury that sidelined him for seven games. Cousins tore his achilles in Week 8 and went out for the season. It is uncertain whether the Vikings will move on from Cousins in the 2024 offseason, but regardless, Jefferson remains an elite fantasy asset.
