Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson Looks For Continued Success in NFL Playoffs
Though the Minnesota Vikings were able to cash in an easy victory over the Chicago Bears to hold on to the No. 3 seed in the NFC playoffs, they couldn't cash in what would have been a historic season for Vikings WR Justin Jefferson. The third-year receiver caught four passes for 38 yards Sunday in the Vikings' 29-13 victory over the Chicago Bears, setting Jefferson's league-high totals at 128 receptions for 1,809 yards in 17 games. It was the sixth-most receiving yards for a season in NFL history and was perhaps the most critical factor in the Vikings' 13 victories, but it fell short of Calvin Johnson's NFL record of 1,964 yards set over 16 games in 2012.
Though it may have been a disappointment for NFL fans looking to see some league history being made, it doesn't sound like Jefferson himself is all that beat up about it;
"...I feel like I reached my main goal. My main goal was 1,800, coming off 1,600 last year. Of course I wanted to exceed that goal and get to 2,000. But it's just another opportunity for next year, something to strive for. But as long as we're in the playoffs, as long as we keep fighting and having extra games, it doesn't really matter. I feel like I did a lot for this team this season, doing whatever I needed to do when the ball was in the air and touched my hands. It's disappointing individually, but there's so much more to fight for than this record."
Though Jefferson may have missed the receiving record after being pulled at halftime with the team locked into that No. 3 spot, he still has a chance to continue his legacy during the NFL playoffs with the help of a quarterback and a head coach who hasn't been shy with his volume to his number one receiving options.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins targeted receiver Justin Jefferson on 181 of his pass attempts through the 2022 season, tied for 11th-most in a single season since the 2000 season. Pair that with head coach Kevin O'Connell —who helped Cooper Kupp get within 20 yards of Calvin Johnson's record as his offensive coordinator in 2021 — and you can see an easy road for Jefferson to continue this usage during Wild Card Weekend.
Week 19 Fantasy Implications for Minnesota Vikings Wide Receiver Justin Jefferson
Whether you are playing slates that run the entire length of the NFL Playoffs or only considering this upcoming weekend, Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson is going to be near the top of all fantasy football draft lists. In DFS slates that span only the weekend of action, Jefferson should likely be at the top of WR rankings, if not the most valuable selection across all positions. Jefferson's floor for both catches and receiving yards should be higher than any other option on the slate.
Through the team's four games in December, Jefferson averaged a remarkable 14.5 targets, 10.5 receptions, 131 yards, and 0.8 touchdowns per game. That includes a 12-133-1 game against the same New York Giants team they will be facing this week. According to our John Daigle in his Playoff-Only Top 70 Rankings, a lot of that success may have been scheme-oriented; "Justin Jefferson ranks fourth in YPRR with 20 yards per catch against man coverage, which DC Wink Martindale has schemed at the league's highest rate, since T.J. Hockenson was acquired mid-year."
Daigle has Jefferson ranked as the ninth-most important fantasy piece in playoff-only slates, even though the team is only favored by three points on Sunday, giving an indication of how much upside he has as a fantasy asset, even if his team only plays one game on their bid to the Super Bowl.
