NFL Draft: Fantasy football impact of Justin Jefferson to the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota made Justin Jefferson the 22nd selection in Thursday's NFL Draft. What does landing in Minnesota mean for Jefferson's Fantasy outlook?
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With the 22nd pick in the NFL Draft, the Minnesota selected wide receiver Justin Jefferson out of LSU. Find Jefferson's 2020 Fantasy outlook below:
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 192
Age: 20.8
Dynasty Ranking 1.10 (WR4)
Redraft Ranking: WR53
Receiving: 52 catches for 540 yards and 5 touchdowns
Jefferson primarily played on the perimeter as a sophomore, and it wasn't until his move to the slot (nearly 80 percent of his snaps came from the slot in 2019) that his play really stood out. Playing with Joe Burrow clearly inflated Jefferson's numbers somewhat, but still, you can't pile up 1,540 yards and 18 receiving touchdowns in a season without some serious talent.
Jefferson's ability to make contested catches and create yards after the catch should translate well at the NFL level. Jefferson was rarely pressed while running routes from the slot, and much of his production came as a result of routes designed to simply find a hole in the middle of opposing zone defenses. Jefferson would seem to have all the physical tools to be an above average route runner, but given his extremely advantageous role in college, there are reasonable questions as to whether he'll be able to play a different role at the pro level. He may have to take on such a task in Minnesota.
Landing in Minnesota presents a schematic challenge for the Vikings, as Adam Thielen also works from the slot. But the Vikings should find a way for both WRs to co-exist and help Kirk Cousins. Minnesota desperately needed a quality replacement for Stefon Diggs, and Jefferson should be a good answer over time. He may be a bit underrated, and his ability to make all types of catches and challenge for the tough receptions makes him a promising pro. He may be comparable to Doug Baldwin in many ways, and should be sound in all facets of his game when he fully blossoms.
The Vikings will remain a run-heavy team with their wagon mainly hitched to Dalvin Cook, so that does hurt any early upside a bit. Minnesota was third in terms of run to pass ratio last year. But Jefferson should ultimately prove to be a solid PPR option with some WR2/3 fantasy potential over time. He may be solid and sometimes outstanding. He should be one of the Top 5 WRs taken in 2020 rookie dynasty drafts.
So which players are poised for breakouts, which sleepers do you need to jump on, and which busts should you avoid at all costs in your Fantasy football league? Join SportsLine now to get early 2020 Fantasy football rankings, plus see which WR is going to come out of nowhere to crack the top 10, all from the model that out-performed experts big time last season.
Written by Scott Engel
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