Vikings WR Justin Jefferson made a brief appearance with an 11.9% snap rate before suffering an ankle injury. After failing to practice ahead of Week 4, Jefferson then missed Sunday’s 15-10 win vs. the Dolphins.
Minnesota travels to face the Saints at 1:00 p.m. ET on FOX on Sunday, October 11. Let’s look at the latest Justin Jefferson injury update and his chance to play in Week 5.
Below, we’ll analyze if Jefferson will play this week, his latest practice status, and how his injury impacts fantasy football and Vikings vs. Saints picks for PrizePicks.
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Justin Jefferson Injury Update: Will Jettas Play This Week?
Justin Jefferson’s chance to play in Week 4 was minimal, as he was absent from all three practices. This week began with a bright note, with Jefferson listed as a limited participant at Wednesday’s practice.
Kevin Seifert of ESPN reported that Jefferson said, “The plan is for me to play. But who knows? We’re going to take it day by day.” Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell also appeared on The Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday and discussed Jefferson’s injury.
On Wednesday, Jefferson discussed how he injured his ankle, with Buccaneers DT Vita Vea landing on his leg. He followed that up with saying the ankle “feels good now.”
Jefferson is headed in the right direction for Sunday’s matchup with the Saints — especially after practicing on Wednesday. If he’s back in the lineup, how does that impact fantasy football and picks for PrizePicks?
Vikings Fantasy Football Outlook If Justin Jefferson Is Out
According to FantasyPros, Jefferson had a WR6 average draft position (ADP) for PPR leagues this season. With that said, he’s still expected to be one of the best fantasy receivers around, making him a must-start.
In Week 1, Jefferson racked up 9 targets for 8 catches, 92 receiving yards, 2 receiving TDs, and 31.2 fantasy points (WR3). He followed that with 6 targets, 3 catches, 55 receiving yards, and 8.5 fantasy points (WR43) in Week 2.
Despite taking only 7 snaps before injuring his ankle in Week 3, Jettas quickly produced 2 receptions for 32 receiving yards. According to PlayerProfiler, Jefferson carries a 32.1% target rate (fifth), and Week 5 would be his first full game with Vikings QB Kyler Murray under center.
Ahead of Sunday’s game, Minnesota signed WR Odell Beckham Jr. to its practice squad, but this likely centers around solidifying depth, not about how long Jefferson could be out. For example, Vikings WR Jauan Jennings had 1 catch for 8 receiving yards with a 94.9% snap rate in Jefferson’s absence last week.
Week 5 brings a favorable matchup vs. the Saints, who allow 32.0 PPG (32nd), 5.8 yards per play (26th), and a 52.5% success rate (32nd), per RBSDM. That’s a welcomed sight for a Vikings offense with 4.4 yards per play (32nd), a 34.4% success rate (32nd), and -0.089 EPA per play (28th).
New Orleans concedes a 52.4% dropback success rate (30th), and efficiency is not a concern for Jefferson, who boasts 3.20 yards per route run — which sits fifth among WRs with at least 15 targets, per Pro Football Focus.
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Justin Jefferson is making good progress for a potential return from his ankle injury. If Jettas returns in Week 5, he has a favorable matchup on deck vs. the Saints.
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