Justin Jefferson fantasy outlook: Should you draft Vikings WR in 2024?

Justin Jefferson recorded his worst fantasy football finish last season with the Minnesota Vikings, but that was mostly due to an extended injury. Despite missing seven games, he was targeted at least 100 times and exceeded 1,000 yards for the fourth consecutive year. This indicates that he is in a prime position to bounce back, so here's where his fantasy outlook currently stands.

Should you draft Vikings WR Justin Jefferson in 2024?

Justin Jefferson (image credit: Getty)

Justin Jefferson has been one of the most dominant wide receivers in the NFL in each of his four seasons with the Vikings so far. Prior to his injury-plagued season last year, he finished among the top six players in his position for fantasy football in each of his previous three campaigns.

Despite playing in only 10 games, and missing his starting quarterback for most of the year, he still turned in a strong season in 2023. He also finished the year as the weekly WR1 in his final game of the season, so managers should be confident that he will bounce back in a major way in 2024. He's as good a wide receiver to target this year as just about any other option.

Justin Jefferson 2024 fantasy outlook, ADP and 2023 stats

Jefferson's ADP comes at a relative discount this season as compared to last year. He was ranked as the number-one overall player in fantasy drafts for the 2023 season but comes in as the WR3 and sixth overall player this year.

His 2023 season included 68 receptions on 100 targets for 1,074 yards and five touchdowns in just 10 games. This means that his averages per game included ten targets for nearly seven receptions and more than 100 yards. This gives him an excellent 2024 fantasy outlook with true overall WR1 potential.

Is Justin Jefferson a good pick in fantasy football this year?

His ADP suggests that Jefferson may be available in the mid-to-late portion of the first round of 2024 fantasy football drafts. He could be an absolute steal in this spot, especially considering his history of finishing higher than that in three of his four seasons.

The superstar wide receiver will have to overcome a difficult quarterback situation this year as Sam Darnold is projected to be the Vikings' starter. Kirk Cousins departed the team during the offseason and JJ McCarthy suffered a season-ending injury. Cousins' season-ending injury didn't slow Jefferson down last year, so managers can still select him confidently in 2024 fantasy drafts.

Where should you draft Justin Jefferson this year?

Sportskeeda's Who Should I Draft tool

Jefferson currently ranks as the WR3 and sixth overall player in 2024 fantasy football drafts, according to his ADP. Sportskeeda's Who Should I Draft tool has him a bit lower than that, coming in as the WR7 this year based on season-long projections.

The tool projects Jefferson to have a stronger season than Puka Nacua, one of the most coveted wide receivers in fantasy football this year, but he falls just behind Ja'Marr Chase and Amon-Ra St. Brown. Using this tool will help managers make better decisions in their fantasy drafts, including when to pick Jefferson in the first round.