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Justin Jefferson turned in his worst fantasy football performance of the 2023 NFL season in Week 5 against the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Minnesota Vikings superstar wide receiver managed just 28 yards, but that's not nearly the biggest concern for his fantasy managers. He suffered an apparent hamstring injury during the contest that forced him out early.
Considering that he was unable to return to the game after the injury, it's fair to be concerned about his availability.
All things considered, his next opportunity to get back on the football field will not come in Week 6.
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Justin Jefferson injury update
During the second half of the Minnesota Vikings' Week 5 game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Justin Jefferson exited early after grabbing his hamstring on a non-contact play.
That's particularly concerning, as any hamstring issue can be challenging to overcome, especially for a wide receiver. Non-contact injuries are also alarming, as they're often more severe and sometimes signal structural damage.
The Vikings announced following the game that the severity of Jefferson's hamstring injury was unknown. After running tests, the Vikings made a clear decision to place him on injured reserve (IR). This means he will not be available for the next four weeks - away to Chicago, home against the 49ers, at Green Bay and at Atlanta.
Before potentially replacing Jefferson in fantasy lineups, make sure to reference the Start/Sit Optimizer first.
What happened to Justin Jefferson?
Week 5 was by far the least productive game of the 2023 NFL season for Jefferson.
He recorded just three receptions for 28 yards before exiting early with a hamstring injury. It's unclear if it was bothering him during the game, which could possibly explain his uncharacteristically slow day.
He has finished among the top eight fantasy football wide receivers in his four previous games this year, while being ranked as the WR1 overall so far.
Regardless of whether or not he was feeling discomfort earlier on in the game, he grabbed his hamstring in pain and was unable to return to the contest.
Before potentially making a deal to replace Jefferson, make sure to consult the fantasy football trade analyzer first.
When will Justin Jefferson return?
The fact that Jefferson was unable to return for the Vikings after exiting early in Week 5 is a legitimate cause for concern.
Being diagnosed with a hamstring injury is additionally alarming, especially considering he's a wide receiver. This type of injury is extremely challenging for the position, as it can affect their speed, agility and explosiveness, among other key attributes.
The exact diagnosis, as well as the severity, will give a better idea about how much time Jefferson could miss. Any type of tear would be a terrible diagnosis, likely forcing him to miss extended time.
The hope is that he will miss just four games, though Minnesota will have to tread lightly given the nature of the injury.
Chiefs Fans! Check out the latest Kansas City Chiefs Schedule and dive into the Chiefs Depth Chart for NFL Season 2024-25.
