To say Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson has had a disappointing 2025 season would be a huge understatement. He's on pace for an easy career-low in receiving yards during a season where he has played more than 10 games, and there's a chance he plays all 17 this season and finishes with a career-low in yardage regardless of how many games he played.
That disappointment has, of course, transferred to fantasy managers who used a first-round pick on the Vikings' No. 1 wide receiver. Entering Week 17, he is outside the top-24 wide receivers, but he could finish as a top-20 receiver if things break right in the final week for a lot of leagues.
Jefferson had a revival game in Week 16 against the New York Giants, with six receptions for 85 yards. But ESPN's Dan Graziano offered a harsh thought that the idea of Jefferson being "back" as a good option for fantasy lineups in Week 17 is an "overreaction."
"Of course, if you've been rolling with Jefferson all this time, odds are you don't have a championship game next week."
Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson has his last chance to make things right for his fantasy managers
The first time the Vikings played the Detroit Lions, Week 10 in J.J. McCarthy's first start after a several-week absence, Jefferson had six catches for 47 yards and a touchdown. The rematch is coming on Christmas Day, and the Lions' pass defense has taken a turn toward atrocious lately amid several injuries.
McCarthy suffered a hand injury against the Giants, and he will miss the game against the Lions on Thursday. So rookie Max Brosmer will make his second NFL start under center, in a far better circumstance than his first start back in Week 13.
Brosmer played the second half against the Giants, and he completed seven of nine passes for 52 yards. Two of those completions, for 28 yards, were to Jefferson, including a big play midway through the fourth quarter.
There's an argument that Brosmer, who will play within his limitations and knows where his proverbial bread will be buttered against a vulnerable Lions' defense, can foster better success for Jefferson than McCarthy might. Jefferson also has a good history against the Lions.
As Graziano pulled no punches to note, it's probably a rare fantasy manager that has Jefferson on a roster this year and has anything at stake in Week 17. But for those survivors, it'd be awfully hard to bench him in such a favorable matchup and all would be forgotten if he has a big game.