All eyes will be on the quarterback competition for the Minnesota Vikings leading up to the 2026 NFL season. However, fantasy football team managers will have a big decision to make before the team names a starter.
The Vikings' offense was not impressive last season. Injuries and inconsistent play at quarterback led to them scoring only 334 points. And it looks even worse when realizing that 130 of those points came off the leg of kicker Will Reichard.
Preparing for a fantasy football draft is going to be challenging. Determining where players like Justin Jefferson, Jordan Mason, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, and Kyler Murray are worth drafting is highly debatable.
Justin Jefferson and Kyler Murray are talented players for the Minnesota Vikings, but what is their fantasy football value for the 2026 NFL season?
On Friday, Sports Illustrated writer Matt De Lima shared an article that showcased five players who were tabbed as "Polarizing fantasy football assets still worth drafting in 2026." Of those five players, two will suit up for the Minnesota Vikings this season.
The first Vikings player in the article is wide receiver Justin Jefferson. Last season was a tough year for the superstar pass-catcher, but he still managed to surpass 1,000 receiving yards. However, it was his two receiving touchdowns that could scare fantasy football managers in 2026.
Jefferson will still get a large number of targets during the upcoming season. His production will weigh heavily on the quarterback's ability to get him the ball and increase his touchdown production from last season.
"The split exists because some fantasy managers are terrified of repeating 2025, while believers see a bounce-back candidate with top-five WR upside if the quarterback carousel stabilizes."
Also included in the article is quarterback Kyler Murray. He still needs to be named the starter, but the former Arizona Cardinals passer should be considered the favorite to win the competition. If Murray does become the starter, that would be good news for him and Jefferson.
Murray not only has more experience and a higher floor than McCarthy, but he could thrive in an offense under Kevin O'Connell with a fresh start in Minnesota, allowing him an opportunity to realize his potential.
"Murray has historically averaged below-average passing yards, and his injury history is prologue. He's QB16 in consensus rankings heading into 2026, so there's basically no risk as a flier. A top-five finish if everything breaks right, and the floor isn't that bad for a late-round dart throw."
Both Minnesota Vikings players offer an amazing opportunity to be fantastic value picks in a fantasy football draft. While Justin Jefferson is likely to still be an early-round pick, both he and Kyler Murray are definitely worth picking up and having on your roster during the 2026 NFL season.
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