Justin Jefferson Hits 1,000 Yards After Disappointing Fantasy Season

By Shane Hallam | Updated on Mon, Jan 5 2026 6:03 AM UTC

Vikings WR Justin Jefferson went 8-101-0 on 11 targets in Week 18, catching passes from QBs J.J. McCarthy and Max Brosmer. That puts Jefferson at 85-1048-2 for the entire season. He had 141 targets on the season, only catching 60.3% of his targets on the year. It does mark his sixth straight season over 1,000 yards receiving. Despite the success, Jefferson will enter next season with uncertainty around the Vikings’ passing game.

Fantasy Football Impact

Jefferson only had one top-10 week in PPR leagues this season (Week 4 against the Steelers). That game was with Carson Wentz at QB. In 2024, he had five such weeks. Jefferson was the biggest bust of the fantasy season with his early first-round ADP. He finished the season WR33 in fantasy points per game.

Jefferson certainly struggled with McCarthy (and Brosmer) at QB, even after showing some promise with Wentz. The Vikings will likely prioritize getting McCarthy and Jefferson on the same page, but it will be difficult to put complete trust in the situation. Jefferson’s talent is undeniable and he could make or break fantasy seasons in 2026.

McCarthy himself will be drafted as a QB2 next season, but he has upside if he shows progression as a passer with Jefferson in the Vikings' system.

Shane Hallam, Writer

Shane has over 20 years of experience creating content and playing every fantasy football format, including redraft, dynasty, devy, C2C, IDP, CFF, and more. He is a multi-year winner of $500 dynasty leagues on the FFPC and a King's Classic Champion. Shane utilizes deep film and scheme study to enhance his fantasy performance. He led the industry in 2024 preseason Kicker Rankings and ranked second in preseason QB Rankings. He also ranked eighth in preseason IDP rankings.