Justin Jefferson Gets Unfathomably Low WR Ranking
When the Hall of Fame career of Justin Jefferson comes to an end, the 2025 season most likely won’t be one that’s talked of a lot. In a season in which he has had to put up with inconsistent quarterback play, Jefferson just isn’t hitting the heights we are used to.
Justin Jefferson drew an unfathomably low ranking in a new wide receiver list, raising questions about the evaluation and baffling many Vikings fans.
Jefferson isn’t having a bad season, certainly by the standards of most wide receivers. He should reach 1000 receiving yards by the end of the campaign, often seen as the benchmark for a good season for a receiver. However, we aren’t used to just good from Jefferson; we have become accustomed to greatness. That is why this season feels so underwhelming.
Justin Jefferson = 23rd-Best WR in NFL
In Pro Football Focus’ latest WR rankings, Jefferson comes in at an unfathomably low 23rd. We are not used to seeing Jefferson outside the top five rankings since he entered the league, let alone outside the top 20.
Jefferson hasn’t been helped by the Vikings’ quarterbacks this season, whether that’s J.J. McCarthy or Carson Wentz, and his lack of touchdowns is noticeable. Jefferson has never been a TD monster, but only hitting paydirt twice across 10 games is very low.
Of Jefferson’s ranking, PFF had this to say;
Amid season-long woes, Jefferson had a better statistical day in Week 11, with five catches for 61 yards against the Bears, but he still finished with fewer than 70 receiving yards for the third consecutive game. He recorded two explosive gains — one an 18-yard catch with Tyrique Stevenson on his hip late in the first quarter, and the other a 27-yard gain on third-and-6 late in the second, when he flew in front of Nahshon Wright into space.
The former LSU star remains ranked seventh in receiving yards (747 yards). He also slots into the top 10 in explosive gains (21) and catches of 20-plus yards (11). Jefferson is performing well in contested situations, having now caught eight of 15 such passes for 145 yards. All of his contested grabs have moved the chains, and five have resulted in explosive gains. He is averaging 9.67 yards per route run and owns an 85.5 receiving grade on those plays.
Despite the Vikings’ QB issues, Jefferson has still been very good across most metrics, and a ranking of 23rd still seems low.
Can the Big Receiving Games Return This Season?
Jefferson made his name by stacking big 100+-yard receiving games. However, this season the Vikings’ star receiver has topped 100 receiving yards only twice, both in back-to-back games in Week 4 (Pittsburgh) and Week 5 (Cleveland).
On both of those occasions, it was Wentz at quarterback for Minnesota. Jefferson’s biggest yards game with McCarthy at QB came back in Week 2, when he totalled 81 yards against Atlanta. Both of Jefferson’s two touchdowns came from passes by McCarthy.
One thing that everyone involved with the Vikings will want to see over the last seven games of this season is a blossoming of the McCarthy/Jefferson connection. A game on the road against the rival Green Bay Packers would be a great time for a breakout game for the two, and would give a season currently on life support a new lease of life.
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