Justin Jefferson Fantasy Football News | Shark Bites

A Monday MRI confirmed that Vikings QB Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles in the Week 8 win over the Packers, NFL Network reports. Cousins will miss the rest of the 2023 season. His contract is set to void in March, and Cousins will turn 36 in August, leaving his football future very uncertain. The Vikings, meanwhile, are left with QBs Jaren Hall and Sean Mannion for now. QB Nick Mullens, who at least has 655 NFL pass attempts under his belt, is eligible to come off IR next week. We'll see if Minnesota makes a move for a free-agent QB or swings a trade before tomorrow's trade deadline. Regardless, Cousins' absence is bad news for all of the team's skill-position players.

Vikings QB Kirk Cousins is feared to have torn his Achilles in Sunday's win over the Packers, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. It's typically easy for doctors to diagnose a torn Achilles without any imaging. We should get confirmation tomorrow, but Cousins' 2023 season is very likely over. His absence would leave Minnesota with QBs Jaren Hall and Sean Mannion. QB Nick Mullens is currently on IR with a back injury but is eligible to return. Regardless, Cousins' injury is horrible news for Minnesota's skill-position players.

Vikings WR Justin Jefferson is expected to miss 4-6 weeks with his hamstring injury, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. More specifically, Jefferson will undergo more imaging on that hamstring in four weeks to determine when he can return. Schefter then adds this: "Minnesota needs to help itself in the standings to ensure [Jefferson] will return. ... If the Vikings are unable to remain competitive, Jefferson would be expected to consider the reality that he and the organization did not come to an agreement on a long-term contract extension before this season." It's not the first time that Schefter has suggested that Jefferson might opt to remain out even after he's medically cleared. He's still worth keeping stashed on fantasy benches while we see how this plays out.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport says Vikings WR Justin Jefferson (hamstring) "should be able to come back" when first eligible in Week 10. There's been some talk, even from ESPN's Adam Schefter, that Minnesota's record might impact whether Jefferson returns when his four-week stint on the IR is up. It's also worth remembering that Jefferson is still looking for a new contract. That clouds the situation a bit, but there's still a good chance that fantasy owners get Jefferson back in Week 10.

The Vikings will be placing WR Justin Jefferson on IR for the hamstring injury that knocked him out of Sunday's loss to the Chiefs. That means he'll miss at least the next four games. Jefferson's absence will obviously leave a bunch of targets for his Vikings teammates. Jefferson drew 47 through the first four games, 30% of QB Kirk Cousins' total attempts over that span. That makes rookie WR Jordan Addison a weekly starting candidate over the next month. He drew a season-high 9 targets in the K.C. game, reaching 6 receptions for the second time in three weeks. It also makes WR K.J. Osborn worth picking up in many leagues. But there's also a chance Jefferson's absence shifts the offensive approach. Minnesota leads the league in pass attempts through five weeks, sits tied for the lead in pass rate, and ranks third in pass rate over expected. Losing Jefferson figures to hurt the offense overall and could push a little more work to the running game. We're certainly not upgrading RB Alexander Mattison for this, but we'll be watching the offense's reaction over the next couple of weeks. Cousins clearly loses upside with the absence of arguably the league's best WR. Fortunately for him -- and fantasy managers -- the Vikings visit a bad Bears defense in the first game without Jefferson. That will help everyone's fantasy outlooks. An ominous Monday night date with the 49ers waits on the other side of that, however.

It'd be "a stretch" to see Vikings WR Justin Jefferson (hamstring) on the field for Sunday's game vs. the Bears, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport says. "It's unclear after that when we will see Justin Jefferson," Rapoport adds. Jefferson is still undergoing tests and getting a second opinion on his hamstring injury. We'll keep you updated on his status, but fantasy owners should plan on being without Jefferson for at least Week 6. Minnesota's bye isn't until Week 13.

Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell said Monday afternoon that the team is still waiting on the results from the MRI on WR Justin Jefferson's hamstring. "We're going to do what's best for Justin and make sure we give him the treatment and plan that is a big picture positive for him," O'Connell said. It sure sounds like the Vikings are bracing for Jefferson to miss time. We'll update his status as soon as we know more. Jefferson's absence would leave behind lots of opportunity for WR Jordan Addison, WR K.J. Osborn, and TE T.J. Hockenson.

Vikings WR Jordan Addison scored his third TD of the season in Week 5. Not only that, but he led the team in targets (9), catches (6) and yards (64). Justin Jefferson went down in the 4th quarter with a hamstring injury, leaving his Week 6 status up in the air. If he’s out, Addison will become a must-play at Chicago. To date, Addison’s lost snaps in 2-WR sets to K.J. Osborn, who posted 5 grabs for 49 yards on Sunday.

Vikings WR Justin Jefferson hurt his right hamstring in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game vs. the Chiefs. He's officially questionable to return. We'll update his status when we know more.

Vikings WR Justin Jefferson didn't let a mere 139-yard passing day for his team get in the way Sunday. Jefferson posted a 6-85-2 receiving line in the win over Carolina. He drew a target on 47.4% of Kirk Cousins' pass attempts, accounting for 50% of the team's receptions, 61.2% of receiving yards, and 100% of the offensive scoring. TE T.J. Hockenson ranked second on the team with just 3 targets, catching two for 24 yards. RB Cam Akers was the only other Viking to catch more than one pass. WR K.J. Osborn finished with 1 reception for 16 yards on 2 targets. WR Jordan Addison went catchless on 1 target. Minnesota gets the Chiefs back home in Week 5 and then a high-upside matchup at Chicago in Week 6.

Vikings WR Justin Jefferson delivered 7 receptions for 149 yards and his first TD of the season in Sunday's loss to the Chargers. He entered the game with the league lead in receiving yards. Jefferson's receptions and yards against the Chargers actually marked season lows for him through three games. That's how good he is. K.J. Osborn ran the second-most routes among WRs but drew just 3 targets. His lone catch went for a 36-yard TD. Jordan Addison caught six of 8 targets for 52 yards. Minnesota gets non-scary matchups the next three weeks: Panthers, Chiefs, and Bears.