Is Justin Jefferson Still The No. 1 Wide Receiver In 2024 Fantasy Football?

August 11, 2024

Is Justin Jefferson Still The No. 1 Wide Receiver In 2024 Fantasy Football? Mike Fanelli takes a look at the other options for the first wide receiver off the board if it's not Jefferson.

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is one of the top players in the NFL. The superstar recently signed a contract extension with the Vikings, making him the highest-paid wide receiver in league history.

While Jefferson is the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL, fantasy players were disappointed in him last season. The former LSU star was the WR29, averaging 16.8 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. However, he missed seven games and left two others early with an injury.

Should fantasy football players draft Jefferson as the first wide receiver off the board in 2024? Let’s dive into it.

Is Justin Jefferson Still The No. 1 Wide Receiver?

Jefferson finished as the WR29 last year because of injuries. The superstar was the WR5 on a points-per-game basis, averaging more fantasy points per contest than Puka Nacua, Mike Evans, and A.J. Brown. Jefferson had 68 receptions on 100 targets for 1,074 receiving yards and five touchdowns in 10 contests.

WELCOME BACK JUSTIN JEFFERSON.

📺: #DETvsMIN on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/UIg1XAk0MB pic.twitter.com/FtVGMtPERe

— NFL (@NFL) December 24, 2023

While he had elite fantasy numbers in 2024, Jefferson won’t have Kirk Cousins this season after the veteran quarterback signed with the Atlanta Falcons in free agency. The Vikings signed Sam Darnold and drafted J.J. McCarthy. The change at quarterback keeps Jefferson out of the overall WR1 conversation this year.

Other Candidates To Be The No. 1 Wide Receiver?

With Jefferson not being in the mix to be the first wide receiver drafted in 2024, who should be the first pass catcher off the board? The most likely candidate is CeeDee Lamb. While he is in a contract dispute with the Dallas Cowboys, the former Oklahoma star is coming off an outstanding season.

Lamb was the WR1 in 2023, averaging 19.7 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. He had 135 receptions on 181 targets for 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns. The Cowboys didn’t improve their receiving core in the offseason. Furthermore, they have arguably the worst rushing attack in the NFL. Therefore, don’t be surprised if Lamb repeats as the WR1 this year.

UNREAL 92-YARD TD 😱😱😱

📺: #DETvsDAL on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/urKeZaIvCL pic.twitter.com/uVK0ixWWZo

— NFL (@NFL) December 31, 2023

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