Viktor
Well-known member
- Mar 19, 2019
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The 2020 NFL season is almost upon us, which means fans are holding fantasy drafts around the country.
ESPN's Eric Karabell recently offered his top 10 rookie receivers to consider snagging for your fantasy team this season, and he ranked Vikings first-rounder Justin Jefferson at No. 1. Karabell called Jefferson-to-Minnesota a "round peg, round hole" situation since he's demonstrated capabilities to play in the slot or outside.
Karabell pointed out that rookie wide receivers rarely "assume a place in fantasy football lore in their very first seasons" but also pointed out that Jefferson's impact "should be rather immediate" for the Vikings. He wrote:
Jefferson joins a Minnesota offense that relies heavily on the running game, but quarterback Kirk Cousins, despite the narrative, completed a positive 69.1 [percent] of his passes in 2019, good for fourth best, and it is quite easy to see how Jefferson inherits the starting spot in the slot right away. [Stefon] Diggs caught 63 passes for 1,130 yards and six touchdowns. It hardly means Jefferson will match this, but when I see the other top rookie wide receivers, I do not see the same immediate opportunity. Perhaps they will rock in a few years. For 2020, the Vikings have a mature, successful offense and lack depth, so even in a pandemic, when rookies are more behind than ever in proving themselves, Jefferson matters right away.
Karabell ranked the following rookie receivers behind Jefferson: Jerry Jeudy (Broncos), Henry Ruggs III (Raiders), CeeDee Lamb (Cowboys), Jalen Reagor (Eagles), Tee Higgins (Bengals), Brandon Aiyuk (49ers), Laviska Shenault, Jr. (Jaguars), Michael Pittman, Jr. (Colts) and Denzel Mims (Jets).