As fantasy football managers gear up for Week 15, a crucial decision looms: should they start Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings or Stefon Diggs from the New England Patriots? Both wide receivers are among the top-20 ranked players, making this a challenging choice.
Justin Jefferson has faced a difficult season, currently sitting at WR13. His struggles have been compounded by inconsistent quarterback play, resulting in a ranking of WR15 for this week. Over the course of 13 games, he has recorded 64 receptions for 810 yards and only two touchdowns on 109 targets. Despite having quarterbacks like J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brohm throughout the season, Jefferson has managed just two games with over 100 receiving yards and only two touchdowns total. His target numbers have also dropped significantly, capped off by a season-low four targets in his last game with McCarthy under center. The silver lining for Jefferson this week is his matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, who have struggled defensively against opposing wide receivers, allowing the most points per game in that category.
On the flip side, Stefon Diggs is currently positioned as WR18. After an ACL injury sidelined him during the 2024 season, he has rebounded well, catching 64 passes for 705 yards and three touchdowns from 79 targets. Although he has only been on the field for 66 percent of the Patriots” offensive plays this season, he continues to be the primary target for MVP candidate Drake Maye. His recent performances have been underwhelming, with just five catches for 46 yards in the last two games, although he did have a standout nine-catch game for 105 yards prior to those outings. Despite facing one of the league”s better pass defenses in the Buffalo Bills, Diggs has extra motivation when playing against his former team. In their earlier matchup this season, Diggs had an impressive 10 catches for 146 yards.
Three months ago, the choice between these two players would have seemed simple, leaning heavily towards Jefferson. However, the quarterback situation for both players complicates matters significantly. After careful consideration, I am inclined to recommend starting Stefon Diggs over Justin Jefferson for this week. Best of luck to all fantasy football players as they navigate the playoffs!
