Vikings Wide Receiver Fantasy Football Week 1 Outlook: Justin Jefferson vs. Jordan Addison vs. K.J. Osborn

The Minnesota Vikings open the 2023 season hoping to build off a NFC North title and playoff appearance. The Vikings open up the year hosting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first slate of games on Sunday.

Outside of the departure of running back Dalvin Cook, the only other big change to the Vikings’ offense this past offseason was the addition of wide receiver Jordan Addison. Everyone knows Justin Jefferson is the star of the Vikings’ passing game, but Addison and K.J. Osborn are also ranked inside the top 50 when it comes to FantasySP’s week 1 receiver projections. Are either complementary receiver worth a start this week?

Justin Jefferson Week 1 Outlook

Jefferson was among the players fantasy owners considered with the No. 1 overall pick before the season, and for good reason. 

Jefferson led the entire NFL in receiving yards (1,809) and catches (128) in 2022. He was targeted a whopping 184 times across 17 games, otherwise known as nearly 11 targets a contest. He caught eight touchdowns.

It’s not like Jefferson is a one-year wonder either. Minnesota has increased his targets and involvement in the offense each season, and Jefferson has responded with bigger and better seasons. If he stays on the upward trend he’s been on, he’d top out near 2,000 receiving yards in 2023.

Maybe that’s a bit too much to ask of fantasy owners, but I actually see it as something that actually isn’t as far-fetched as you might think. With Cook out of the picture, it’s reasonable to expect the Vikings to pass more than in recent seasons. Sure, tight end T.J. Hockenson could be a guy that cuts into Jefferson’s targets, but there’s enough targets in the offense to allow both guys to turn in fine seasons.

Jefferson is FSP’s top projected scoring receiver in week 1, with 10 targets, 6.8 receptions, 93 yards and 0.4 touchdowns. Tampa Bay ranked near the middle of the league in 2022 in passing yards allowed to opposing wideouts. The Buccaneers were in the bottom third in touchdowns allowed.

Jordan Addison Week 1 Outlook

Addison was Minnesota’s first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, going 23rd overall out of USC. He’s not listed as a starter in the team’s unofficial depth chart, but should see plenty of snaps as the season progresses.

Addison will help fill the void left by Adam Thielen. Last year, even with Jefferson at over 1,800 receiving yards and his high target total, Thielen and Osborn still each had 650 or more receiving yards. If defenses want to take away Jefferson, that gives Addison and Osborn opportunities to make some plays.

Addison is listed as the 37th receiver for his first NFL game, projecting at six targets, 3.9 targets, 48 yards and 0.3 touchdowns.

K.J. Osborn Week 1 Outlook

Osborn finished third on the team in targets (90) and receiving yards (650), while tying for third in receptions (60) during the 2022 season. He played in all 17 games and was targeted at least twice in each contest. Osborn finished with just four games over 50 yards.

Osborn was the third option on the team a season ago, and Minnesota is probably hoping he falls into the same role this year, with Addison eventually playing opposite Jefferson and Osborn inside. As Minnesota’s offense showed in 2022, they can have three viable fantasy options at receiver, and those that took a chance on Osborn in their fantasy drafts are hoping he can help them out here and there.

In week 1, Osborn is the 49th ranked receiver. He’s projected at five targets, 3.1 receptions, 34 yards and 0.3 touchdowns.

Vikings Recievers to Start Week 1

Let’s make things simple when it comes to Jefferson. He should always be in your starting lineup. If he’s on the field playing, he needs to be in your lineup. He’ll have lofty projection numbers each week, but he’ll meet or likely exceed them each time.

While Addison and Osborn are some of the highest-ranked No. 2 and 3 receivers in the league, their production each week isn’t likely going to be all that consistent, at least not early on. While the Buccaneers are a pretty good defense to be going up against, I’d like to see how the Vikings distribute targets outside Jefferson and Hockenson at least once before tossing them in my starting lineup. Both are decent options at your flex spot this week, but I wouldn’t start either guy unless there were no other options.