Matthew Wiley said he is locking in Justin Jefferson with the second overall pick whenever he drafts from that slot, arguing the Vikings star provides the "safest" elite-wide-receiver separation on the board. He believes Jefferson is set for a "monster year" if healthy and sees no reason to take any other player over him except Ja'Marr Chase at 1.01. Wiley’s board currently ranks Jefferson 2, Saquon Barkley 3 and CeeDee Lamb 4, underscoring how aggressively he is prioritizing Minnesota’s alpha in 2025 Best Ball builds.

Billy Jones pushed back on the Jefferson fade, saying he is still comfortable scooping the All-Pro at the 1.02/1.03. Jones trusts Kevin O’Connell’s track record of elevating quarterbacks—pointing to how the coach revived Sam Darnold’s career last season—and believes a full red-shirt year in the system gives JJ McCarthy a smoother learning curve than typical rookies. Jefferson’s target dominance (career 30% share) and elite route-win rate make him "quarterback-proof," and the Vikings’ pass-heavy approach (63% neutral-situation pass rate in 2023, fourth-highest) should remain intact. Jones argued that even if efficiency dips, volume will keep Jefferson among the weekly ceiling scorers BBM teams need in Weeks 15-17.

Cody Woodman advised passing on Justin Jefferson at the 1.01–1.03 turn, arguing the market is ignoring serious quarterback downside. Woodman doubted rookie JJ McCarthy can replicate the 4,200 yards and 35 TDs Sam Darnold produced in Kevin O’Connell’s offense last year, noting McCarthy never ran a high-volume passing attack at Michigan. He added that the Minnesota offense is less condensed than drafters think: Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, and pass-catching back Aaron Jones will siphon targets, and Addison could still face a three-game DUI suspension that would disrupt weekly game plans. With those variables and a rookie QB learning on the fly, Woodman prefers diversifying early-round exposure to RBs like Bijan Robinson and Saquon Barkley instead of loading up on Jefferson shares.

Ferrall likes Justin Jefferson at +1600 for Offensive Player of the Year. He called Jefferson ‘unguardable’ and said the only thing holding him back has been a revolving door at quarterback. With Minnesota finally expecting stable, healthy quarterback play, Ferrall believes Jefferson could explode for another record-challenging season, and he sees 16-to-1 as a bargain given the receiver’s talent and past production.

Davis Mattek argued that Justin Jefferson should be the 1.01 in every best-ball draft and even recommended taking 50-100% exposure in large field contests. Jefferson averages ten more receiving yards per game than Ja'Marr Chase and benefits from playing nine games a year indoors. Mattek highlighted Kevin O’Connell’s track record—top-10 in yards per attempt and passing touchdowns in every season he has called plays—and said those offensive principles matter more than whoever starts at quarterback. Jefferson was elite with Nick Mullens and Sam Darnold in 2024, so Mattek is unfazed by rookie J.J. McCarthy. He also expects the Vikings’ defense to regress, forcing pass volume back up. All that adds up to Jefferson owning unmatched weekly and season-long ceiling, making him a slam-dunk first overall pick.

Mike Wright kept Justin Jefferson at WR3, noting the only ding is an unknown touchdown ceiling with rookie J.J. McCarthy. Jefferson just averaged 96.5 yards per game through five NFL seasons—the best mark in league history and a full 10 yards ahead of Calvin Johnson. Wright pointed out Jefferson’s 2024 stretch with Sam Darnold proved quarterback proof; even league‑average play will sustain him. Statistically, Jefferson could average just over 40 yards a game in 2025 and still hold the all‑time pace record. Wright concluded Jefferson remains a tier‑one anchor whose floor is higher than most receivers’ ceilings, recommending him anywhere from picks 2‑4 overall in season‑long drafts.