Van Jefferson

Van Jefferson

27-Year-Old Wide ReceiverWR
Pittsburgh Steelers
2023 Fantasy Outlook
Jefferson's 2023 debut was delayed until Week 8 due to an offseason knee surgery, and with many injuries to multiple Rams wideouts, he had every chance to build upon his sophomore campaign (50-802-6 on 89 targets). Instead, he struggled to produce, putting up 24-369-3 on 44 targets in 11 games, some of which can be attributed to a rotating door of QBs that stepped in with Matthew Stafford out for the season after Week 11. With Allen Robinson traded to the Steelers this offseason, Jefferson now sits second on the depth chart behind Cooper Kupp, and a lackluster group of unproven receivers lie behind the duo. Kupp again will be a target hog for Stafford, but Jefferson will have plenty of chances to be the secondary threat on the Rams offense. Read Past Outlooks
$Signed a one-year contract with the Steelers in March of 2024.
Moves on to Pittsburgh
WRPittsburgh Steelers
March 15, 2024
The Steelers and Jefferson agreed to a one-year contract Friday, Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
ANALYSIS
Jefferson has a 50-802-6 line on 89 targets in 17 regular-season games from 2021 with the Rams on his resume, but the 2020 second-round pick otherwise has put together 63 catches, 798 yards and four touchdowns in his other three campaigns between L.A. and Atlanta. With his new squad, he'll be a part of a Pittsburgh receiving corps that lost Diontae Johnson via a trade with Carolina, meaning Jefferson currently slots in as the Steelers' No. 2 WR behind George Pickens. Ultimately, Jefferson's place in the pecking order for passes from quarterback Russell Wilson will depend on other additions made this offseason.
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NFL Stats
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Fantasy/Red Zone Stats
See red zone opportunities inside the 20, 10 and 5-yard lines along with the percentage of time they converted the opportunity into a touchdown.
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Advanced NFL Stats
How do Van Jefferson's 2023 advanced stats compare to other wide receivers?
This section compares his advanced stats with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average. The longer the bar, the better it is for the player.
  • Air Yards Per Game
    The number of air yards he is averaging per game. Air yards measure how far the ball was thrown downfield for both complete and incomplete passes. Air yards are recorded as a negative value when the pass is targeted behind the line of scrimmage. All air yards data is from Sports Info Solutions and does not include throwaways as targeted passes.
  • Air Yards Per Snap
    The number of air yards he is averaging per offensive snap.
  • % Team Air Yards
    The percentage of the team's total air yards he accounts for.
  • % Team Targets
    The percentage of the team's total targets he accounts for.
  • Avg Depth of Target
    Also known as aDOT, this stat measures the average distance down field he is being targeted at.
  • Catch Rate
    The number of catches made divided by the number of times he was targeted by the quarterback.
  • Drop Rate
    The number of passes he dropped divided by the number of times he was targeted by the quarterback.
  • Avg Yds After Catch
    The number of yards he gains after the catch on his receptions.
  • % Targeted On Route
    Targets divided by total routes run. Also known as TPRR.
  • Avg Yds Per Route Run
    Receiving yards divided by total routes run. Also known as YPRR.
Air Yards Per Game
15.2
 
Air Yards Per Snap
1.02
 
% Team Air Yards
6.1%
 
% Team Targets
2.7%
 
Avg Depth of Target
17.2 Yds
 
Catch Rate
53.3%
 
Drop Rate
6.7%
 
Avg Yds After Catch
1.4
 
% Targeted On Route
4.0%
 
Avg Yds Per Route Run
0.29
 
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2023
2022
2021
2020
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2022 NFL Game Log
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2021 NFL Game Log
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2020 NFL Game Log
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
Pittsburgh SteelersSteelers 2023 WR Snap Distribution See more data like this | See last season's snap counts
#% of Team Snaps

94687%
76770%
61356%
38836%
12712%
50%
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Receiving Alignment Breakdown
See where Van Jefferson lined up on the field and how he performed at each spot.
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2023 Van Jefferson Split Stats
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Measurables Review View College Player Page
How do Van Jefferson's measurables compare to other wide receivers?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
Height
6' 1"
 
Weight
200 lbs
 
Hand Length
9.13 in
 
Arm Length
32.75 in
 
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76 days ago
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2022
2021
2020
Jefferson was an unusual second-round pick in 2020, to put it nicely, with his profile lacking standout production or measurables, on top of being one of the oldest players in his draft class. He barely played as a rookie, but last year he got a chance to show off some of the crafty route- running that inspired the Rams to draft him so early. Jefferson was the team's No. 3 receiver most of the year, and at one point midseason he even had 418 yards and four TDs in a span of seven games. He then all but disappeared, averaging 30.8 receiving yards the final four weeks of the regular season and 26.3 yards in three playoff games (with no TDs). Despite the disappointing finish, Jefferson looks like the favorite for the No. 3 role in a high-powered passing game again, behind target-hog Cooper Kupp and offseason addition Allen Robinson. The other options would seem to be Ben Skowronek (who struggled last season) or 2021 second-rounder Tutu Atwell (5-9, 165).
The 57th overall pick last year, Jefferson generated considerable preseason hype on which he did not remotely deliver. He finished with only 31 targets in 16 games and was buried in the offense behind wide receivers Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp and Josh Reynolds. Poor quarterback play from Jared Goff didn’t help, but there’s hope for 2021. Matthew Stafford should be a big upgrade for the Rams at quarterback, and Reynolds is now in Tennessee, putting Jefferson behind only Kupp and Woods. (The Rams signed DeSean Jackson, but he’s 
34 years old and has played eight games the last two years.) At 6-1, 200, Jefferson has average size, and though he did not run the 40-yard dash at the 2020 NFL Combine due to a broken foot, he was clocked as the fastest player during the Senior Bowl at 21.05 mph, likely putting him in the low 4.4s for the 40. Bottom line, Jefferson has upside in Year 2, competing for snaps with the 34-year-old Jackson and 165-pound rookie Tutu Atwell in what should be a good passing offense.
The 2020 second-round selection is a smooth route runner with soft hands and NFL size (6-1, 200). His collegiate numbers don't jump off the page, but last year's 13.4 yards per reception and six touchdowns over 12 games shouldn't be viewed outside the context of Florida's offense, either. The Gators ranked 97th in offensive plays per game and spread the ball around, with seven players catching at least 25 passes. The Rams also have an opening for him after trading Brandin Cooks to Houston. Jefferson's set to battle Josh Reynolds for playing time as the third receiver behind Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods, and the rookie's fantasy value should rise for the 2021 campaign with Kupp and Reynolds both in the final year of their rookie contracts. The son of Shawn Jefferson, a 13-year pro and current receivers coach with the Jets, he has a murky 2020 outlook with so much offseason uncertainty. Jefferson also underwent surgery in March to repair a fracture in his right foot, so monitoring his status leading into the season will be important.
More Fantasy News
Fails to make impression
WRAtlanta Falcons
January 17, 2024
Jefferson caught 12 of 28 passes for 101 yards across 12 appearances for the Falcons in 2023. He caught eight of 15 targets for 108 yards in five appearances with the Rams.
ANALYSIS
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Catches three passes in blowout
WRAtlanta Falcons
January 2, 2024
Jefferson caught three of five targets for 19 yards during Sunday's 37-17 loss to the Bears.
ANALYSIS
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Non-factor in win
WRAtlanta Falcons
December 25, 2023
Jefferson caught one of three targets for 13 yards during Sunday's 29-10 win over the Colts.
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No targets in win
WRAtlanta Falcons
December 5, 2023
Jefferson didn't record a target during Sunday's 13-8 win over the Jets.
ANALYSIS
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Catches one pass in win
WRAtlanta Falcons
November 28, 2023
Jefferson caught one of two passes for 13 yards during Sunday's 24-15 win over the Saints.
ANALYSIS
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