Jalen McMillan vs Justin Jefferson: Who Should You Start?
Jalen McMillan and Justin Jefferson are both viable fantasy wide receivers heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Jalen McMillan averaged 6.0 PPG across 4 games with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while Justin Jefferson posted 9.4 PPG in 17 appearances for the Minnesota Vikings.
A 3.4-PPG gap gives Justin Jefferson the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.
Target volume is the story here. Justin Jefferson saw 141 targets in 2025, while Jalen McMillan drew 15. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Justin Jefferson, even in weeks where Jalen McMillan posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.
One scheduling note: Jalen McMillan is off Week 11 and Justin Jefferson Week 6. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in wide receiver for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.
