Start Justin Jefferson or George Pickens? Week 7

Updated Oct 20, 4:16 PM ET. Locks at kickoff, graded after. Week 8 answer posts Tuesday.

Start Justin Jefferson over George Pickens

Start

Justin Jefferson

WR · MIN · vs IND

Market projects: 15.6; fantasy pts
IND D vs WR: 30.8; 13th fewest to WRs (2026)
Upside: High; 85 of 100 at WR
Snap share: 74%; Through Week 5
Target share: 25%; Through Week 5

Sit

George Pickens

WR · DAL · at PHI

Market projects: 13.7; fantasy pts
PHI D vs WR: 38.3; 3rd most to WRs (2026)
Upside: High; 91 of 100 at WR
Snap share: 85%; Through Week 6
Target share: 22%; Through Week 6

Should I drop Justin Jefferson for George Pickens?

Yes, on the rest of the season. George Pickens projects 142 market-implied PPR points from Week 7 through Week 17 (14.2 a game over 10 games), Justin Jefferson 35 (3.2 a game over 11 games). For Week 7 the call starts Justin Jefferson over George Pickens, 15.6 to 13.7 projected PPR points. So make the move after his Week 7 game.

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Our Week 7 call

Start Justin Jefferson over George Pickens in Week 7.

Market-based projections have Justin Jefferson at 15.6 points and George Pickens at 13.7, a gap of 1.9. Drafters take Justin Jefferson at ADP 14 and George Pickens at 19.

What the market projects

Player markets imply 15.6 fantasy points for Justin Jefferson, with 100 percent of the markets a WR needs posted.

The market-based projection for Justin Jefferson is 73 receiving yards, 5-6 receptions and 0-1 touchdowns (8, 6 and 10 market sources).

Player markets imply 13.7 fantasy points for George Pickens, with 100 percent of the markets a WR needs posted.

The market-based projection for George Pickens is 63 receiving yards, 4-5 receptions and 0-1 touchdowns (8, 6 and 11 market sources).

That puts Justin Jefferson 1.9 points ahead of George Pickens on the market projections.

Week 7 matchups

Justin Jefferson and MIN host IND on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET.

IND allowed 30.8 fantasy points a game to WRs this season over 6 games, the 13th fewest in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 149 yards and 0.8 touchdowns a game against IND.

George Pickens and DAL visit PHI on Monday at 8:15 PM ET.

PHI allowed 38.3 fantasy points a game to WRs this season over 6 games, the 3rd most in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 181 yards and a touchdown a game against PHI.

By points allowed to the position, George Pickens has the softer matchup.

Injury status

Justin Jefferson is not on the injury report.

George Pickens is not on the injury report.

Usage before Week 7

Through Week 5, Justin Jefferson played 74 percent of MIN snaps, drew 25 percent of the targets, earned 35 percent of the air yards and had 15 percent of the red zone chances.

Justin Jefferson, Week 1 against GB: 60 of 65 snaps, 9 targets and 8 catches for 92 yards, 2 touchdowns.

Justin Jefferson, Week 2 against CHI: 52 of 52 snaps, 6 targets and 3 catches for 55 yards.

Justin Jefferson, Week 3 against TB: 7 of 59 snaps, 2 targets and 2 catches for 32 yards.

Justin Jefferson, Week 5 against NO: 63 of 71 snaps, 1 carry for -11 yards, 7 targets and 6 catches for 79 yards, 1 touchdown.

Through Week 6, George Pickens played 85 percent of DAL snaps, drew 22 percent of the targets, earned 32 percent of the air yards and had 9 percent of the red zone chances.

George Pickens, Week 3 against BAL: 63 of 74 snaps, 11 targets and 7 catches for 82 yards.

George Pickens, Week 4 against HOU: 67 of 78 snaps, 3 targets and 2 catches for 75 yards.

George Pickens, Week 5 against TB: 53 of 60 snaps, 13 targets and 9 catches for 130 yards, 1 touchdown.

George Pickens, Week 6 against GB: 69 of 78 snaps, 11 targets and 6 catches for 73 yards.

Their 2025 seasons

In 2025, Justin Jefferson played 17 games for MIN and scored 201.5 PPR points, 11.9 a game, finishing WR21.

He caught 84 of 141 targets for 1048 yards and 2 touchdowns, with 17 red zone targets and 597 air yards.

He was on the field for 95 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

In 2025, George Pickens played 17 games for DAL and scored 291.9 PPR points, 17.2 a game, finishing WR5.

He caught 93 of 137 targets for 1429 yards and 9 touchdowns, with 21 red zone targets and 950 air yards.

He was on the field for 83 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

Their other Week 7 calls

Locks at kickoff, graded after. When the start/sit engine grades week 7, the call and the result appear on the public record, wrong ones included.

Drop or keep

Should I drop Justin Jefferson for George Pickens?
Yes, on the rest of the season. George Pickens projects 142 market-implied PPR points from Week 7 through Week 17 (14.2 a game over 10 games), Justin Jefferson 35 (3.2 a game over 11 games). For Week 7 the call starts Justin Jefferson over George Pickens, 15.6 to 13.7 projected PPR points. So make the move after his Week 7 game.
Should I drop George Pickens for Justin Jefferson?
No. Keep George Pickens: he projects 142 market-implied PPR points from Week 7 through Week 17 (14.2 a game over 10 games), Justin Jefferson 35 (3.2 a game over 11 games). For Week 7 the call starts Justin Jefferson over George Pickens, 15.6 to 13.7 projected PPR points.