No one was impacted by the Minnesota Vikings' inconsistency at quarterback in 2025 more than Justin Jefferson. Despite starting all 17 games, he caught only 84 passes for 1,048 yards and two touchdowns.
Jefferson only eclipsed the 100-yard mark three times in 2025. He failed to get over 30 yards in four of five games from Weeks 12 through 16.
Although Jefferson still ranked 12th in receiving yards, many were ready to start crowning other receivers, such as Puka Nacua and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, above him. But Jefferson isn't ready to concede that he's not still the best receiver in the league.
"How [am I] not?" Jefferson said when asked if he believes he's the best receiver in the league on FS1's First Things First. "A lot of people base it off the quarterback play."
Jefferson alluded to J.J. McCarthy's struggles as a first-year starter.
"If I don’t have an elite quarterback throwing me the ball the entire year, then it’s a little bit difficult to be in those conversations. Having a young quarterback that's still learning the game and his potential, you have those difficult seasons, which I had this past year. I still think I'm No. 1."
The Vikings will likely bring in competition for McCarthy this offseason. Even if that quarterback can't beat McCarthy out, he can provide better backup play than Max Brosmer provided in 2025.
If Minnesota can figure that position out, we should become accustomed to seeing Jefferson catching touchdowns and having 100-yard games again. That should put him right near the top of everyone's receiver rankings.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Justin Jefferson is not lacking confidence in himself after the season