Kirk Cousins Traded To Vikings: Fantasy Football Fallout For Justin Jefferson, Fernando Mendoza & More

After years of traveling around two new planets (Atlanta and Las Vegas), his trip has come to an end.

Captain Kirk is home.

Kirk Cousins Traded To Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings made a much-needed move on Tuesday, trading for veteran signal caller Kirk Cousins. Minnesota’s offense has been holding them back all season long, and an 8-for-26, 81-yard, 2-INT showing from Carson Wentz on Monday was the final straw. With a Super Bowl-caliber defense, the Vikings offense has to uphold their end of the bargain. Bringing in Cousins, who currently ranks fifth in passing yards (2,340) and second in passing touchdowns (20), will help.

Fantasy Football Fallout Of Kirk Cousins To MIN Trade

Cousins is obviously familiar with Kevin O’Connell’s offense, running it as Minnesota’s starting quarterback from 2022-2023. During those seasons, Cousins posted strong numbers, ranking third in passing yards (275), fifth in passing touchdowns (1.9), and fourth in completions (25.6) per game during that span. It’s an ideal move for Cousins and the Vikings to try to make a deep playoff push, which will make Minnesota fans happy.

But it’ll make fantasy players even happier.

Justin Jefferson Fantasy Football Value

Justin Jefferson has now dealt with awful quarterback play for the last year and a half. Whether it’s been Wentz, J.J. McCarthy, Max Brosmer, or Kyler Murray, Jefferson just hasn’t been able to consistently shine like the elite receiver he is. But Cousins’ arrival is exactly what Jefferson needs to return to top-five fantasy WR status.

Jefferson and Cousins developed an awesome rapport a few years ago. And Cousins has always been great at simply getting the football to his best pass catchers. Just look at Brock Bowers this season, Kyle Pitts (Drake London was out) last season, and, of course, Jefferson, who averaged 10.7 targets, 7.4 receptions, 108.1 receiving yards, and 21.3 PPR PPG with Cousins under center from 2022-23. Familiarity aside, this is just a massive upgrade for Jefferson, who ranks fifth in inaccurate targets over the past two seasons. Of course, the entire Vikings offense is better off with Cousins at quarterback. More sustained drives equal more points, after all. Through nine weeks, Minnesota’s offensive ranks are, well, not good:

1.58 points per drive (29th)
12.5% touchdown rate (31st)
36.4% three-and-out rate (28th)
5.2 plays per drive (32nd)

With three consecutive games of less than 60 yards, Jefferson had been on a downward trajectory, likely looking like more of a WR2. But this move puts him back in the WR1 range, while Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson also project a lot better going forward.

Fernando Mendoza Is QB1 For Raiders After Kirk Cousins Trade

For the Raiders, this move makes obvious sense. After nine weeks of watching, it’s time to turn the offense over to Fernando Mendoza. There might be a bit of an adjustment period to start, but it’s unlikely that this move massively impacts Brock Bowers, who remains comfortably fantasy football’s TE1. Meanwhile, superflex rosters that have been anxiously waiting for Mendoza’s time to shine can now finally insert him into starting lineups.