Unique Stat Suggests Justin Jefferson Should Be Even More Involved
K. Joudry
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What more can be said about the sophomore phenom? He’s playing at an All-Pro level, so it’s not shocking that football writers far and wide (not just the purple ones) are recognizing him. He’s clearly the best receiver from the 2020 draft class (remember: the Eagles chose Jalen Reagor one spot ahead of the Vikings) and one could argue he’s already better than Stefon Diggs.
One stat that hasn’t received enough attention is yards per touch. Currently, Justin Jefferson leads the NFL in the category with a 14.4 yard average per touch (at least according to how Pro Football Reference puts together the list).
Unsurprisingly, the top 10 names in this category are all WRs. If you had asked me, though, who was leading, I likely wouldn’t have chosen Jets. He gets used a lot (especially early in the game) to attack the edges. Klint Kubiak wants to work the flats early to help open things later on in the intermediate and deep areas of the field. It’s his version of throwing some body shots so he can eventually land the uppercut for the KO.
Even with these plays, Jefferson is still ahead of literally everyone who is included in the Pro Football Reference list. Deebo Samuel, Davante Adams, Cooper Kupp, and Tyreek Hill are all below him. The crazy thing is that Jefferson easily could have had several more explosive plays on Thursday against the Steelers:
Moreover, Justin Jefferson isn’t a deep threat in the traditional sense. It’s not like the Vikings just send him on go-routes all game. Rather, Jefferson creates his explosive plays with intermediate crossing routes. He is excellent when it comes to picking up yards after the catch, and he can turn relatively modest gains into long ones.
One of the surest signs that Jefferson has fully solidified himself among the league’s preeminent playmakers is that the surprise factor is completely gone. Every team that plays Minnesota has a plan to double Jefferson. Every team wants to nullify him. So far, none have been able to. The only times Jefferson hasn’t gotten the stats is when Klint Kubiak has overthought things.
The Vikings need to continue finding ways to get the ball to #18.
Purple PTSD Also Read: Justin Jefferson Has a Simple Goal in Year Three
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