Justin Jefferson Ranked No. 2 on NFL’s Top 100
Over the past few weeks, the NFL has gradually been releasing their list of the top 100 players in the league. This list is voted on by the players themselves.
On Monday evening, Nos. 10-1 were released, bringing the reveal to an end. Before it ended, though, we got to see Vikings star receiver Justin Jefferson ranked as the No. 2 player in the NFL by his peers.
The only player viewed as better than Jefferson? Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes. Here’s a look at how the top-10 stacked up:
- QB Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs)
- WR Justin Jefferson (Minnesota Vikings)
- QB Jalen Hurts (Philadelphia Eagles)
- DE Nick Bosa (San Francisco 49ers)
- TE Travis Kelce (Kansas City Chiefs)
- QB Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals)
- WR Tyreek Hill (Miami Dolphins)
- QB Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills)
- LB Micah Parsons (Dallas Cowboys)
- DE Chris Jones (Kansas City Chiefs)
This honor is well-earned after a truly fabulous 2022 season. Jefferson has exceeded all expectations ever since he joined the Vikings, and last year, that was no different. He became the youngest player in NFL history to lead the league in both receptions and receiving yards.
The Vikings star recorded 128 receptions and 1809 yards, putting up nearly 100 more yards than Tyreek Hill (1710 yards), who came in second. Jefferson also added 8 touchdown receptions last season. This is the one area where he hasn’t been as dominant as other receivers, but with Adam Thielen now in Carolina, perhaps Jefferson will get a larger share of the red zone targets.
Jefferson also has a chance to continue making history this upcoming season, with a number of NFL records within his reach.
Essentially, if Jefferson keeps up his usual productivity in the fourth year of his career, he will have recorded more yards than any other NFL player through their first four seasons by about Week 7. Currently, Michael Thomas holds the record for most yards for a four-year player at 5512.
Jefferson is in sixth-place before his fourth season even begins at a career 4825 yards, sitting just 687 yards behind the Saints receiver for the record. The other players above Jefferson right now include the following: Randy Moss (5396 yards), Torry Holt (5088 yards), Jerry Rice (4881 yards), and A.J. Green (4874 yards).
If the Vikings star manages to break 2000 yards this season, he would break the five-year receiving record as well. Currently, the most receiving yards through a player’s first five NFL seasons belongs to Torry Holt, who recorded 6784 yards during his first five years with the St. Louis Rams. Jefferson sits in 41st on that list, 1959 yards behind Holt.
There isn’t much of an argument for not including Jefferson among the most talented receivers in the entire league right now. The players themselves have spoken and decided that he is the very best of the bunch heading into the 2023 season.
The Vikings get their 2023 regular season started on September 10th when they play host to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.