Justin Jefferson on pace to break Randy Moss’ rookie season record
Justin Jefferson on pace to break Randy Moss’ rookie season
If there’s one positive to come out of 2020, it’s been the emergence of rookie wide receiver Justin Jefferson. Jefferson, drafted in the first-round with the pick that the Vikings received from the Buffalo Bills, was mostly absent during the Vikings’ disastrous first two weeks, but has absolutely exploded onto the scene as one of the top rookies in the NFL and the best rookie receiver, period.
Today was no exception, as while the rest of the team was basically awful, Jefferson was good for nine grabs on 11 targets for 166 yards and two touchdowns (including a long of 49 yards). That puts him at a historic pace for his rookie year despite those ‘meh’ first two games, which was pointed out on Twitter by Ian Kenyon of our friends at Bleacher Report.
For those who forget, Randy Moss had 1,313 yards receiving during his amazing rookie campaign in 1998. Like Moss, Jefferson vowed to make the teams who didn’t draft him pay this off-season and so far it’s looking like he’s doing just that. He’s got 537 yards receiving mostly in the past four games, something that seems to get better and better when the Vikings decide he’s part of the game plan.
With Jefferson next to Thielen, and second-year tight end Irv Smith Jr. finally emerging in the pass game, the Vikings at least have something worth watching each week as they hopefully continue to #InadvertantlyTankforTrevor.
Now if they also can get rid of Zimmer and Spielman? That’s what we call a hat trick in Minnesota.