Los Angeles Rams receiver Cooper Kupp was shining like Leroy Green in the 2021 season, and Green Bay Packers wideout Davante Adams continued to make history with future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Meanwhile, Minnesota Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson worked in silence, away from the big-game noise that shines the spotlight on his contemporaries.
But a couple of stats from Pro Football Focus put everything into focus. Jefferson may not be competing on the postseason stage, but he has done more than enough to add validity to the argument that he’s the best receiver in football.
In the last two seasons, he has the most receptions for 15-plus yards in the NFL. So there hasn’t been a better big-play receiver over that timespan. Vikings fans haven’t been treated to this sort of box office attraction since the prime days of Randy Moss.
Speaking of Moss, Jefferson came within 17 yards of breaking the legendary wideout’s single-season franchise receiving yards record (1,632) in 2021, which was only his second year in the league.
“Jets” is flying for the Vikings.
These players are a big play waiting to happen pic.twitter.com/xEF1BtmOM1
— PFF (@PFF) February 20, 2022
PFF also graded Jefferson at 94.4 against single coverage in the 2021 season, which was second only to Adams (95.3). It’s an impressive grade considering Adams was catching passes from Rodgers, who went on to win the league MVP.
Yes, Kirk Cousins is a good quarterback, but he’s clearly no Aaron Rodgers.
Jefferson broke Odell Beckham Jr.’s NFL record for most receiving yards by a receiver in his first two years in the league. There isn’t a receiver in the NFL that has hauled in more total receiving yards than Jefferson (3,016) since he burst onto the scene in 2020.
Adams and Kupp are also already playing in their primes. The ceiling for what a receiver like Jefferson is truly capable of hasn’t even been established yet.
As long as the Vikings don’t mess up their quarterback situation and health doesn’t factor into the equation, we could be witnessing the beginning of one of the all-time great receiving careers.
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