Throughout the regular season, the Minnesota Vikings’ offense has been funneled through wide receiver Justin Jefferson and rightfully so. Jefferson is one of the best receivers in the NFL and led the league this season with 1,809 yards. There are other weapons on the Vikings’ offense including third-year receiver K.J. Osborn.
Last season, Osborn emerged behind Jefferson and Adam Thielen and cemented himself as the third wide receiver on the Vikings’ depth chart. Although Osborn had a slow start this season accumulating only 262 yards and two touchdowns in the first 13 weeks he’s been taking advantage of his recent opportunities. Since Week 14 versus the Detroit Lions, Osborn has amassed 388 yards and three touchdowns in just five games, which more than doubled his earlier season output.
K.J. Osborn on Dec. 9:
"I know in due time the ball will find me, I’ll be able to make my plays and be the player I’m supposed to be.”
K.J. Osborn since Dec. 9:
— 30 catches (8th in NFL)
— 388 yards (7th in NFL)
— 0.82 EPA/target (3rd in NFL)https://t.co/mIjjnCS9vs— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) January 11, 2023
Osborn will be an important player for the Vikings this weekend as they head into their Wild Card matchup this Sunday against the New York Giants. As the Giants prepare to try and stop Jefferson, they will continue to lend the opportunity to other players such as Osborn, Thielen and T.J. Hockenson.
In recent weeks, the Vikings have made opposing teams pay for giving all their attention to Jefferson. If the Giants do that Sunday, Osborn and others will make them pay.
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