The Vikings will likely need to rely on rookie wide receiver Justin Jefferson in 2020 after drafting him in the first round out of LSU.
When it comes to opportunities, Jefferson should get plenty as the favorite as the team’s WR2 behind Adam Thielen.
So, where does he rank in the 2020 Rookie of the Year chase?
Lance Zierlein over at NFL.com ranked all the rookies and Jefferson ranked seventh.
Here’s what Zierlein wrote about Jefferson:
Jefferson was good in 2018, but he was great in 2019, showing off improved route running and impeccable ball skills. He steps into a pretty good situation, taking over for the departed Stefon Diggs in a role that should feature accurate, catchable throws coming his way from Kirk Cousins. Adam Thielen should return healthy after a hamstring injury slowed him last season, and Dalvin Cook — assuming he does not end up holding out — appears to be the focal point of the offense, but there should still be plenty of action coming Jefferson’s way as the WR2 in Gary Kubiak’s scheme.
The Vikings have had five OROY winners in franchise history:
- 1973, Chuck Foreman
- 1976, Sammy White
- 1998, Randy Moss
- 2007, Adrian Peterson
- 2009, Percy Harvin
We’ll see if Jefferson can join that list.
You can check out Zierlein’s full list here.