{"id":95924,"date":"2020-10-08T21:26:08","date_gmt":"2020-10-09T01:26:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=95924"},"modified":"2020-10-08T21:26:08","modified_gmt":"2020-10-09T01:26:08","slug":"minnesota-vikings-justin-jefferson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2020\/10\/08\/minnesota-vikings-justin-jefferson\/","title":{"rendered":"Justin Jefferson Exceeding Expectations for the Minnesota Vikings"},"content":{"rendered":"

Before the regular season, we published an article<\/a> covering our expectations for Minnesota Vikings<\/a>\u2019 first-round wide receiver Justin Jefferson<\/strong><\/a>. We said that \u201cwriters have spilled a lot of digital ink setting unrealistic expectations for his rookie season\u201d before ultimately concluding that \u201cMinnesota should be thrilled if Jefferson produces more than 50 catches and 700 yards.\u201d<\/p>\n

From our vantage point, a successful rookie season merely involved solid production that allows the Vikings to be balanced in their passing attack. The Vikings, after all, don\u2019t exactly inspire confidence in fans after Laquon Treadwell<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s one-catch, 15-yard rookie season. Nevertheless, the first four weeks suggest that we were wrong about Jefferson. It\u2019s wise not to overreact to one month of games, but the early results suggest that Jefferson is already one of the best receivers in the NFL.<\/p>\n

Minnesota Vikings Rookie Phenom Justin Jefferson<\/h2>\n

By this point, NFL fans will be familiar with Jefferson\u2019s production. Jefferson, according to Pro Football Reference, has 16 catches, 348 receiving yards, and a touchdown. Jefferson\u2019s current pace translates to 64 catches, 1,392 yards, and four touchdowns over a full season. Randy Moss<\/strong><\/a>\u2019 sensational rookie year resulted in 69 catches, 1,313 yards, and 17 touchdowns. Touchdowns aside, Jefferson is basically mirroring Moss\u2019 production through four games. Somewhat ironically, the only player in the last 10 years to have more receiving yards in their first four games<\/a> is Stefon Diggs<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Back-to-back 100-yard receiving games for Justin Jefferson.<\/p>\n

The rookie can ball. @JJettas2<\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcfa: #MINvsHOU<\/a> on FOX
\ud83d\udcf1: NFL app \/\/ Yahoo Sports app: https:\/\/t.co\/wvEEn0SFTV<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/xypFDhisfc<\/a><\/p>\n

— NFL (@NFL) October 4, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n