Sep 27, 2020; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) celebrates his touchdown with wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) in the second quarter against the Tennessee Titans at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
When it comes to Wide Receiver tandems, the Minnesota Vikings pair of Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen are up there with the best of them. Neither relies on one skill set, like elite speed or strength. They can both do it all, which makes them a difficult proposition for any NFL defense.
The addition of KJ Osborn, who is looking like the first genuinely dangerous third receiver the Vikings have had for some time, makes for an even more dangerous Vikings passing attack.
Yards are important. Jefferson broke the rookie record in his first year, and I would be stunned if he’s not well over 1000 yards again this season – barring injury. Adam Thielen’s production is also on course for a 1000 yard season if maintained through 17 games.
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Yards don’t win football games. Touchdowns do. When it comes to touchdowns, no pair in the NFL is more prolific than Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen since Jefferson came into the league in 2020. When the Vikings went into the bye week, Jefferson and Thielen’s combined total of 29 touchdowns since the start of the 2020 season was the most by any wide receiver pair in the league.
Mike Evans and Chris Godwin combined for four touchdowns this past Sunday to go top of the pile. DK Metcalf’s touchdown on Monday night took his tally along with Tyler Lockett to 29. Both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks have their bye week still to come in Week 9.
Those top three pairs are some way ahead of the rest. Other notable tandems like Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods (21), Keenan Allen and Mike Williams (20), Chase Claypool and Diontae Johnson (20), and Amari Cooper and Ceedee Lamb (18) are some way off the pace of the lead three. There are other elite wide receivers in the game, but when it comes to pairs, Jefferson and Thielen should spring to mind for everyone (along with the Buccaneers and Seahawks pairs).
There’s no reason for the touchdown production to slow down. In fact, this 2021 incarnation of the Minnesota Vikings is doing it through the air more than the last few seasons — with the strange anomaly of only two rushing touchdowns in the first six games. It’s not what we’ve come to expect from an offense that has revolved around the running back.
There is competition from the new kid on the block. KJ Osborn has already equaled the two touchdowns managed by Chad Beebe last season, while Bisi Johnson failed to hit pay dirt all season.
With Kirk Cousins playing excellent football and confidence in him at an all-time high, perhaps the Vikings will continue to put the game in their quarterback’s hands. Maybe even more so starting this week against the Dallas Cowboys, which promises to be a battle of high-powered offenses.
Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen are as dangerous as anyone in the NFL. They will be giving the Dallas Cowboys nightmares this Sunday night.