Jordan Addison Is in the OROY Chat
The Minnesota Vikings used the 1st Round of the 2023 NFL Draft to enhance the offense at a time when the roster might’ve suggested a defensive player was a wiser choice.
Jordan Addison Is in the OROY Chat
Fast forward to Halloween, and it seems the Vikings front office knew precisely what it was doing, drafting wideout Jordan Addison, a playmaker who has helped keep the season afloat.
Addison has grabbed seven passes from the heavens for paydirt, trailing only Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill with eight.
Accordingly, Addison carries some NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year shine through eight weeks, ranking third per oddsmakers to take home the hardware. Even Justin Jefferson didn’t snag the OROY trophy, curiously losing out in 2020 to Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, an outcome that still irritates Vikings fans.
As of October 31st, these are the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year odds:
- C.J. Stroud (HOU) — -175
- Puka Nacua (LAR) — +320
- Jordan Addison (MIN) — +1600
- Jahmyr Gibbs (DET) — +1600
- Bijan Robinson (ATL) — +1700
- Zay Flowers (BAL) — +2500
- Devon Achane (MIA) — +2500
- Rashee Rice (KC) — +4500
Addison, sadly, can be considered a relative longshot to win the award in a few months, mainly because voters absolutely adore handing individual awards to quarterbacks. Stroud has performed marvelously for a rookie, ranking 16th among all NFL passers per EPA+CPOE. Nucua, too, is tremendous, an out-of-nowhere late-round success story for the Los Angeles Rams.
To win the honor, Addison must continue his breakneck pace, particularly scoring touchdowns. If Addison scores two receiving touchdowns Sunday at Atlanta, he’ll own the record for most receiving touchdowns in a player’s first 9 games. Addison currently has 7. The record is 8 and is held by Washington Commanders WR Charlie Brown in 1982.
A familiar name holds the all-time single-season mark, Randy Moss, in 1998. Moss scored 17 times during the Vikings almost-storybook season, and for now, Addison is on pace for 15. If Addison shattered Moss’ 25-year-old record, that would assuredly sweeten his case for OROY.
Addison has one more game to roam as Minnesota’s defacto WR1. The aforementioned Jefferson is tentatively scheduled to return from injured reserve in Week 10, and when he’s back, most of the Vikings passing target load will revert, and rightfully so.
Too, Addison will pursue OROY in a brave new world for the Vikings. Quarterback Kirk Cousins was lost for the season last weekend during the 4th Quarter of Minnesota’s 24-10 beatdown of the Green Bay Packers. Cousins won’t return in 2023 after a torn Achilles.
Vikings fans will hope some combination of Jaren Hall and Nick Mullens — or Josh Dobbs — can continue the winning ways, as Minnesota has evened its record at 4-4 after a frightful 1-4 start.
Addison has tallied 36 receptions for 482 yards and 7 touchdowns. That’s a 76 reception, 1,024 yards, and 15 touchdown pace for maiden voyage.
Not bad.
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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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