Vikings Win Showed All WRs Can Eat
There have been multiple games this year in which either Justin Jefferson or Jordan Addison have popped off for the Minnesota Vikings. The superstar number one has suggested that he’s fine deferring targets to teammates when the opposition looks to take him away. The Atlanta Falcons didn’t have defensive success anywhere, and Sam Darnold made them pay.
Vikings Win Showed All WRs Can Eat
Traditionally, it seems difficult for quarterbacks to highlight a pair of wide receivers. There are multiple teams with strong one-two punches on the edges, but often, there is a lopsided amount of production for one of them. On Sunday, though, Addison and Jefferson went crazy together.
It had been quite a while since Darnold found his top target in the end zone. That changed against Atlanta when Jefferson found paydirt three different times. He was targeted just seven times in the contest, but the LSU product brought in all of them for 132 yards. He wasn’t alone, with Arridon hauling in eight of his twelve targets for 133 yards and three scores.
Both players had receptions of at least 49 yards, and each could torch an opposing defender at least once. It never felt as though Darnold was forcing the football, and it certainly didn’t look like the Vikings offense lacked a sensible flow. On the same day, two special talents both got theirs.
For the Vikings, games like these should positively impact Addison. Jefferson has already been paid and gotten the bag. Addison is looking for his share, and he probably will need to find it elsewhere. That said, games where he can pop off in the same system alongside a greater talent can prove there is enough opportunity to go around.
Minnesota has an elite trio in its top wide receivers and tight end, T.J. Hockenson. Darnold got the former Detroit Lions star the ball four times on five targets. He has been used heavily since returning from injured reserve, and this continued even with Josh Oliver’s return on Sunday.
The Vikings were highly regarded as a destination this offseason due to the sheer amount of talent they had to beat you. We keep seeing it pop up differently, but the Falcons got torched by the best receiving tandem in football.
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Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes daily for Minnesota Sports Fan. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.
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