The Viking Age
FanSided

Minnesota Vikings 2016 regular season superlatives

By Adam Patrick

Nov 24, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Matt Asiata (44) celebrates after a touchdown during the first quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 24, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Matt Asiata (44) celebrates after a touchdown during the first quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 8
Next

Most likely to set up a couch on the sideline

Aug 28, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Laquon Treadwell (11) runs during the fourth quarter in a preseason game against the San Diego Chargers at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings won 23-10. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 28, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Laquon Treadwell (11) runs during the fourth quarter in a preseason game against the San Diego Chargers at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings won 23-10. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /

Laquon Treadwell, wide receiver

The cold steel of the bench can be an unforgiving place to sit for three hours every Sunday, but that’s exactly what rookie Laquon Treadwell was forced to do this season. Despite all the hype that surrounded the receiver when the Vikings drafted him in the first round of the draft last April, Treadwell was little more than an afterthought for the team.

He failed to earn a spot in the Vikings main rotation, making it onto the field for just 80 offensive snaps the whole year.

To put his disappointing season into perspective, 35 rookie receivers finished with more catches than him, and 12 rookie receivers recorded more touchdowns than he had receptions (1). The Saints’ Michael Thomas, who the Vikings passed on to grab Treadwell, ended the year with more receptions (92) than Treadwell had offensive snaps.

Despite being the fourth receiver chosen, Treadwell finished the season as one of the worst in the class. Given how much time he spent watching the games from the sideline, we figured he should have at least set up a nice couch and gotten comfortable.

All isn’t lost for the former All-American, however, as he’ll have every chance to succeed next year. If the unique blend of size, strength, and technique that initially caught the Vikings’ eye can start translating to the field, Treadwell should spend a lot less time on the sideline.

– Josh Zinger

Home/Minnesota Vikings News