Minnesota Vikings look to end an eight-year drought in 2017
In 2017, the Minnesota Vikings will be looking to break the longest drought of not having a 1,000-yard receiver in the franchise’s history.
The Minnesota Vikings have been known as a running team for the past eight seasons. Adrian Peterson was the focal point for the Vikings’ offense. The effect of being a running team is that the Vikings have not had a wide receiver reach at least 1,000 receiving yards since 2009.
Sidney Rice was the last Vikings’ receiver to reach the 1,000-yard mark. Rice had a guy named Brett Favre throwing him the ball which played a part for Rice’s breakout year. It’s not like the Vikings didn’t have playmakers on the outside. The past receivers the Vikings have had since 2009 includes Percy Harvin, Greg Jennings and now Stefon Diggs.
The Vikings have relied on their running game because they had the best running back in the NFL. Peterson was a beast for the Vikings and they wanted to get him a lot of touches. The Vikings invested a lot into their offense line to block for him.
Also, the Vikings have struggled to find a franchise quarterback. The last steady, starting quarterback was Daunte Culpepper. The team has attempted to bring veterans for a year or two like Favre. They also have tried to draft their future quarterback but have yet to find one.
Since 2010 the Vikings have started 10 different quarterbacks. Favre, Tarvaris Jackson, Joe Webb, Christian Ponder, Donovan McNabb, Matt Cassel, Josh Freeman, Teddy Bridgewater, Shaun Hill and Sam Bradford. Inconsistent play at the quarterback position has hindered the passing game.
However, the team hopes that with Bradford entering his second season with the Vikings, this trend will end. This year, he has had a full offseason with the Vikings compared to last year as he was traded to the Vikings eight days before Week 1.
Plus, Bradford gets yet another season with offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur. These two are very familiar with each other, which makes the communication easier and should help make the offense click better.
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The Vikings’ wide receivers are quite eager to end the team’s receiving yard drought in 2017. Adam Thielen came close last year as he had 967 receiving yards, which was the most since 2011 when Harvin had 967 receiving yards.
This season, the Vikings have a solid group of wide receivers headlined by Stefon Diggs, Thielen, Jarius Wright, and Laquon Treadwell. The Vikings have emphasized on throwing the ball more, which will increase the chances of a wide receiver finally reaching the 1,000-yard mark this year.
Diggs is the favorite to eclipse 1,000 receiving yards for the Vikings in 2017, as he was on pace for 100 receptions and over 1,000 yards last season. But injuries limited him to just 13 games. He finished last season with 84 receptions and 903 receiving yards.
Bradford targeted Diggs 112 times last year in 13 games. So if he plays 16 games, that target total should see an increase.
Minnesota Vikings
Thielen is a sleeper to break 1,000 receiving yards this season. Thielen may lose targets this year with a healthy Diggs and the possible emergence of Treadwell. He may also move to the slot more this season, especially starting in Week 5 when Michael Floyd comes back from his suspension.
However, he has shown that he can produce in this league and a be a trusted connection for Bradford. Thielen is a fan favorite and would be a great story if he could finish with over 1,000 receiving yards this season to break the drought.
The dark horse to gain at least 1,000 receiving yards in 2017 is Treadwell. The former first-round pick was non-existent in his rookie season but looks to bounce back in his second season. The Vikings drafted him with expectations to be a number one wide receiver in the NFL.
He needs to improve his route running ability but he has the talent to be a 1,000-yard receiver. In his final season at Ole Miss, he had 1,153 receiving yards in 13 games.
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In the end, the Vikings have a good chance this season to break this streak. The Vikings are going to need to solid quarterback play from Bradford and an offensive line that can give him time to throw. Minnesota has been due for a strong wide receiver season and they have the guys to do it this year.