Minnesota Vikings Week 8 player rankings: Adam Thielen impresses

1. Adam Thielen (No change)

This is starting to become a pretty big trend. However, there may be a time when some other player comes along and does something as impressive as Thielen has done to this point to earn the number one spot…but that isn’t looking like it will happen any time soon.

Another game, another 100 yards. Seven in a row now and no end in sight, but eventually a team will have to contain the Cousins-to-Thielen connection and break the streak. Still, holding Thielen in check is going to be a challenge for any defense through an entire game.

Nine catches for 110 yards and one touchdown is a pretty nice stat line. Not only that, but the next highest yardage from a pass catcher was from Week 7 was Aldrick Robinson, who had 34 yards on one catch, proving just how much Thielen means to the Vikings offense.

Thielen leads the NFL in receiving yards through seven weeks, totaling 822 yards. He is also tied for seventh in receiving touchdowns, hauling in five scores. At this rate, he’s on pace for over 1,878 yards and 11 touchdowns. And that’s pretty amazing.

Just outside the top 10

• Brian O’Neill – Once again, O’Neill played like a capable right tackle who should continue to be considered for the starting job on a regular basis. It will be interesting to see what happens when Riley Reiff comes back.
• Eric Kendricks – If not for some unsure tackling, Kendricks would have elevated into the top ten this week, if that show just how close he is to getting back on the list. One of these weeks it will happen!
• Sheldon Richardson – After a red-hot start to the season, things have cooled off for Richardson, and his number of pressures on the quarterback has decreased significantly. He should return to form though.

Next week, the Minnesota Vikings face off against the New Orleans Saints in what will be an amazingly hard-fought battle at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday night. Of course, keep an eye on the players to see who should move up and down in next week’s player rankings!