It’s a bit weird seeing active players on this list, but very few of them have taken the route Adam Thielen has to become a star in the NFL. By now, every Vikings fan knows the story of Thielen’s rise from a small university in Minnesota with a tiny scholarship to being an undrafted free agent with Minnesota hoping to work his way up the depth chart.
Thielen did just that. He went from a practice squad body as a rookie in 2013 to earning a roster spot in 2014. Through excellent special teams play, he saw his opportunity come as a pass catcher, starting two games that season.
Since then, Thielen hasn’t looked back. He has earned a role as a full-time starter for Minnesota. Thielen registered back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons with Minnesota in 2017 and 2018, catching a career-high nine touchdowns in 2018.
Things are only getting brighter for Thielen, as he routinely runs crisp routes and makes tough catches. Paired with Stefon Diggs, the Vikings have some serious pass-catching threats that any defense should fear on game day.