Why the Vikings current start mimics their 2017 season
By Chris Schad
No depth behind Diggs and Thielen
This might also seem comical considering that the Vikings spent the entire offseason trying to make Kirk Cousins’ life easier. While the offensive line has drawn mixed reviews through the first month of the season, the wide receiver unit has fallen off dramatically after cleaning house two years ago.
Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen still remain on the top of the depth chart, but neither has been able to get off to the same great start they did in 2017 with the duo accounting for just 388 yards and three touchdowns in their first four games this season.
In addition, the Vikings don’t have anyone to step up behind Diggs and Thielen. Both Bisi Johnson and Dillon Mitchell were added in this year’s NFL Draft and neither have made a real contribution to the team yet. Laquon Treadwell is also back and still dropping passes, but Minnesota’s mess at receiver was so deep this year, they had to re-sign him.
Two seasons ago, this wasn’t a problem as the team had other pass-catchers such as Jarius Wright and Kyle Rudolph help shoulder the load. While Rudolph still remains, he too has fallen into the curse of the backup pass catchers as he has just five catches for 32 yards on the season.
With nobody outside of Diggs and Thielen stepping up, that’s made it hard for the Vikings offense to sustain success, which in turn has put more pressure on everyone else.