No. 1 – Randy Moss, Wide Receiver (1998)
Not only is Randy Moss the owner of the greatest rookie season in Vikings history, but he was also determined to be the NFL’s second-best rookie ever, according to CBS Sports.
Moss fell in the 1998 NFL Draft because he was involved in frequent tomfoolery during his college days. From a talent standpoint, he deserved to be taken in the top three on that day. And, that’s not even looking back after what we know now.
The wideout from Rand, West Virginia, led the NFL in touchdowns with 17, was third in receiving yards with 1,313, and gained an average of 19 yards per reception. The team instantly belonged to him from a popularity standpoint.
The 1998 Minnesota Vikings totaled their best season record in team history with a 15-1 win-loss record. The offense scored a blistering 556 points in 16 games–the most the NFL had ever seen it is 79-year history. Moss accounted for nearly one-fifth of all the Vikings points.
Much like Adrian Peterson a decade later, Moss’ rookie season cemented him as a tectonic piece of the Vikings franchise, then and now.