The Viking Age
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Comparing Vikings WR Adam Thielen to NFL’s elite wide receivers

By Dustin Baker

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 29: Adam Thielen #19 of the Minnesota Vikings warms up on the field before the game against the Chicago Bears at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 29: Adam Thielen #19 of the Minnesota Vikings warms up on the field before the game against the Chicago Bears at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) Julio Jones /

Adam Thielen v. Julio Jones

  • Yards Per Target: Thielen = 8.94 | Jones = 9.51 
  • TD Percentage to Target: Thielen = 5.5 | Jones = 3.6
  • Catch Percentage: Thielen = 68.2 | Jones = 63.2
  • First Down Percentage to Target: Thielen = 44.0 | Jones = 47.2
  • 25+ Yard Gain Percentage to Target: Thielen = 7.9 | Jones = 8.8

Since 2017, Adam Thielen has been a more prolific scorer of the football than Julio Jones. Thielen also drops fewer passes. Conversely, Jones is a yardage-accruing exemplar but does not get the endzone as frequently as his elite peers.

Jones has shared targets with wideouts Mohamed Sanu and Calvin Ridley while Thielen has split virtually all receiving accolades evenly with Stefon Diggs. All of these pass-catchers have had competent quarterbacks distributing the football in Matt Ryan, Kirk Cousins, and Case Keenum since 2017.

Of course, Jones is widely known as a better football player than Thielen. This probably has to do with Jones’ longevity, consistency, physique, and reputation. The numbers verify that Jones is, indeed, a more resourceful wide receiver but the gulf between the two men is not gaping.

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