Justin Jefferson will break the Vikings’ rookie receiving yards record
Coming into the season, it was hard to know what to expect from Jefferson. Replacing the big shoes of Stefon Diggs, a slew of training camp and Instagram highlight videos showed plenty of potential but it was hard to know if he could step on the field and make an immediate impact.
Jefferson answered any questions with a resounding “YES” and is in a position to set multiple records in Week 17. With 1,267 receiving yards, Jefferson comes into Sunday’s game needing 46 yards to surpass Randy Moss‘ franchise record of receiving yards by a rookie (1,313) set in 1998.
To put this in comparison, Jefferson has put up less than 46 yards just three times since becoming a starter in Week 3. If the Vikings don’t decide to put Sean Mannion in at quarterback, this is a milestone he should be able to reach.
The more challenging number for Jefferson to reach is Anquan Boldin’s NFL record of receiving yards by a rookie. To pass Boldin’s 2003 mark of 1,377 yards, Jefferson will need to post 111 yards to break the record. For more perspective, Jefferson has gone over 110 yards four times this season.
There’s a good chance that the Vikings won’t be playing for records other than 7-9 on Sunday, but Jefferson will be one to keep an eye on. If he can burn the Detroit secondary and catch Moss and Boldin, it will be another bullet point on his resume for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.