Top 10 Minnesota Vikings of 2022: Where does Justin Jefferson rank?

No. 9: Adam Thielen – WR

Adam Thielen has had a front-row seat in the emergence of Justin Jefferson as an elite talent over the past two years, but that doesn’t mean he has fallen off at all.

After his 14 TDs in 2020 ranked fourth among wideouts, his 10 TDs in 2021 still ranked among the top ten. He remains an incredible weapon in the red zone, feasting on any defense daring to give Jefferson more attention than him.

Thielen finds himself ranking low on this list due to the fact he will be 32 in August and is coming off of season-ending ankle surgery. He should be fully healthy entering 2022, but as the years pile on, the more likely it is he might have to miss a few games here and there.

The good thing for the homegrown talent is that his game should age fairly well. He does not depend excessively on speed or strength, meaning as he gets older he should still be able to find some success.

His 130.9 passer rating when targeted last season ranked sixth among wide receivers, so there are plenty of reasons to expect another solid season out of Minnesota’s No. 2 receiver.