4 most disappointing Vikings in the win over the Commanders in Week 9

K.J. Osborn – WR

Coming into the season, it was thought that K.J. Osborn would build off his breakout 2021 campaign and potentially even push Adam Thielen for the number two spot on the wide receiver depth chart. Through eight games though, Osborn’s role has been quite different.

He is a guy who only gets a couple of looks a game. Those looks tend to be in key moments, like securing the game-winning catch against Detroit a few months back.

Osborn is averaging about four targets a game. He has hauled in 20 of those for 185 yards and two touchdowns. Now with tight end T.J. Hockenson in the mix, that number could potentially decrease moving forward. So long story short, Osborn has to make the most of every ball that comes his way.

He didn’t do that against the Commanders. Osborn had two targets on Sunday, and they both ended up on the turf. Neither of these drops was as egregious as the Irv Smith Jr. one against the Eagles, but they were balls that Osborn usually comes down with.

The Vikings are in close games because of little things like usually sure-handed receivers not catching the ball and killing drives. Osborn has to start catching everything that comes his way because the opportunities aren’t going to be there the way they were a season ago.