Because Justin Jefferson exited so early, not much went right for the Minnesota Vikings' passing game in Week 3 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The clear highlights were a couple of long completions from Kyler Murray to Jordan Addison, including a 41-yard touchdown.
With Jefferson set to miss this afternoon's game against the Miami Dolphins, Addison will get a full game as the Vikings' WR1. As expected, the Dolphins' defense has been fairly generous to opposing passing attacks per play so far this season, allowing the fifth-most points per game.
None of the Dolphins' top three cornerbacks (Jason Marshall Jr., JuJu Brents, rookie Chris Johnson) have a top-50 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus through Week 3 (out of 99 qualifying corners). So no matter who Addison lines up against, he has an advantage.
Miami's cornerback depth is also not exactly robust, as Storm Duck returned to practice this week but remains on the PUP list.
Jordan Addison will have a comfortable WR1 audition for the Minnesota Vikings against the Miami Dolphins
Pro Football Focus has Addison lined up as an outside wide receiver for the majority of his snaps this season (124 of 158). A case can be made that there's no need to change that against the Dolphins.
But there is also no such thing as an unfavorable matchup against any Miami cornerback. So head coach Kevin O'Connell and offensive coordinator Wes Phillips can and should treat Addison as they would Jefferson if he were available. That is, they can move him freely around the formation to dictate matchups for himself and others, as a WR1 would.
As other wide receivers across the league continue to get paid, Addison is also trying to prove himself worthy of a lucrative second contract after the Vikings picked up his fifth-year option for 2027. A big part of that is not adding to a list of off-the-field things that have landed him in the headlines for the wrong reasons. How he performs on the field this season is an obvious critical component.
Jefferson is the unquestioned No. 1 wide receiver for the Vikings until further notice. So it will take an injury absence to create an opportunity for Addison to step into the role, as it did for a seven-game stretch of his rookie season in 2023.
That WR1 opportunity is knocking again this week, in a pillow-soft matchup, and Addison needs to take advantage of it.
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