6 bold Minnesota Vikings predictions for the rest of the 2023 season

2. Jordan Addison will complete one of the best rookie seasons for a Vikings receiver

The impact of Jordan Addison isn’t as obvious as Randy Moss had in 1998 or Justin Jefferson had in 2020. But the Vikings’ first-round pick has been just as impressive and could wind up with one of the best seasons for a rookie in franchise history by the end of the season.

Addison is currently on pace to finish with 77 receptions, 1,008 yards, and 13 touchdowns entering Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints. If he kept up that pace, he would rank second in franchise history for catches and touchdowns by a rookie and third in receiving yards by a rookie.

There’s also historical context behind those benchmarks. If Addison finishes with 1,000 receiving yards, he’ll be the third rookie in franchise history to do so, along with Moss and Jefferson. If he scores 10 or more touchdowns, he’ll be the third receiver to do that, along with Moss (17 TDs in 1998) and Sammy White (10 TDs in 1976).

Jefferson’s pending return from a hamstring injury could slow Addison’s pace, but you could also argue that his absence made the Vikings offense better in the long run. Addison has been as advertised as Minnesota looked for a younger, faster upgrade over Adam Thielen last offseason and could put his name in the Vikings’ record books by the end of the year.