Despite missing seven games because of a hamstring injury, Justin Jefferson still managed to finish last season with 1,074 receiving yards, which led all Minnesota Vikings players during the 2023 campaign. Only Tyreek Hill of the Miami Dolphins averaged more receiving yards per game last season than the 107.4 Jefferson averaged in each contest.
Apparently, Minnesota's top receiver still managing to play at a superstar level in 2023 despite his injury wasn't impressive enough for the voters of the annual NFL Top 100 Players list from NFL Network. On Wednesday, it was revealed that Jefferson ranks 18th on this year's NFL Top 100 list.
#18 comes in at #️⃣1️⃣8️⃣#NFLTop100 @JJettas2
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) July 31, 2024
📺: NFL+ pic.twitter.com/nfIgxHKptg
Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson ranks behind Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb on this year's NFL Top 100 list
Jefferson's ranking is already super low for someone who is regarded by many as the best receiver in the league, but his ranking is also five spots behind Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.
Now, Lamb performed extremely well in the 2023 season, as he finished with 135 catches for 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns. But did he do enough to now deserve a ranking that is five spots better than Jefferson? The answer to that question shouldn't be too difficult to figure out.
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was also given a higher ranking than Jefferson on this list, as he landed in the No. 16 spot. How many people out there would legitimately rather have Prescott on their team instead of Jefferson? C'mon, what are we even doing here?
This is fine, though. It will just serve as motivation for Jefferson to go out and remind people during the upcoming NFL season why he deserves to be regarded as the absolute best wide receiver in the league.
Lamb and Hill will probably put up good numbers again in 2024, but bet on Jefferson to return with a massive chip on his shoulder during the upcoming season.