Vikings Territory: Vikings ‘Best Player' Choice Gets Different Treatment From ESPN

Press release from Vikings Territory:

2021-08-31

Throughout the offseason, Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook is usually considered by ranking outfits as the team’s best player heading into 2021.

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But ESPN has a different take. Cook tumbled some 30 spots from previous likeminded lists, checking in at #52 in a territory with DeForest Buckner (DT) of the Indianapolis Colts and Marshon Lattimore (CB) from the New Orleans Saints. Then, Danielle Hunter, who is returning from a season-long absence in 2020, snagged the #76 spot. That lumped Hunter in a zone with Chris Godwin (WR) and Devin White (LB) from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Vikings have taken it easy with Jefferson this summer after a freaky-but-minor injury to his shoulder. In a practice session, Jefferson was tackled into the ground, spraining his AC joint. Yet, he is on track to start Week 1 for the Vikings.

“Despite a late start in 2020 (his first game was in Week 3), Jefferson compiled the best season of any rookie receiver (1,400 yards) in the Super Bowl era. He’s a top-10 receiver whose prowess as a deep threat — he also ran 100-plus yards on seven routes as a rookie — is exactly what the Vikings need to be even more explosive this season. Jefferson’s 88 receptions were the most ever by a Vikings rookie. His catch rate was 70.4%, while his expected catch rate was 61.3%. That plus-9.1% catch rate above expectation ranked eighth in the NFL among receivers with at least 50 catches.”

If Jefferson can avoid a patented sophomore slump – beware of those because they do happen – he’ll be showcased inside the Vikings offense even more in 2021 than he was in 2020. Minnesota received adverse news last weekend that its TE1 Irv Smith Jr. will miss time due to a meniscus matter, casting into doubt his playing-time prognosis for this penultimate Vikings season.

In less than two weeks, Jefferson will see his college quarterback, Joe Burrow, during a Vikings Week 1 tryst with the Bengals in Cincinnati.

This press release was produced by Vikings Territory .The views expressed here are the author’s own.