AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King
Justin Jefferson is only in his third season, but he may already be the best wide receiver in football.
The Minnesota Vikings superstar had another huge game on Thursday night, catching nine passes for 139 yards and a score in his team’s 33-26 Thanksgiving win over the New England Patriots.
NFL @NFL
Opening drive TD and a squad Griddy 🙌 @jjettas2
📺: #NEvsMIN on NBC
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/TePpxXTdES pic.twitter.com/itAVGinmO8
Ja Morant @JaMorant
Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
JUSTIN. JEFFERSON. 😳
Jefferson now has the most receiving yards in NFL history after three seasons, and he still has six more games to go this year.
NFL Research @NFLResearch
Justin Jefferson has passed Randy Moss & Odell Beckham Jr. for the most receiving yards through 3 seasons in NFL History
MIN Justin Jefferson 4,203 & counting
HOF Randy Moss 4,163
NYG Odell Beckham Jr. 4,122#SKOL @Vikings pic.twitter.com/UCuOEWISJx
It’s fair to say NFL Twitter—and some very prominent NBA players, too—were in awe of his performance:
LeBron James @KingJames
@JJettas2 is RIDICULOUS out there man!!!
The win moved the Vikings to 9-2 and kept them within striking distance of the top overall seed in the NFC, the 9-1 Philadelphia Eagles. The Vikings have also all but clinched the NFC North, holding a five-game lead on the 4-7 Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions.
It’s been the play of Jefferson this season that has been a huge reason for that success.
Yes, Kirk Cousins had a strong performance on Thursday night—that’s right, a quality performance from Cousins in primetime—finishing 30-of-37 for 297 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, taking just one sack.
But when the Vikings need a huge play, it’s Jefferson they turn to, and the star wideout almost always delivers.
Minnesota will want a bit more offensive balance going forward—a tough New England defense held Dalvin Cook to just 42 rushing yards on 22 carries—but a win’s a win.
And hey, if Jefferson keeps playing like this, why not feed him? At this point, there arguably isn’t anybody better at the craft.
