Justin Jefferson is making history (again)

It seems like it happens every week, but here we are again discussing how Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson is making his name in the history books. We’ll probably all have to get used to this, as if we aren’t already. It seems like during the broadcast of every single Vikings contest, regardless of the network, there is always at least one mention of the history Jefferson has already made or will soon make.

Last week, Jefferson eclipsed Torry Holt to become the all-time receiving yardage leader (6,811 and counting) in NFL history by a player in their first 5 seasons. Jefferson impressively accomplished the feat in ten fewer games than Holt did, and he still has seven more games to chase the record for the next generation of young receivers.

Justin Jefferson is having another elite season

Jefferson enters Week 12 ranked No. 2 in the NFL in receiving yards this season with 912, trailing only his LSU teammate Ja’Marr Chase of the Cincinnati Bengals, who has 1,056. While Chase sets up the 2024 NFL receiving yards title with a comfortable lead over Jefferson as it stands, Jefferson is coming off another season of at least 1,600 receiving yards. This would be his 3rd season with at least that amount and his 4th season with at least 1,400. He would have at least that number in all of his seasons played so far if he wasn’t out for 2023 with a lingering hamstring problem.

Among broad receivers per According to PFF, Jefferson boasts an 86.0 reception grade (8th in the NFL) and 2.75 yards per carry. route running (5th in NFL). If Jefferson’s averages are extrapolated over the rest of this season’s games, he will finish with 100 receptions on 146 targets, 1,550 yards and 9 TDs. He also leads the NFL in passing percentage at 100%!

Jefferson eyes another historic milestone

Mike Evans, AJ Green, Randy Moss. A pretty good trio of pass catchers, right? Well, with Justin Jefferson sitting on 912 yards on the season before his division showdown against Jaylon Johnson and the Chicago Bears, JJettas needs just 88 yards to become the 4th player in NFL history to pass for 1,000 yards in each of their first five seasons , about NFL Pro‘s insight.

It’s made even more special when you consider that all-time greats like Jerry Rice, Larry Fitzgerald and Terrell Owens were unable to accomplish such a feat. Stefon Diggs didn’t, Tyreek Hill didn’t, AJ Brown didn’t, Cooper Kupp didn’t, and so on.

Most of the top young receivers today, like Ceedee Lamb, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Brandon Aiyuk and Devonta Smith (as well as players like Zay Flowers and Jordan Addison), are not even eligible to achieve this, as they have all already had at least one season of less than 1,000 yards.

We’re legitimately in the realm of near-future discussions that arise about Jefferson being among the all-time greats, and as he continues to chase Jerry Rice’s greatness, we’ll be talking about some kind of historic feat that Jefferson has accomplished or will make very often.