Torry Holt's NFL record for receiving yards through a player's first five seasons might fall this week.
That's because Vikings superstar Justin Jefferson needs 55 yards in his 70th career game to pass Holt's mark of 6,784, which he accomplished in 80. At his pace, Jefferson could challenge records for eternity.
Suffice to say, he's the best player on Minnesota's roster and arguably the best across the league.
But someone else is having an equally enormous impact if not greater on the Vikings offense this year.
Kevin Seifert of ESPN on Tuesday selected Aaron Jones, Sr., as the “Non-QB MVP” of the team's 7-2 start.
Seifert gave Jefferson his flowers, deservingly, then highlighted Jones' 101.2 scrimmage yards per game in 2024, which ranks sixth in the NFL, and the balanced production he's given the No. 10 scoring offense.
Seifert emphasized: Most importantly, Jones has proved exceptionally durable, having started all nine games while averaging 18.9 touches — the highest rate through Week 10 in any season of his career.
Jones has been nicked in several games, including Sunday's triumph at Jacksonville. He left for a period in the third quarter after suffering a blow to his ribs but returned to log his fifth game with 15-plus rushes for the Vikings. He's recovered well enough each week to match his career-high 62% snap share (tied with 2019).
On a list formed by NFL Nation writers, Jones was one of 12 RBs picked as Non-QB MVPs, accompanying (in order of team ranking) Derrick Henry, Saquon Barkley, J.K. Dobbins, Joe Mixon, Bijan Robinson, Bucky Irving, Kyren Williams, Kenneth Walker III, De'Von Achane, Alvin Kamara and Chuba Hubbard.
Elsewhere, The Star Tribune's Jim Souhan tabbed Jones as his favorite Vikings running back of all-time.
Jones is not as great as Adrian Peterson or transcendent as Chuck Foreman; he's not lightning fast like Robert Smith nor is his ceiling as dynamic as the pinnacle of Dalvin Cook; but he's offering quite a combination of endearing traits.
Souhan, who has covered the Vikings for decades, sides with Jones based on his "style, savvy and personality."
He wrote the following:
Jones is endearing because he gets the most out of every run, every snap. He succeeds by instantly reading the defense and finding its weakness. Defenders tend to develop a sense of where a play is heading. If Jones sees that the play is not going to plan, he'll immediately swerve toward open space.
Jones can also do everything well, from finding yards in short-yardage situations to running deep pass patterns. Unlike even the great Peterson, you always feel Jones has gotten the most out of every play.
Souhan holds Jones in his highest regard "because he's such a good-hearted overachiever."
Why did he insist on returning (Sunday)?
"Just my competitive nature, wanting to be out there with my guys," Jones said. "A lot of blood, sweat and tears goes into it, and you only get 17 games. So when it's taken away from you, even one game is taken away from you, you really feel it. So I'm like, 'I don't want to miss any time. I want to go back out there.' Shout-out to my trainers for always taking care of me."
Trusting in two tight ends
In Minnesota's 12-7 win Sunday at Jacksonville, Sam Darnold tossed three more interceptions, giving him five – and six turnovers overall – in the last two weeks. He posted his worst passer rating in a game, 48.2, since he led Carolina to a win over New Orleans in spite of a 2.8 rating in Week 18 of the 2022 season.
Against the Jaguars, the Vikings quarterback struggled where it counted the most, going 2-for-6 with a pair of picks in the red zone. His lone completions were to tight end T.J. Hockenson for 5 and 6 yards.
It was a rare case of inefficiency in an area Darnold is tied-fourth in the NFL for touchdown throws (13).
Even in a mistake-prone game a week earlier on Sunday Night Football, Darnold capitalized on most of his red-zone opportunities, clipping six of eight passes for 31 yards, with three touchdowns and one interception.
Therefore, let's pump the brakes on any narrative that Darnold's body of work is greatly damaged.
Dan Pizzuta of the 33rd Team explained that Darnold's turnover binge in "Duuuval" wasn't a "total collapse."
These are not the types of games Minnesota should be having.
But, there is a bright spot. Even with the higher interception rates, these games aren't far off from the ones Darnold was having earlier in the year. Despite the picks and averaging -0.12 EPA per play against the Jaguars, Darnold still had a 45.7 percent success rate, which was the 11th-highest of the week.
So, what worked best? Darnold's rapport with Vikings tight ends was fantastic.
Hockenson was targeted nine times and caught his last eight, converting third downs on half of them. He finished with 72 yards, including a long gain of 26 on a slant route that featured 20 yards after the catch.
Josh Oliver was frequently involved, as well, garnering four receptions for 52 yards on six targets. The run-blocking aficionado turned in a 28-yarder over the middle; he has two of his top three career games, in terms of touches and yards receiving, over the past two contests – coinciding with Hockenson's return.
Darnold's aggressiveness might be backfiring a smidge, but he's successfully hitting his safety nets.
That chemistry, likely coupled with Jacksonville's commitment to crossing off explosives courtesy Jefferson by playing a split-safety coverage, caused Minnesota to deploy less 11 personnel (formations with one running back, one tight end and three receivers), which they rolled out on a season-low 48.8% of snaps, and more 12 (29.3%) and 21 (15.9%) groupings as an avenue for higher-percentage completions.
As a result, a season-high 39.5 percent of Darnold's targets went to tight ends. On 15 throws to tight ends, Darnold averaged 0.65 EPA per play with a 60 percent success rate. With the heavier personnel, the Jaguars matched with base (defense) on 51.2 percent of snaps, easily their highest rate on the season.
In theory, that strategy – forcing defenses to match bigger bodies – will create space for players such as Jefferson and Jordan Addison to thrive on the outside. Keep in mind that Darnold and the Vikings are adjusting to moving parts: new left tackle Cam Robinson and, finally, a full-fledged cast of pass-catchers.
Pizzuta is encouraged, writing "the answers remain there, even when Darnold is turning the ball over."
