The Vikings have one of the top wide receiver duos in the NFL with Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen leading the way.
After that, though, it gets murky. Minnesota has a drop off at the wide receiver position at wide receiver three: with Bisi Johnson, Chad Beebe and Ihmir Smith-Marsette as viable candidates for that role.
With that in mind, CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin tabbed Jefferson as the non-QB the Vikings can’t afford to lose. Benjamin wrote:
“This one’s tough, because as much as RBs are replaceable, Dalvin Cook basically makes Mike Zimmer’s preferred offense. New left tackle Christian Darrisaw is almost equally as important, unless Minnesota is prepared for another bout of Kirk Cousins mishaps. And Danielle Hunter is still underrated at pass rusher. But man, if Jefferson’s play-making pop is gone, the Vikings would be left with Adam Thielen and not much else in a passing league.”
I think with Alexander Mattison as a serviceable backup, Cook isn’t as crucial as someone like Thielen and Jefferson. That said, if Minnesota wants the offense to be on a similar production level as last season, the Vikings need all those three to stay healthy for the vast majority of the year.
