Only three Minnesota Vikings have ever won the NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award. Fran Tarkenton in 1975, Adrian Peterson in 2012 (along with the MVP), and Justin Jefferson last year are the only ones to win that prestigious award. It’s a little surprising that there aren’t more, to be completely honest. Jefferson has an opportunity to do something that’s only been done twice before: win consecutive OPOY’s. How good are his chances, and who could possibly swoop in and win it?
Vegas Odds and Semi-Rickety Logic
I… can’t read betting charts. I’m not a betting guy, and it’s illegal in Minnesota, even if I was one. Even with my lack of sports betting wherewithal, it’s clear that JJ is a top three if not top two, option in terms of Vegas odds. Second, only to Jamarr Chase on bettingpros.com, the placement makes tons of sense. Despite being the previous winner, Jefferson is a proven nuclear-level offensive threat. Especially with new Draft addition Jordan Addison looking promising, Jalen Nailor impressing over the offseason, and K.J. Osborn continuing to develop, there’s no way defenses can double JJ as much as they want (or hope) to. I’m confident that Jefferson can get at least near his numbers last year and could very well surpass them. The only external factor that can stop this machine of a pass catcher is if someone can outperform him. What gridiron superhumans could have a chance at taking the title from JJ?
Young Blood, New Money, Same Chase
Sports is a world of hot takes spilling out of motormouths. That isn’t a negative judgment, I’m one of those motormouths. The issue is that some of these people make claims repeatedly enough that they become common, whether or not it’s any good. The best example I have now is fans league-wide labeling the Vikings as idiots for releasing Dalvin Cook. How does this relate to my first sentences? Cook isn’t on an NFL team, is 28, and has a poor injury history. He’s still in the top 60 for OPOY betting odds. The players I think have the best shot at beating JJ out are the ones we haven’t seen in the limelight, or at least what they deserve, in a little while.
A guy like Lamar Jackson, coming off of a down year but with that new contract in his pocket, could very easily bounce back if the Ravens try to actually build around him. Obviously the typical high rollers are predicted to make a good run at it, like Jalen Hurts, Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, etc. If I had to take one deep sleeper pick, I would slide Calvin Ridley across your table. Coming back from an unreasonable suspension puts more than a chip on your shoulder, plus the Jacksonville Jaguars team he’s reentering made the playoffs last season behind the continued rise of Trevor Lawrence, a defense that surprised many, and the redemption arc of tight end-turned-mock-slot-receiver Evan Engram. Ridley was a strong threat back in Atlanta, and now has a chance to take that potential back.
It’s going to be a long road for Justin Jefferson if he wants to make history. Well, more history than he’s made already. The competition is fierce (as always), and he now has to split up targets with another possible young star in the aforementioned Addison. I have no doubt in my mind, though, that Jefferson has just as good of a shot as anyone to bring home even more shiny hardware.
