Minnesota's barnstorming duo of Sam Darnold and Justin Jefferson is receiving national respect.
ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky on Monday released his ranking of the NFL's top 20 quarterback-receiver tandems of 2024 and the Vikings were third behind a couple twosomes that have played 40-plus games together: Cincinnati's Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase, and Philadelphia's Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown.
Chase, for what it's worth, is on Triple Crown pace, leading the league in catches (93), yards (1,319) and receiving touchdowns (15). Brown is 47th in receptions (48), 17th in yards (836) and tied for 43rd in TDs (5).
The Darnold-Jefferson link has resulted in 75 completions, 1,170 yards and seven trips to pay dirt. They've climbed since mid-October when Orlovsky and former NFL wide receiver Harry Douglas pegged them the fifth-best duo, with Houston's C.J. Stroud and Nico Collins a bold No. 1 selection (now sixth).
Orlovsky wrote: Darnold-to-Jefferson is one of two duos over 1,000 yards on the season (Burrow/Chase), but these two do it with more coming through the air. Darnold averages 11.6 air yards per pass attempt when targeting Jefferson, who runs the explosive crossing routes as good as anyone in the game.