Minnesota Vikings WR Jauan Jennings
Minnesota Vikings WR Jauan Jennings | David Berding/GettyImages
Jauan Jennings played less football against Indianapolis, and the Minnesota Vikings finally got more from him.
Jennings caught two of three targets for 34 yards in Minnesota’s 16-10 win Sunday, and both receptions led to first downs. The numbers were modest by Justin Jefferson standards, but for Jennings, it was easily his best outing in purple.
Jordan Addison returning to Minnesota's lineup certainly helped Jennings. Instead of squeezing his teammate off the field entirely, Addison's return seems to have pushed him into a smaller role that made considerably more sense.
Vikings may have found the right formula for Jauan Jennings
Jennings played 49 offensive snaps against New Orleans in Week 5 and produced zero catches on one target. He played only 33 against Indianapolis and gained more receiving yards than in his first four Vikings appearances combined.
One game and three targets aren't enough evidence to declare that Kevin O'Connell has deliberately rebuilt Jennings' role, but the shift is worth watching after Minnesota got so little return from his expanded workload against the Saints.
His empty afternoon in New Orleans landed him among our Week 5 disappointments, and he did it while Addison was sidelined.
Jefferson and Addison should command the primary receiver routes, while T.J. Hockenson owns another substantial chunk of the passing game. Jennings doesn't need 50 snaps. He's better with targeted opportunities that let his size, physicality, and ability shine.
Jennings' biggest play Sunday showed exactly what that can look like. His 20-yard reception in the fourth quarter supplied nearly all the positive yardage on Minnesota's 23-net-yard possession before Will Reichard's 52-yard field goal stretched the lead to six.
Detroit provides a much better test in Week 8. If Jennings stays in the 30-snap range while getting a few opportunities behind Jefferson, Addison, and Hockenson, Minnesota may have stumbled onto the proper formula.
Fewer Jennings snaps wouldn't necessarily mean less trust. In this offense, they might finally mean better use.