Minnesota Vikings WR Jefferson on Pace to Break Major Record

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is already one of the league's brightest young stars, but he could rise to unprecedented heights if he can keep up his current pace over the last three weeks of the season. The third-year wide receiver has totalled an amazing 1623 yards in 14 starts this season, giving him a chance of shattering Calvin Johnson's all-time record of 1964 receiving yards in a season.

Justin Jefferson and Tyreek Hill are within striking distance of Calvin Johnson's record for receiving yards in a season. Looked at the factors involved, including if the Vikings will (try to) give Jefferson more snaps off, w/ @Marcel_LJ and @MikeClayNFL.https://t.co/RMCGWWIJLx
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) December 23, 2022

At his current pace of 115.9 receiving yards per game, Jefferson will break Johnson's record by a little over six yards. Johnson set the record in 2012 with the Detroit Lions. Before Johnson, the record was held by Jerry Rice, who compiled 1848 yards in 1995.

The NFL's recent expansion to a 17-game schedule has made the eventual fall of most single-season volume records all but inevitable. Jefferson's incredible season would still be a spectacular achievement in an already incredible career. In less than three years, he has already achieved 1600+ receiving yards in multiple seasons, joining Johnson, Marvin Harrison, Torry Holt, Antonio Brown, and Julio Jones as one of only six wide receivers to ever achieve the feat.

Jefferson joined the Vikings as their 22nd overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. His 4639 receiving yards through his first three seasons are already the most of any wide receiver in NFL history. Amazingly, he still has an opportunity to add to his stardom: he should have his first chance at appearing in the postseason this year, and the Vikings have a shot to finish as a top 10 scoring offense for the first time since his debut.