Inside The Vikings

PFF Identifies Justin Jefferson's Most Dominant Route

Jefferson is the king of the out route.
Will Ragatz|
PFF Identifies Justin Jefferson's Most Dominant Route
PFF Identifies Justin Jefferson's Most Dominant Route

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Minnesota Vikings

Justin Jefferson's dominance isn't a secret. The Vikings' superstar leads the NFL in receiving yards by a wide margin since entering the league in 2020, using elite route-running and contested catch abilities to put up increasingly massive numbers every year.

Jefferson can run every route in the playbook and make it look easy. He wins at all three levels of the field. But if there's one route he shines in the most, it's the out. Jefferson is the king of the out route, as data from PFF shows.

Jefferson was the out route king in 2022. He was the most-targeted receiver on out routes (44) and led all receivers in catches (33), yards (400) and first downs (19) on such plays. Jefferson averaged 5.06 yards per route run (second) and led all receivers with 12 explosive plays.

Over five yards per route run on outs is a ridiculous number. 

Jefferson's 44 targets on out routes are more than double any other route, per PFF. The next closest are the hitch (20 targets), wide screen (17), and in (17).

What makes Jefferson so dominant on out routes? He has a remarkable ability to sell it like he's going to break in or continue vertically before snapping off his route to the outside. He can line up and win on out routes from both the outside and the slot. And clearly, Jefferson and Kirk Cousins have developed a strong rapport and timing on those routes.

Thanks for reading. Make sure to bookmark this site and check back daily for the latest Vikings news and analysis all offseason long. Also, follow me on Twitter and feel free to ask me any questions on there.

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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

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