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NFC North wide receiver power rankings: Detroit Lions top the division

By Ash Thompson

CHICAGO, IL - NOVEMBER 19: Marvin Jones #11 of the Detroit Lions completes a 28 yd. pass resulting in a touchdown in the second quarter against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on November 19, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - NOVEMBER 19: Marvin Jones #11 of the Detroit Lions completes a 28 yd. pass resulting in a touchdown in the second quarter against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on November 19, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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DETROIT.MI – NOVEMBER 24: Darius Slay (23) of the Detroit Lions intercepts a pass in front of Adam Thielen (19) of the Minnesota Vikings with 30 seconds left in the fourth quarter at Ford Field on November 24, 2016 in Detroit, Michigan. The Lions kicked a field goal as time ran out to defeat the Minnesota Vikings 16-13. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT.MI – NOVEMBER 24: Darius Slay (23) of the Detroit Lions intercepts a pass in front of Adam Thielen (19) of the Minnesota Vikings with 30 seconds left in the fourth quarter at Ford Field on November 24, 2016 in Detroit, Michigan. The Lions kicked a field goal as time ran out to defeat the Minnesota Vikings 16-13. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

The Minnesota Vikings wide receivers

The Vikings top two wideouts, Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen, are among the best pairs in the league. Beyond that though, their position group is less than stellar.

Thielen has proven himself to be a tough competitor, having played through fractures in his back during the Vikings playoff run in January. Thielen is one of those guys that doesn’t jump out athletically but is above average at everything. The hallmark of his game is the ability to stop and start in an instant. He runs great routes and makes the quarterback’s job easier on every down. Thielen was so far below the draft radar that he wasn’t invited to the 2013 national combine. The Vikings got to work him out without using a slot and the rest is history, Thielen was a local visit to the team. Thielen will likely end his career on many “All-Time undrafted players” lists.

Diggs is also tough as nails. He played through a lacerated kidney during his college career. He is one of the NFL’s best receivers with the ball in his hands. Diggs takes short plays for long gains. He is not the consistent producer that Thielen is, but Diggs is an excellent counterpoint. An all-world talent, he has not yet translated that to elite production. He has missed games with injury in all three of his NFL seasons to this point. Diggs does show up at dramatic moments, however. His 61-yard touchdown on the final play in regulation is one of the greatest added to a four-game touchdown streak that went into the NFC Championship game last year.

After the big two, the Vikings wide receiver corp falls apart. Kendall Wright showed in Chicago last season that whatever magic he had early in his career is gone. Wright has turned into a slot only receiver who is just quick enough to get open underneath, but not quick enough to do anything with the ball. Laquon Treadwell rounds out the Vikings WR group that is likely to see the field. In two seasons since going 23rd in the 2016 draft, Treadwell has 21 receptions for 215 yards and no touchdowns. He has been the very definition of a draft bust.

Because they have only two legitimate targets, the Vikings fall just short of the top spot at number two in the NFC North Power Rankings.

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