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Minnesota Vikings: Midseason Award Winners

By Jake Andersen

CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 09: Everson Griffen
CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 09: Everson Griffen /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 29: Adam Thielen (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 29: Adam Thielen (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images) /

Offensive MVP

ADAM THIELEN 

When it comes to the offense, there’s a couple different ways you could go concerning the Offensive MVP Award. Case Keenum has been phenomenal for the team, while Jerick McKinnon has been just as great in place of Dalvin Cook. Yet, what Adam Thielen‘s done thus far is spectacular. When taking a deeper look, he’s clearly the most valuable player on the offensive side of the ball.

Before we get into the reasoning, let’s dive into just how great Thielen has played through eight games. In the NFC, he leads all receivers in receptions and yardage. Most impressively, Thielen’s 48 are third in the entire NFL, while his 627 yards is only second to all-consensus top receiver Antonio Brown. Basically, he’s cemented himself among the game’s best receivers.

Related Story: Thielen is the key to the Vikings' offensive success!

Yet, value isn’t strictly based on how great a player is. In fact, it’s mainly determined by how important they are to one’s team. From this perspective, Keenum and McKinnon have legitimate arguments in their favor, but I still give Thielen the award for one reason… The Vikings are in the most trouble without him.

Given Stefon Diggs’ injury problems, the Vikings could potentially have a top-three receiver set of Laquon Treadwell, Michael Floyd and Jarius Wright if Thielen were to go down. Not exactly an ideal grouping of receivers given their underwhelming production so far.

Add in the fact Thielen is a no. 1 caliber receiver who’s able to produce with or without Diggs, he’s simply too valuable for the Vikings to lose. In other words, no receiver could come close to replacing his production outside of Diggs.

While losing Keenum or McKinnon doesn’t help the Vikings either, they at least have backups capable of replacing their production. That may be putting too much faith in rookie quarterback Kyle Sloter, but the way the offense and defense has played around the quarterback this year, there’s reason to believe he could even succeed. Not to mention, Teddy Bridgewater is scheduled to return to the active roster in time for their next game.

Therefore, Thielen is your most valuable offensive player at this moment. In all likelihood, he has the best chance to come away with this award at season’s end too.

Strongly considered: Case Keenum, Jerick McKinnon, Riley Reiff

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