Welcome to the All-Time Favorite Viking Team series. We’re going through and voting by position for your favorite Viking players. There are no set criteria other than they played for the Minnesota Vikings. It’s your favorite player at that position.
Today we’re looking at the Wide Receiver position. The Vikings have had so many greats at the position.
Randy Moss (1998-2004, 2010)
15,292 yards receiving with 156 TDs
Like many fans my age, Moss is the reason I started watching the Vikings. He was an immediate game changer when he came in. He was 3rd in MVP voting his rookie year. He is a 6x Pro Bowler, 4x First Team All-Pro, 2000s All Decade Team, 50 Greatest Vikings, Vikings Ring of Honor, 5x NFL Receiving TD leader, Rookie of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year and Hall of Famer.
Cris Carter (1990-2001)
13,899 receiving yards with 130 TDs
Carter came to the Vikings after being cut by Buddy Ryan for substance abuse issues. It changed the path of his life and career. Carter made 8 consecutive Pro Bowls from 1993-2000. The duo of Carter and Moss was one of the best ever. Carter was a 8x Pro Bowler, 3x NFL Receiving TD leader, Walter Payton Man of the Year, 2x First Team All-Pro, 1990s All Decade Team, Vikings Ring of Honor, Hall of Famer and his #80 is retired by the Vikings.
Justin Jefferson (2020-present)
7,432 receiving yards with 40 TDs
Jefferson has has over 1,000 yards receiving in every year. He is a 4x Pro Bowler, 2x First Team All-Pro, 2x Second Team All-Pro and Offensive Player of the Year. Jefferson has made some of the most improbably catches you’ll ever see. The catch against the Buffalo Bills in 2022 might be one of the best ever. He’s less than 900 yards behind Thielen’s career total.
Adam Thielen (2013-2022)
8,311 receiving yards with 64 TDs
I am sure no one realizes Thielen is from Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. Thielen isn’t a Hall of Fame WR, but he was a fan favorite. Thielen’s hands are fantastic, and he often makes bad throws look good. He had two Pro Bowl years in 2017 and 2018 and was then never able to get back over the 1,000-yard mark until his first season in Carolina.
Ahmad Rashad (1976-1982)
6,831 receiving yards with 44 TDs
Rashad’s stint in Minneosta started strangely. He was a late trade from the Seahawks and failed the physical. QB Fran Tarkenton was able to convince the Vikings to keep him on the team. His most famous play is the Miracle at the Met, a Hail Mary from Tommy Kramer. He also holds the record for the longest non-scoring play, 98 yards. Rashad was a 4x Pro Bowler, Second Team All-Pro, 50 Greatest Vikings and is in the Vikings Ring of Honor.
Stefon Diggs (2015-2019)
10,491 receiving yards with 70 TDs
Diggs spent his first 5 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. He caught one of the most famous passes in team history with the Minneapolis Miracle. His composure to stay on his feet was incredible. He shockingly wasn’t named to a Pro Bowl until he was a member of the Buffalo Bills. He is a 4x Pro Bowler, 1x First Team All-Pro and 1x Second Team All-Pro. He was traded for four picks, including the 1st rounder used to select Justin Jefferson.
Percy Harvin (2009-2012)
4,026 receiving yards with 22 TDs
Harvin was electrifying as a WR, RB and returner. He was named to his only Pro Bowl his rookie year, when he also won the Offensive Rookie of the Year. Migraine issues caused him to miss significant time throughout his career, and he was traded to the Seahawks in 2013.
Jake Reed (1991-1999, 2001)
6,999 yards with 36 TDs
Reed was the WR3 in the famous Three Deep trio. I met Reed in London last year and he’s great with fans. I loved Randy Moss, but Reed always had a spot in my heart as a kid.
Anthony Carter (1985-1992)
7,733 receiving yards with 55 TDs
Carter spent his first two years in the USFL before coming over to the NFL. He was a 3x Pro Bowler and one of the 50 Greatest Vikings.
Sammy White (1976-1985)
6,400 receiving yards with 50 TDs
White started off with a bang winning Offensive Rooke of the Year and he was a Pro Bowler his first two seasons.
Jordan Addison (2023-present)
1,786 receiving yards with 19 TDs
Addison had two good yards to start. The Vikings are looking forward to his first 1,000-yard season in 2025.
Sidney Rice (2007-2010)
3,592 receiving yards with 30 TDs
Rice was a star that burned bright. His lone Pro Bowl season was in 2009 with Brett Favre. He was traded to the Seahawks in 2011 and only played 3 seasons for them before retiring.
