Jordan Addison's production has crashed after breakout rookie season

Addison isn't producing very much for the Vikings. Is it a T.J. Hockenson thing?

Aug 10, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) warms up before the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images / Brad Rempel-Imagn Images

Finding Jordan Addison on a football field this season is like finding Waldo in a sea of fake Waldos.

Addison has 14 receptions for 231 yards and one touchdown in five games. He ranks 78th in the NFL in receiving yards, just two more yards than teammate Jalen Nailor and four more receiving yards than Vikings running back Aaron Jones.

There are 130 players in the league with more than 14 catches this season and he's not one of them. In fact, Justin Jefferson is the only Vikings receiver or tight end among those 130 players. What gives?

Sam Darnold has targeted Addison 4.6 times per game for an average of 2.8 receptions 46.2 yards. Those averages are down from his 4.1 catches and 53.5 yards per game as a rookie. If he plays in the rest of the games this season and maintains his current pace, he'll finish with 42 catches and 693 yards.

His 2024 slide could have nothing to do with him and everything to do with T.J. Hockenson not being on the field. Hockenson demanded defensive attention at a level well beyond that required to shut down tight ends Josh Oliver and Johnny Mundt, who have filled in while Hockenson rehabs the knee injury he suffered last December.

Hockenson is expected to make his season debut next week when the Vikings host the Colts on Sunday night, and that could be the solution to Addison finding more opportunities for a Minnesota offense that has scored just five touchdowns in the last 14 quarters dating back to the Green Bay game in Week 4.

But it can't be ignored that despite Jefferson's greatness the Vikings are one of only two teams in the NFL without at least three players with 15+ receptions. The other? The Steelers, who like the Vikings are 5-2, but aren't hyped the way Minnesota is as a juggernaut offense.

Just for some context, look below at the chart to see each team's two leading receivers (excluding running backs) in terms of receptions. Most teams have balance whereas the Vikings' receiving production has been dominated by Jefferson.

Team	WR1: Receptions	WR2: Receptions	Players with 15+ receptions
Atlanta	Drake London: 44	Darnell Mooney: 32	5
Arizona	Trey McBride: 33	Michael Wilson: 22	4
Baltimore	Zay Flowers: 34	Rashod Bateman: 21	5
Buffalo	Khalil Shakir: 27	Dalton Kincaid: 24	3
Carolina	Diontae Johnson: 30	Ja'Tavion Sanders: 22	4
Chicago	DJ Moore: 31	Cole Kmet: 26	5
Cincinnati	Ja'Marr Chase: 39	Tee Higgins: 29	5
Cleveland	Amari Cooper: 24	Elijah Moore: 22	6
Dallas	CeeDee Lamb: 32	Jake Ferguson: 25	4
Denver	Courtland Sutton: 21	Lil'Jordan Humphrey: 15	3
Detroit	Amon-Ra St. Brown: 39	Jameson Williams: 17	3
Green Bay	Jayden Reed: 29	Romeo Doubs: 23	3
Houston	Stefon Diggs: 42	Nico Collins: 32	5
Indianapolis	Michael Pittman Jr.: 28	Josh Downs: 28	3
Jacksonville	Brian Thomas Jr.: 30	Christian Kirk: 25	5
Kansas City	Travis Kelce: 28	Rashee Rice: 24	3
Las Vegas	Brock Bowers: 47	Jakobi Meyers: 25	5
L.A. Chargers	Ladd McConkey: 24	Will Dissly: 21	3
L.A. Rams	Tutu Atwell: 24	Cooper Kupp: 23	7
Miami	Tyreek Hill: 24	Jaylen Waddle: 22	4
Minnesota	Justin Jefferson: 41	Jordan Addison 14	2
New England	Hunter Henry: 27	DeMario Douglas: 26	3
New Orleans	Chris Olave: 23	Rashid Shaheed: 20	4
N.Y. Giants	Wan'Dale Robinson: 43	Malik Nabers: 39	3
N.Y. Jets	Garrett Wilson: 46	Allen Lazard: 30	4
Philadelphia	DeVonta Smith: 25	Dallas Goedert: 24	4
Pittsburgh	George Pickens: 31	Pat Freiermuth: 24	2
San Francisco	George Kittle: 34	Brandon Aiyuk: 25	4
Seattle	Jaxon Smith-Njigba: 37	DK Metcalf: 35	6
Tampa Bay	Chris Godwin: 50	Cade Otton: 27	4
Tennessee	Tyler Boyd: 18	DeAndre Hopkins: 15	4
Washington	Terry McLaurin: 35	Zach Ertz: 35	4