Jordan Addison’s 2025 season was a mess by almost any measure, but it still didn’t knock him out of the conversation with the NFL’s best No. 2 receivers.
The Minnesota Vikings had a nine-win season that didn’t help their long-term outlook, and Addison’s year opened with a three-game suspension before the production dipped from there. Even with a career-best 14.5 yards per catch, he finished with fewer than 40 yards in eight of his 14 games and posted career lows in other areas.
That kind of stat line would usually send a player tumbling down the pecking order. Instead, Addison still showed up near the top of a recent ranking of the league’s WR2s.
Former Vikings receiver Stefon Diggs made headlines by claiming he’s the best WR2 in the NFL, even though he isn’t currently on a team. The argument can be made either way, but the bigger point is that Diggs’ style would not be a fit for every locker room, especially at this stage of his career.
He was briefly linked to a Vikings reunion this offseason, but that never really added up, and the move for Jauan Jennings ended that possibility. Jennings could still affect Addison’s role as the No. 2 target, but Diggs would have crowded out every Vikings receiver not named Justin Jefferson.
That backdrop helped frame SI.com’s top-10 WR2 rankings as training camps approach in 2026. George Pickens, Tee Higgins, Jameson Williams, and Davante Adams took the top four spots, with Jaylen Waddle next after being listed as the Denver Broncos’ WR2 behind Courtland Sutton.
Addison came in at No. 6 despite the roughest season of his career. SI.com’s Mike Kadlick pointed to the bigger picture around the Vikings wideout:
"Addison's off the field issues have largely masked his on-field success since being drafted by the Vikings in 2023. Over his first three seasons, the 24-year-old has tallied 175 receptions for 2,396 yards and 22 touchdowns, and in 2025 notched a career-high 14.5 yards per reception. Minnesota has since picked up Addison’s fifth-year option heading into the upcoming campaign."
With better quarterback play expected this season, no matter who ends up delivering it, Addison has a real chance to bounce back in the same way Jefferson is hoping to. If that happens, he could be pushing for a top-five spot in these rankings a year from now.
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The most precarious cases are the ones where the team has already moved to shore up the same spots. Rouse is facing a tougher road after Minnesota added Ryan Van Demark and spent a third-round pick on Caleb Tiernan, while Bartholomew still has to carve out a role behind T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver. Felton has at least been on the field, but his rookie contribution was mostly on special teams, and with the Vikings having leaned on outside help at receiver when Jordan Addison was out, the margin for a young pass catcher to break through is looking awfully thin. [Read more 🡒]
Kirk Cousins Is Stuck In A Familiar Situation Again
Kirk Cousins is heading into another offseason with a new team, but an old kind of backdrop. After signing with the Raiders for the 2026 season, he joins a quarterback room that already includes Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick, and the early read around the league is that Las Vegas may be looking at the veteran as the bridge while the rookie gets a chance to settle in rather than be pushed right away.
That setup sounds familiar for Cousins, whose recent path has included a torn Achilles and a mixed stint with the Falcons after leaving Minnesota. NFL insider Ian Rapoport suggested the Raiders likely want Cousins to open the season and keep the job while Mendoza develops, which leaves the bigger question hanging over Las Vegas: how much of a real competition will this actually be once camp gets going? [Read more 🡒]