Justin Jefferson led the league in this eye-popping stat

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson took the league by storm as a rookie.

Drafted in the first round, expected to fill the hole left behind by Stefon Diggs in Minnesota, Jefferson came into his own helping the Vikings finish fourth in the league in offensive yards per game.

The LSU product had 1400 receiving yards and seven touchdowns on 88 receptions. He finished fourth in the league in receiving yards. Next Gen Stats pointed out yet another statistic that makes Jefferson’s rookie season all the more remarkable.

Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson led not only all rookie WRs in receiving yards over expected last season — he led the entire league (+491).

📸: A look at the top five 2020 rookie WRs by receiving YOE

Which sophomore receiver is poised for a breakout 2021 season? pic.twitter.com/mOSuXZr2x8

— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) August 3, 2021

Next Gen Stats defines yards over expected as “yards gained relative to expectations when accounting for the expected outcomes of completion probability and expected YAC (yards after contact). Jefferson not only led all rookies in the stat by a wide margin, he led the entire league.

Jefferson’s historic rookie season was impressive enough just from looking from the counting numbers. His 1400 receiving yards rank second all time for rookies, only behind Bill Groman who had 1473 receiving yards in 1960. When taking into account advanced numbers like Next Gen Stats’, Jefferson’s 2020 campaign becomes all the more historic.

Justin Jefferson played at LSU from 2017-2019. As a junior, Jefferson was a crucial member of LSU’s national championship run. In an offense quarterbacked by Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow, Jefferson caught 111 balls for 1,540 yards and 18 touchdowns. Jefferson’s most notable performance came against Oklahoma in the College Football Playoff Semifinal against Oklahoma. Jefferson had 227 receiving yards and four touchdowns, on the way to a dominant 63-28 victory.

Jefferson also helped make the “Griddy” dance famous in his time at LSU and furthermore in his rookie season, breaking out the dance as his touchdown celebration. Jefferson and the “Griddy” were even featured in Fortnite Battle Royale after his rookie season.

Justin Jefferson Griddy'd all the way to the end zone 😂 pic.twitter.com/6auSwHHw3M

— Athlete Swag (@AthleteSwag) September 28, 2020

Coming out of high school, Jefferson was rated a two-star prospect by recruiting services. Jefferson’s brothers, Jordan and Rickey, also played at LSU before him. Jordan was the Tigers starting quarterback from 2008-2011.