K.J. Osborn

Minnesota Vikings
Wide Receiver #17
Minnesota Vikings
Wide Receiver #17

K.J. Osborn News

Facing competition from rookie

Osborn faces more competition for snaps and targets after the Vikings drafted WR Jordan Addison at No. 23 overall Thursday night, Jim Souhan of The Star Tribune reports.

Analysis: Osborn took 60 percent of his snaps in the slot last year, while Addison mostly figures to play outside and take snaps/targets that previously went to Adam Thielen, who is now with the Panthers after going for 70/716/6 on 107 targets his final season in Minnesota. Addison won't automatically get more targets than Thielen did last season, but the rookie nonetheless could impact Osborn's playing time and thus receiving volume, especially given that the Vikings spent big on No. 2 TE Josh Oliver earlier this offseason. The Oliver signing figures to inspire more two-TE sets than the Vikings used last year, and there's a good chance Osborn rather than Addison is the odd man out for those formations.

Apr 28, 2023 12:56 PM EST


Tops century mark

Osborn caught five of six targets for 117 yards in Sunday's 29-13 win over the Bears.

Analysis: Osborn led the Vikings in receiving, with most of his production coming prior to the team's decision to rest its offensive starters during the second half. The 25-year-old enjoyed a strong finish to the regular season, scoring three times while topping 115 yards twice over his last five games. His complementary playmaking figures to bolster quarterback Kirk Cousins' options as Minnesota now turns its attention toward the playoffs.

Jan 8, 2023 1:55 PM EST



Scores garbage-time TD

Osborn caught all seven of his targets for 59 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 41-17 loss to the Packers.

Analysis: Both Minnesota touchdowns came in the fourth quarter with the game long out of reach, and Osborn caught his from Nick Mullens rather than Kirk Cousins as the team began to sit its stars. The Vikings won't have much to play for in Week 18 other than playoff seeding, so Mullens could get the start against the Bears, but Osborn at least will likely remain involved no matter who is under center.

Jan 1, 2023 8:58 PM EST


Catches three passes in win

Osborn caught three of four targets for 17 yards in Saturday's 27-24 win over the Giants.

Analysis: Osborn's underwhelming day was a disappointment for fantasy managers hoping for a something close to his Week 15 performance, when the wideout caught 10 of his 16 targets for 157 yards and a touchdown. The 25-year-old remains involved as Minnesota's No. 3 receiver, as the Vikings run a high-volume passing attack. With that said, Osborn fantasy potential is difficult to forecast with so many mouths to feed on one of the league's most talented offense. The veteran wideout will look to get back on track when the Vikings visit the Packers in Week 17.

Dec 26, 2022 6:10 PM EST


Career-best outing in OT win

Osborn caught 10 of 16 targets for a career-high 157 yards and one touchdown in Saturday's 39-36 overtime win over the Colts.

Analysis: Osborn had a would-be 40-yard catch ruled incomplete on a challenge late in the first half, then flashed his big play ability again on a 63-yard catch in the third quarter. Three plays later, he got into the end zone from two yards out for Minnesota's first points of the game. Osborn made another significant contribution to the largest comeback in league history (33 points) by drawing a pass interference flag in the end zone to set up the fourth of Minnesota's five second-half touchdowns. The 25-year-old wide receiver will look to build on this career best performance in Week 16 against the Giants.

Dec 17, 2022 2:26 PM EST



Grabs third TD in loss

Osborn had five receptions for 38 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown, on five targets in Sunday's loss at Detroit.

Analysis: Osborn had his most productive game since the acquisition of T.J. Hockenson as the Vikings were forced to pass after falling behind early. Osborn had just nine receptions on 21 targets for 77 yards over his previous five games, so he can't be counted for steady production despite Sunday's effort as Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen and Hockensen command almost all the targets in the passing game.

Dec 12, 2022 10:54 AM EST


Just two receptions Sunday

Osborn had two receptions for 17 yards on three targets in Sunday's win over the Jets.

Analysis: Osborn continues to come up with big plays in key spots but just isn't getting much volume after the acquisition of T..J Hockenson. Osborn has just nine receptions for 77 yards over his last five games.

Dec 6, 2022 10:12 AM EST


Target total dips to three

Osborn caught two of three targets for 17 yards in Sunday's 40-3 loss to the Cowboys.

Analysis: Osborn's volume has oscillated from two targets in Week 9 to 11 last week before dropping back down to three. As long as all three of Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen and T.J. Hockenson are healthy, Osborn will have difficulty carving out a consistent role as Kirk Cousins' fourth option in the passing game.

Nov 21, 2022 10:31 AM EST


Gets 11 targets in win

Osborn had four receptions for 35 yards on 11 targets and one carry for three yards in Sunday's OT win at Buffalo.

Analysis: Osborn didn't have a reception and just two targets last week as it looked like his role would significantly decrease after the acquisition of T.J. Hockenson. However, a week later he was frequently targeted by Kirk Cousins and made several big plays. Hockensen has replaced him as the third option in the passing offense (16 receptions the past two games), but at least Osborn looks to still have a role.

Nov 14, 2022 1:23 PM EST


No receptions in win

Osborn did not have a reception on two targets in Sunday's win at Washington.

Analysis: Osborn played on 53 of the offense's 66 snaps and he went out on 39 routes. He got about the usual playing time, but he had a season low in targets and it was his first game this season without a catch. The acquisition of T.J. Hockenson (nine receptions) looks to have supplanted Osborn as the third option in the passing offense.

Nov 7, 2022 1:43 PM EST


Secures key touchdown grab in win

Osborn brought in two of five targets for eight yards and a touchdown in the Vikings' 34-26 win over the Cardinals on Sunday.

Analysis: The UM product's five-yard scoring grab with 8:36 remaining put the Vikings ahead for good and served as his second end-zone trip of the campaign. Osborn could be in position for more targets in the short term if the injuries sustained by Adam Thielen (knee) and Irv Smith (ankle) in Sunday's contest linger into a Week 9 road matchup against the Commanders.

Oct 30, 2022 3:44 PM EST


Just three receptions Sunday

Osborn had three receptions for 18 yards on five targets in Sunday's win at Miami.

Analysis: Osborn played on a season-low 58% of the offense's snaps, but still had five targets. Minnesota generated just 175 yards passing as the offense sputtered early. Unfortunately, the focus on the top targets rarely leaves much for the third receiver in Minnesota's offense.

Oct 17, 2022 2:52 PM EST


Five receptions in win

Osborn had five receptions for 41 yards on five targets in Sunday's win over Chicago.

Analysis: Osborn has seen a slight increase in playing time the last two weeks to 85% of offensive snaps each game. He's had more than four targets just twice in five games. However, his increased playing time is a positive sign even with the Vikings failing to target the third receiver significantly more than the past few years.

Oct 10, 2022 2:45 PM EST


Just one reception

Osborn had one reception for six yards on two targets and also lost one yard on one carry in Sunday's win over New Orleans in London.

Analysis: After a season-high eight targets and a touchdown last week, Osborn was back to his more limited third-receive role. He played on 56 of the offense's 76 snaps, which was slightly more than usual. Despite a new offensive-minded head coach in Minnesota, the No. 3 receiver continues to be an afterthought in the offense despite his Week 3 spike in production.

Oct 3, 2022 12:36 PM EST


Game-winning score against Lions

Osborn recorded five receptions on eight targets for 73 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 28-24 win over the Lions.

Analysis: Justin Jefferson got a lot of attention from the Detroit defense, which opened up the field for some of the Vikings' peripheral receiving options. Osborn was among them, and he recorded a pair of 28-yard receptions -- the latter of which provide to be the game-winning touchdown. Osborn will continue to produce inconsistently as the third option -- at best-- in Minnesota's passing attack, but he has shown the ability to contribute in a significant way in each of the last two seasons.

Sep 25, 2022 6:48 PM EST


Just two targets Monday

Osborn had two receptions for 25 yards on two targets in Monday's loss at Philadelphia.

Analysis: It's not a good sign for Osborn's role in the offense that he was targeted just twice in a game where the Vikings were forced to throw the ball after falling behind early (Kirk Cousins had 46 passing attempts). Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson had 19 combined targets and Irv Smith, Jr. had eight targets. Osborn was on the field for 47 of the offense's 61 snaps and ran 42 routes, but he wasn't in the game plan. Despite a new head coach in Minnesota, the third receiver continues to be an afterthought in the offense.

Sep 20, 2022 9:53 AM EST


Three receptions in season opener

Osborn had three receptions for 14 yards on four targets in Sunday's win over Green Bay.

Analysis: Osborn played on 42 of the offense's 62 snaps. Despite talk of the Vikings using more three-receiver sets this season, he saw about the same usage as last season even with no fourth or fifth receiver getting snaps on offense. He was tied for the third most targets and should have bigger games, but the bulk of targets in the offense still go to Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen.

Sep 12, 2022 11:07 AM EST


Doesn't suit up Saturday

Osborn didn't play in Saturday's preseason defeat to the 49ers, Lindsey Young of the Vikings' official site reports.

Analysis: Osborn joined the Vikings' top two wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen on the sideline. While Jefferson and Thielen also didn't suit up in preseason Week 1 at Las Vegas, Osborn did play, logging eight offensive snaps and catching his only target for 10 yards. The third-year pro has settled into the third receiver role in Minnesota's offense, which may yield more fruit this year under new coach Kevin O'Connell.

Aug 20, 2022 8:16 PM EST


Leader in No. 3 WR battle

Osborn is drawing raves early in training camp and has become the clear leader for the No. 3 receiver role, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. "He's been really, really good," Head coach Kevin O'Connell said. "There's no other way to describe it early on in camp."

Analysis: Osborn has been primarily used in the slot during practices which feature more three-receiver sets under the new coaching staff. Osborn, who recorded a 50-655-7 stat line on 82 targets over 17 contests last season, but could see his usage increase if the Vikings move away from a run-first offense. Albert Wilson, Bisi Johnson, Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Dan Chisena and Jalen Nailor are also competing for the No. 3 role, but even the No. 4 role could have value this season for the Vikings in the new offense.

Aug 5, 2022 9:46 AM EST


Good to go for training camp

Osborn, who missed time during spring practices with an undisclosed injury, is back in action for training camp, Andrew Krammer of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Analysis: Osborn, who recorded a 50-655-7 stat line on 82 targets through 17 contests last season, has noted that his goal is to be a "complete" target for quarterback Kirk Cousins in a Vikings offense that could move receivers around more this season. As things stand, Osborn gives the team a legit third option at the wide receiver position behind Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen.

Jul 28, 2022 3:47 PM EST


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