Osborn caught one of four targets for 21 yards and one score during Week 18's 31-17 win over the Bears.
Analysis: Osborn finished the 2021 campaign with 50 receptions for 655 yards and seven touchdowns. He started the season off hot with 12 receptions for 167 yards through the first two weeks, but he took a backseat as Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen demanded the majority of Kirk Cousins' attention. However, after Thielen went down with a high-ankle sprain in Week 13, Osborn once again stepped up his game. Over the last six contests of the year, Osborn totaled 19 catches for 290 yards and five touchdowns -- including one in each of the Vikings' last three games.
K.J. Osborn Locked in for No. 2 receiver spot
Osborn's teammate Adam Thielen (ankle) was placed on injured reserve Wednesday.
Analysis: Assuming he stays healthy, Osborn is now locked in as Minnesota's No. 2 receiver, a role he'd already handled for most of the past four weeks with Thielen out or limited due to the injury. Osborn has a four-game streak with at least three catches and 79 percent snap share, averaging 3.8 receptions for 54.8 yards on 6.5 targets in that time, with his third, fourth and fifth TDs of the season. He also put up decent numbers in September as Minnesota's No. 3 receiver, but was unable to sustain the volume with Thielen and Jefferson both healthy. While he may be a distant second to Jefferson now, Osborn appears solidly ahead of Dede Westbrook, Ihmir Smith-Marsette and Dan Chisena as the Vikings prepare to close out their season against the Packers (Week 17) and Bears (Week 18).
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