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Factoid

Cordarrelle Patterson

Possible breakout receiver is a runner and pass catcher

I see there’s some feel-good coming out of Minnesota that Cordarrelle Patterson might be one of the big breakout receivers of the year. Greg Jennings is talking about how much potential is sitting there.

You have to like that Norv Turner is the offensive coordinator. Josh Gordon was the breakout receiver of last year, and Turner was his offensive coordinator. The previous year, Danario Alexander was one of the big surprises at wide receiver, ripping it up in the second half of the season, and Turner was pulling the strings there.

Patterson has great after-the-catch skills. No doubt about that. As a rookie, he returned a pair of kickoffs for touchdowns and also scored 3 TDs on runs, all from over 30 yards.

In the last 10 years, only three wide receivers have put up better rushing numbers – two who played a lot as wildcat quarterbacks and the guy who was traded for the first-round pick that resulted in Patterson, Percy Harvin.

As well as Patterson has played and considering their ages and contracts, there probably isn’t a team in the league that wouldn’t rather have him over Harvin right now.

The best rushing stats for wide receivers in the last 10 years, using 6 points for touchdowns and 1 for every 10 yards.

Another second-year receiver is on this list -- Tavon Austin of the Rams.

RUSHING PRODUCTION BY RECEIVERS, 2004-2013
YearReceiverAttYardsAvgTDPts
2012Percy Harvin523456.6246.5
2009Josh Cribbs553816.9144.1
2010Brad Smith382997.9135.9
2013Cordarrelle Patterson1215813.2333.8
2010Jacoby Ford1015515.5227.5
2009Brad Smith1820711.5126.7
2008Josh Cribbs291675.8122.7
2013Tavon Austin915116.8121.1
2009DeSean Jackson1113712.5119.7
2008Ted Ginn57314.6219.3
2006Javon Walker912313.7118.3
2012Brad Smith141168.3117.6
2010Percy Harvin181075.9116.7
2010DeSean Jackson161046.5116.4
2012Percy Harvin22964.4115.6
2008DeSean Jackson17965.6115.6
2010Miles Austin79313.3115.3
2012Brad Smith20874.4114.7
2008Mark Clayton68113.5114.1
2009Percy Harvin151359.0013.5
2012Randall Cobb1013213.2013.2

—Ian Allan

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