MARSHALL – A legendary coach named Bud Grant once uttered the phrase “Durability trumps ability” and by and large the statement holds true. In all due respect to Grant, though, I would even take it a step further to say durability combined with ability breeds greatness. Over the course of his meteroric rise, we’ve seen that combination come to fruition in current Vikings receiver Adam Thielen, who has firmly established himself among the elite wide receivers in the NFL thanks to consistent production and unmatched durability.

As many of us have seen by now, the Minnesota wideout has been embarking on an offensive tear in the first half of the season. Through six games, the Detroit Lakes native has exceeded the 100-yard mark in each contest this season (the only player in NFL history to do so) and paces the NFL in receiving yards and in receptions.

What isn’t being brought up in the whirlwind of national media recognition is the dependability of No. 19 and the current ironman run that he is on. Dating back all the way to the 2014 season, Thielen has suited up in 70-consecutive games for the purple – a distinction that he stands alone in boasting amongst all of the other “elite” receivers in the NFL today.

Superstar colleagues including the likes of Pittsburgh’s Antonio Brown, New York Giants’ Odell Beckham Jr., Atlanta’s Julio Jones, and Cincinattti’s A.J. Green are names quickly thrown out among the top-tier wide receivers in the NFL, but none of them have proven year in and year out to have the durability of Thielen. The only one who comes close to matching the on-field availability of Thielen is Houston’s DeAndre Hopkins, who has missed only a single game in six seasons.

Now, in comparing Thielen to the aforementioned players, it’s important to note that Thielen has not always been a focal point in his respective offense like the rest of them, thereby limiting his chances of sustaining an injury due to the lack of touches. However, in the two and a half seasons that he has taken on that role, he would still rank atop the list as the only one to not miss a game in that span.

What I am getting at with all of this is that when comparing the best of the best at the receiver position, week-to-week availability should be held in the same vain as speed, vertical leap and route-running as it is a strong indicator of heart and desire – something that Thielen has in spades. Therefore, when I begin my list of the best receivers in the NFL, I begin with No. 19.