MINNEAPOLIS -- The ultimate sign of respect for a defensive back is that when he’s doing his job so well, the ball is not often thrown in the direction of the player he’s defending.

As of late, Xavier Rhodes' name isn’t being mentioned much during game broadcasts, and that’s no slight on the Minnesota Vikings cornerback.

In the first seven weeks, quarterbacks have only targeted the receivers Rhodes is assigned to a total of 36 times, according to Pro Football Focus. Rhodes, in turn, has only allowed 18 receptions for 184 yards.

The whole discussion ramped up three weeks ago when Rhodes was not targeted once in the Vikings’ win at Chicago. That was the first time in his career that he can remember not having the ball thrown in his direction.

Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes has only allowed 18 receptions for 184 yards through the first seven weeks. Adam Bettcher/Getty Images

Of the 393 defensive snaps he’s played this season, Rhodes has lined up 72 percent of the time on the right side of field pre-snap, opposite of the receiver on the left side of the line of scrimmage, according to ESPN Stats and Information.

He’s moved around more this year, and more on that in a minute, but when Rhodes is primarily on the defense right/offense left, quarterbacks are completing 67 percent of their passes when throwing in that direction, which ranks 23rd in the NFL, and have a passer rating of 71.0.

That takes us back to the Chicago game. While rookie quarterback Mitchell Trubisky threw four passes to the left side of the field (defense right), none were over six yards, thus quick dump-offs that were nowhere near the direction of whom Rhodes was covering.

But just because he didn’t compete for 50-50 balls then and hasn’t been targeted much in Minnesota’s past two games against Green Bay and Baltimore, that doesn’t mean Rhodes gets to take his foot off the gas.

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“I always go in every game expecting them to throw the ball in (my) direction because it keeps me prepared for any opportunity to make a big play,” Rhodes said. “Even though our defense is intimidating and has played excellent this year, we can’t allow any room for errors.”

In fact, his biggest play of the season came when he intercepted a Brett Hundley pass and returned it two yards. Against the Packers, Rhodes allowed a 26.8 passer rating in coverage, according to PFF, and was targeted seven times. Green Bay receivers totaled four catches for 28 yards against the Vikings' No. 1 corner.

Rhodes’ target load shrunk again against Baltimore. He only allowed two receptions for 27 yards and forced a fumble on Ravens’ receiver Mike Wallace that was later ruled dead.

While Rhodes has done most of his work on the right side of the defense, this season the corner has been moved around quite a bit, following receivers into the slot a total of eight times and taking 109 defensive snaps on the left side of the field.

“It’s easier to tilt coverages different ways, stuff like that,” coach Mike Zimmer said. “We still give him help, but it’s just something that we decide to do each week.”

Rhodes typically shadows his opponent’s No. 1 receiver, which was the case in the first three weeks of the season. Rhodes held Michael Thomas to two catches for 22 yards, Antonio Brown to three receptions for 28 yards and Mike Evans to five for 53.

Against Green Bay, Rhodes followed Davante Adams, not Jordy Nelson, who is widely considered the Packers' top receiver. The Saints did the same thing last week with Marshon Lattimore on Adams. With the Ravens lacking depth at receiver, Rhodes started the game on Mike Wallace, who exited with a concussion on Baltimore’s second drive.

So far this season, Rhodes has four passes defended, one interception and 21 total tackles. While teams are cautious to throw his way, Rhodes knows he can’t afford to lose many challenges because he’s one-on-one with receivers.

To play off his last name, Rhodes really have been closed for his opponent’s wide receivers, from the cornerback’s own doing and that of teams wary of setting him up to make a defensive highlight.