Week 1 vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stefon Diggs set a career-high in touchdown receptions (8) last season while taking a slight step back in receiving yards (849). His numbers may not blow you away, but he's certainly one of the most talented players at his position when healthy.
Diggs is a borderline WR1 choice this week against the 49ers. San Francisco was among the league's worst against the pass last season, allowing the sixth-most TDs to the position. Diggs is paired with a new QB in Kirk Cousins. We think the improvement at QB will benefit him greatly in 2018.
Fantasy Upside
Stefon Diggs had a strong season in 2017, setting a career-high in touchdowns (8). When he’s on the field, he’s highly productive and we can’t ignore the fact he’s in a contract year as a good season means a big payday. He also gets an upgrade at quarterback as Kirk Cousins replaces Case Keenum. If he stays on the field, we could see a career-year out of Diggs.
Fantasy Downside
Diggs had nice final season numbers in 2017, but 46 percent of his yards came in the first four games of the season, and half of his touchdown total came in the first three games. Diggs has also never been able to play a full season in three years due to injuries.
2018 Bottom Line
If Diggs can stay on the field for all 16 games and have a little more consistent production, he could end up producing low-end WR1 numbers. He’s especially valuable in PPR formats as last season he finished with five or more catches in eight of his 14 games. You can expect to snag Diggs near the fourth round of drafts this season.
NFC Conference Championship at Philadelphia Eagles
Stefon Diggs had a huge game last week, finishing with 137 yards on 6 catches, highlighted by his Minnesota Miracle reception to win the game. In addition to leading the team in receiving, Diggs also led the team in targets (10), proving he's still involved in this offense despite Adam Thielen's development.
Diggs gets a good matchup this week against the Eagles, and should be viewed as a great fantasy option. He has a touchdown in four straight games and has had at least 60 yards in six of his last nine games.
Divisional Round vs. Saints
Stefon Diggs had a monster start to the season, suffered an injury midway through, but managed to end 2017 on a high note. He finished with a touchdown in his final three games, while catching at least 5 passes in each of those matchups. The threat of Adam Thielen is always there, but as defenses go to cover Thielen, it leaves Diggs open to do some damage.
Against the Saints, we can likely expect Diggs to put up close to his average of about 60-70 yards, with a strong chance for a TD. When Diggs faced the Saints in Week 1, he caught 7 passes for 93 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Week 17 vs. Chicago Bears
The Vikings' passing game has dipped in these last two games, but Stefon Diggs has surprisingly benefited from it. He's had a touchdown in each of the last two games, as well as 5 receptions in each.
He gets a decent matchup this week against the Bears, where we expect him to put up solid numbers. He didn't do much in his last game against Chicago due to an injury, but he should be good for around 4-5 catches for around 50 yards with a chance at a score. Owners should view him as a WR2.
Week 16 at Green Bay Packers
Stefon Diggs scored a touchdown last week, but didn't do much else, finishing with just 30 yards on 5 catches. He wasn't needed much after the Vikings built an early lead, but he came through with a decent performance in PPR formats. He now has 5 or more catches in three of his last four games.
He gets a favorable matchup this week against Green Bay (he didn't play against the Packers earlier in the season due to an injury). He's averaged about 50 yards in his last six games since the bye week, so you can probably expect a slightly above-average performance this week. He should be a solid WR2 play in Week 16.
Week 15 vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Stefon Diggs saw a healthy 10 targets last week, finishing with 6 catches for 64 yards. Not a bad game, but certainly not the same kind of performance we saw from him at the start of the season. Adam Thielen has taken over as the star Vikings wideout, with Diggs often finishing second.
We can expect a similar type of game from Diggs this week in a decent matchup against the Bengals. He should be a solid PPR option and a TD-reliant choice in standard leagues. Either way, he's a low-end WR2 or a strong WR3.
Week 14 at Carolina Panthers
Stefon Diggs had another disappointing game last week, catching just 2 passes for 32 yards. Diggs hasn't been too impressive this season, and he's fallen way off from being the PPR darling he was a season ago. He hasn't been awful, but he was a clear WR1 when healthy last season, and that just isn't the case in 2017.
He could bounce back this week in a much better matchup against the Panthers. He still carries some risk, but he's not a bad option as a WR3.
Week 13 at Atlanta Falcons
Stefon Diggs had a decent game last week, catching 5 passes for 66 yards. He's not nearly as effective as he was to open the year, but he's still a talented player and can strive in the right matchup.
However, this week may not be that matchup as he gets a tough outing against Atlanta. The Falcons have been tough on receivers lately and could give Diggs trouble. He's still a solid WR2 in PPR formats and a WR3 in standard this week.
Week 12 at Detroit Lions
Stefon Diggs' role has been somewhat reduced as Adam Thielen shines in the spotlight. Diggs started the season strong, with 4 touchdowns in his first three games. But after missing some time with an injury, Diggs hasn't quite been the same.
Diggs is still a great talent, though, and it's not like he's been completely ineffective. He gets a decent matchup this week against the Lions, a team he caught 5 passes for 98 yards against earlier in the season.
Thielen will likely be the top Vikings WR this week, but Diggs can still be viewed as a strong WR2 option.
