Week 11 vs. Los Angeles Rams
Stefon Diggs has taken a backseat to Adam Thielen as the No. 1 WR, but he's still very involved. Last week he finished with a strong 78 yards and a touchdown. When healthy, Diggs is a great receiver, as he's now scored five times in seven games.
He could struggle this week, though, as the Vikings get a tough matchup against the Rams. The Rams have one of the best pass defenses in the league right now. We still like Diggs as a WR2, but don't be surprised if his numbers end up being low this week.
Week 10 at Washington
Stefon Diggs returned a few weeks ago, and had a full bye week of rest to heal up, so he should be fine heading into Week 10. When he's healthy, Diggs is one of the best wideouts out there. But he's had trouble staying on the field this season, and throughout his career.
He gets a tough matchup this week against Washington, a team that doesn't allow too many receptions to opposing wideouts, which is where Diggs usually shines. This could be a tough week for the talented receiver, which is why he should be viewed more as a WR2 option.
Week 6 vs. Green Bay Packers
Stefon Diggs has been ruled out with a groin injury. Expect an increase in touches for Adam Thielen, Jerick McKinnon and Kyle Rudolph.
Week 5 at Chicago Bears
Even though Case Keenum didn't play well last week, Stefon Diggs wasn't hurt too badly by it. He finished with 98 yards on 5 catches (7 targets). He leads the team in receiving yards and touchdowns, and has remained a solid player despite changes at quarterback.
Diggs gets a decent matchup this week against the Bears, and we expect him to continue to play well. Not only does he lead the Vikings in yards, but he leads the entire league. There's really no reason why he shouldn't continue to deliver big numbers against Chicago. He should be viewed as a strong WR1 this week.
Week 4 vs. Detroit Lions
Stefon Diggs struggled in Week 2 with Case Keenum at quarterback, so fantasy owners were concerned last week when it was announced Keenum would start again. But those fears subsided pretty quickly as Diggs caught pass-after-pass, finishing with 8 receptions for 173 yards and 2 touchdowns (on 11 targets).
Keenum will start again this week, so there might be concern, but Diggs looked fine last week. He's an exceptional PPR option, but he's really stepped up this season in having value as a standard receiver. It's only been three games and he's already tied his career high for touchdowns in a season.
Diggs gets a decent matchup this week against the Lions, and should be a strong WR2 play in both formats.
Week 3 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stefon Diggs struggled last week without Sam Bradford. The talented receiver finished with just 2 catches for 27 yards on 6 targets. Bradford is still questionable with a knee injury, so if he sits again, then it could be worth benching Diggs this week against a tough Buccaneers defense.
If Bradford does play, as he's expected to, then Diggs returns as a WR2 play, especially in PPR formats where he performs well. Diggs is Bradford's favorite target when healthy, so if the veteran QB returns, then you should trust the Vikings wideout.
Week 2 at Pittsburgh Steelers
As expected, if Stefon Diggs is able to remain healthy, he'll be a good fantasy option. He caught 7-of-8 passes for 93 yards and 2 touchdowns last week. Diggs hasn't been known to be a high scorer, finishing with 4 and 3 touchdowns the last two seasons, respectively.
If he's able to continue to get in the end zone, he will have a much-increased value in all fantasy formats. He'll continue to be a strong PPR play this week against the Steelers, as he can be seen as a low-end WR1. In standard formats, he's more of a WR2.
Week 1 vs. New Orleans Saints
Stefon Diggs has been a frustrating player to own the past two seasons. He's had some of the biggest performances by a wideout, and also some of the worst. His constant big-game, little-game streaks can get annoying. But we expect that to get better in 2017 if Diggs is able to stay healthy.
He gets his first crack at it in Week 1 in a favorable matchup against the Saints. Due to New Orleans' offense, most teams have to pass in games to keep up, which is good news for Diggs. He'll benefit a lot from the Vikings' short passes, giving him a boost in PPR formats.
Diggs should be viewed as a strong WR2 in all formats.
Fantasy Upside
Stefon Diggs had some of the biggest fantasy performances of the season in 2016, with three 100-yard games and two 13-reception games. Diggs improved from his rookie season and set new career-highs in receptions (84) and yards (903). He returns in his third year as the main receiving threat in Minnesota.
When healthy, Diggs is hard to stop and is the primary benefactor of Sam Bradford’s short passes. He carries a lot of value in PPR formats.
Fantasy Downside
Diggs is off-and-on with his performances. He can blow up with 10+ receptions for 100+ yards or he can catch 2 passes for 18 yards. Part of his struggles last season were due to the fact he wasn’t fully healthy, but if he’s on the field, you feel the need to play him as a fantasy owner.
In addition to being hot-and-cold, Diggs isn’t a threat to score many touchdowns. He had just three scores last season and caught only two passes inside the 10-yard line.
2017 Bottom Line
Opinions on Diggs vary throughout the fantasy community due to his inconsistency. He can be one of the top performers one week and absolutely bomb the next. His unreliability is what knocks him down a few rounds, but if he’s able to maintain any level of success, he could end up being a steal. He’s a good possession receiver in an offense that likes to dump quick passes.
Week 16 vs. Green Bay
Stefon Diggs had yet another downer last week. He finished with just two receptions for 13 yards in a decent matchup. We've seen Diggs go off on defenses this season, and we've also seen him become barely involved in the offense.
We expect him to rebound in Week 16 against the Packers, a team he dominated earlier in the year. Diggs had a season-high 182 yards in the Week 2 game, including a score. This is a favorable matchup for him, and he should be viewed as a potential WR3.
