Why Diggs is about to become NFL's next superstar receiver
There's arguably no position more stacked with talent in the NFL than wide receiver, thanks mostly to the league's transition to pass-first offenses since the turn of the century.
Consequently, it's become harder to separate from the pack and shine. If you ask 10 NFL fans to name the NFL's best wideout outside of the elite five of Julio Jones, Odell Beckham Jr., Antonio Brown, Mike Evans, and A.J. Green, you'll likely get 10 different answers.
But, three weeks into the season, it's becoming obvious one under-the-radar name should be receiving more love: Stefon Diggs.
In his third season in the league, the Minnesota Vikings pass-catcher has blossomed, transforming from a chain-mover in the slot to Odell Beckham Lite on the outside.
In 2015, Diggs caught 84 passes for 903 yards - a solid output, but his paltry 10.8 yards-per-catch average stood out. However, the emergence of Adam Thielen - who's better suited to the slot - has allowed Diggs to move outside and thrive.
In three games this season, Diggs' catch average has leaped to 17.7 yards - eighth-best in the league, and behind seven players with fewer catches - partly due to insane plays like this:
.@stefondiggs makes the tough catches look easy! pic.twitter.com/GbveIB3zlQ
- Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 17, 2017
Odell Beckham Lite, indeed. Standing 6-foot on the dot and 191 pounds, Diggs wins thanks to his otherworldly concentration, ability to track the ball and adjust, and agility - just like Beckham.
In fact, no player in the NFL has been anywhere close to as good as Diggs when it comes to contested catches (in this case, classed as targets with less than 1 yard of separation from the defender).
Top 10 WRs this year in passer rating recorded on tight window targets (< 1 yard of separation) #NextGenStats pic.twitter.com/Hw42CkxEdW
- Matt Harmon (@MattHarmon_BYB) September 27, 2017
Suddenly, Diggs is a big-play threat capable of winning in traffic and on 50-50 balls. On contested catches, the quarterback throwing him the ball has a perfect passer rating. Yes, perfect. 158.3. Diggs' yards per reception is also more than double the NFL average, as are his "tight window" receptions.
And this is with Case Keenum, not starter Sam Bradford, under center for two of the three games this campaign.
Solid receivers look great with upper-tier quarterbacks. Great receivers look as such regardless of who's throwing them the ball. They just need a chance.
Stefon Diggs, still ballin': pic.twitter.com/oPcSvbpzQv
- Sam Monson (@PFF_Sam) September 24, 2017
Few can high-point the ball the way Diggs did on that play, especially 6-foot receivers. Even in a world of receiver athletes like Jones, who looks like he was built in a lab, Diggs' athleticism is impressive.
The 23-year-old carried the Vikings to a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, catching eight passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns, including this 59-yarder, where Diggs once again showed his skills in traffic:
WE SEE YOU, @stefondiggs!
- NFL (@NFL) September 24, 2017
Wow. #SKOL pic.twitter.com/LncP7AyQGD
"He's a special dude," Keenum said of his top receiver after Week 3, according to Chad Graff of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
At this point, that might be underselling Diggs. The elite five could soon become the elite six.
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