Minnesota Vikings: Diggs is a reliable target for Bridgewater
By Adam Carlson
While some members of the Minnesota Vikings struggled with dropped passes, wide receiver Stefon Diggs proved to be reliable for QB Teddy Bridgewater.
The offense of the Minnesota Vikings may be based around the play of star running back Adrian Peterson, but that only means that the passing game needs to be efficient enough to pick up first downs and make the occasional big plays when available.
Related Story: Just how good can Stefon Diggs become?
For that, quarterback Teddy Bridgewater needs to find a reliable target. After the failed experiments with veteran pass catchers Greg Jennings and Mike Wallace, fifth round draft pick Stefon Diggs exploded onto the scene in dramatic fashion.
More interestingly, the 2015 NFL Draft pick became the team’s primary deep threat. While the shots didn’t come on a frequent basis, they were capitalized upon when the chances were taken.
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According to Pro Football Focus and the official Minnesota Vikings website, Bridgewater threw 6 passes of 20 yards or more that were deemed catchable. Of those passes, Diggs reeled in all six. This was all happening in addition to leading wide receivers in receptions (52), receiving yards (720), yards after catch (300), and receiving touchdowns (4).
Diggs will face some major competition this season when he attempts to lead the team in these categories again. Between the Minnesota Vikings drafting Laquon Treadwell, Charles Johnson having a healthy return, Jarius Wright’s consistency, and the rumors of Cordarrelle Patterson’s newly found focus, there could be more competition for targets than ever before.
Still, these statistics are all very encouraging for a young player like Stefon Diggs who only played in 13 of the team’s 16 regular season games. He has a chance to earn a full-time starting role in 2016 and be a player who continues to grow and develop in the fresh passing offense.
Next: Vikings game-by-game 2016 season preview
It will be interesting to see how the competition impact’s Diggs’ development during his sophomore year in the NFL. However, even if Diggs doesn’t repeat the kind of performance he had during his rookie year, the future is looking bright for the young wide receiver as he continues to impress fans and analysts alike.