Minnesota Vikings: 10 easy predictions for 2019 to set expectations
By Tim Arcand
Stefon Diggs will not play a full season
Stefon Diggs will forever be known a part of the Minneapolis Miracle, catching a 61-yard touchdown pass as time expired for a 29-24 victory in the divisional round of the playoffs over the Saints. Along with Adam Thielen, he is arguably part of the best wide receiver tandem in the NFL.
A fifth-round draft pick from Maryland in 2015, Diggs made his NFL debut in Week 4 against the Broncos. In his first three games, he averaged 108 receiving yards. His first career touchdown came in Week 6 against the Lions when he made an impressive diving catch on a 36-yard pass from Teddy Bridgewater.
Diggs is known as a great route runner with the tremendous ability to make contested catches. According to Pro Football Focus, his 64 percent catch rate when covered was tops in the NFL last season.
No doubt Diggs is a magical and special wide receiver. In only four seasons he ranks 11th in franchise history in receptions (302) and receiving yards (3,493). The one thing he is not is durable.
In four seasons Diggs has played in 55 of 64 regular season games—that is only 85.9 percent. Looking at the top wide receivers in the NFL last season, Diggs’ 55 games over four seasons is less than Davante Adams (58), Antonio Brown (60), Julio Jones (62), DeAndre Hopkins (63) and Thielen (64).
Looking back at his three seasons at Maryland, Diggs only played in 28 of 38 games for the Terrapins (73.6 percent). While his percentage has improved in the NFL, that’s seven seasons of football without playing in every one of his team’s games. That trend will most likely continue.