The Minnesota Vikings traded wide receiver Stefon Diggs to the Buffalo Bills this past offseason for a first round pick, a fifth round pick, a sixth round pick and a 2021 fourth-round selection.
Diggs forced Minnesota’s hand by demanding out, but most felt like the Vikings got a great deal.
As it turns out, that assessment may have underestimated Diggs’ value a bit.
Diggs is thriving through his first three weeks in Buffalo. The Bills are 3-0 and the 26-year-old is being utilized in a ton of different ways.
That seems to be why the Bills are better than the Vikings in his mind – they offer him more in the way of opportunities.
For example, after recording 12 catches all last season playing the slot for Minnesota, he has already made eight in that capacity through three outings for Buffalo.
Diggs is loving it.
“I’m definitely happy I get to play many different spots,” he told Mark Gaughan of The Buffalo News.
“I think it also helps other guys as far as other receivers being in different spots, because we got some guys who can play some exceptional football. And we’ve got some young guys stepping up as well.
“It’s kind of hard to keep tabs on everybody, whether I’m drawing a lot of attention or whether I’m not,” he continued.
“If I am, hopefully I can get a guy open.”
ESPN was real mad about the Dodgers. https://t.co/gkZOnz4O9t
— Game 7 (@game7__) October 1, 2020
The fact that Minnesota used three-receiver formations the least amount of times of any team in the league last year severely hampered Diggs’ potential.
Buffalo has remedied that – and taken it one step further.
The Bills use four wide receivers more than anyone else in the NFL. That has led to an uptick in openings for Diggs, and some pretty strong early season results for quarterback Josh Allen.
With Diggs getting double teamed less, everyone wins. He is happy, the offense thrives and the results ultimately speak for themselves.
Diggs currently ranks fourth in the league in receiving yards with 288 total and is tied for seventh in catches.
This week, he will get to face off against a Las Vegas Raiders defensive unit that is very questionable right now.
Only one player didn’t take a knee. https://t.co/nXIakBsKcr
— Game 7 (@game7__) October 1, 2020
Damon Arnette, the Raiders’ first round selection this year, is expected to be out with a thumb injury. That leaves the team’s 2019 second round selection, Trayvon Mullen, to do the heavy lifting against a Bills offense that is firing on all cylinders right now.
Las Vegas ranks sixth worst in yards allowed per game and in the bottom half of the league in defending against the pass.
It goes without saying that the Bills are the favorites heading into the match-up despite being the road team.
Dwight Howard kept it real. https://t.co/ZzyKKkZluk
— Game 7 (@game7__) October 1, 2020
According to ESPN’s computer models, Buffalo has a 50.4 percent chance of emerging from the outing victorious.
That falls roughly in line with what odds makers are saying.
Las Vegas is a three point underdog heading into this weekend.
All in all, it will be interesting to see if Diggs and this Bills offense can keep rolling.
Week 4’s showdown between Buffalo and Las Vegas will kick off at 1:25 pm PT and air on CBS.
Related: Tyler Herro Blamed For Heat’s Game 1 Loss To Lakers
Charles Kruger has been credentialed to cover two Super Bowls, four NBA Finals, and one World Series. A 20-year veteran in the sports world, he has sources spanning the NBA, MLB, NFL, UFC and NASCAR. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Calif., he is Game 7’s go-to source for rumors surrounding the Lakers, Clippers and Dodgers.
