NFL.com: 10 Best Pass Catchers of 2019 (Diggs #3)

[MJS]

This is an analysis using Next Gen Stats. Michael Thomas and Tyler Lockett are 1st and 2nd respectively. They have Diggs at #3:

 

Stefon Diggs

Buffalo Bills · WR

 

Catch rate: 67%. Expected catch rate: 56.3%. Difference: 10.7

 

"We've entered the home-run hitters portion of this list. In what turned out to be his final season with the Minnesota Vikings, Diggs caught just 63 passes but outgained Lockett in receiving yards, riding a yards-per-reception rate of 17.9 to 1,130 (compared to Lockett's 1,057). His catch percentage wasn't nearly as high as Thomas' or Lockett's, but he made the most of his opportunities, posting a +10.7 percent catch-rate difference -- and he did so by winning press challenges. Diggs was pressed on 42 percent of routes run, enjoying just 2.5 yards of separation on average, yet his targets came with an air-yards average of 14.9. Most of his success was earned in single coverage, a testament to Adam Thielen's presence (despite Thielen's injuries) and a multi-level Vikings offense that didn't focus too heavily on Diggs."

 

https://www.nfl.com/news/michael-thomas-tyler-lockett-among-10-best-pass-catchers-of-19

 

[machine gun kelly]

This is more impressive because of Thielen on the field.

[NoHuddleKelly12]

Why can't Brown seamlessly assume the role Thielen played in forcing opposing D's to also shade coverage elsewhere besides Diggs? Similar opportunities should abound in our offense, imho. I read it here first, that Brown is every rich man's #2, our poor man's #1 last year. 

[MJS]

5 minutes ago, machine gun kelly said:

This is more impressive because of Thielen on the field.

 

I'm still wondering if Diggs will be better for John Brown's production (due to taking away double coverage and defensive focus, thus freeing him up more) or worse for Brown's production (due to Diggs taking targets away from Brown).

 

Either way, it's good for the Bills.

[Kwai San]

7 minutes ago, machine gun kelly said:

This is more impressive because of Thielen on the field.

As stated by MJS - JB and Cole should stand to gain.....also this tidbit you left out which should describe the Bills in 2020 - and a multi-level Vikings Bills offense that didn't won't have to focus too heavily on Diggs.

 

All of that above makes me worried that Diggs will cry about enough touches tho......sigh.

[LABILLBACKER]

14 minutes ago, MJS said:

 

I'm still wondering if Diggs will be better for John Brown's production (due to taking away double coverage and defensive focus, thus freeing him up more) or worse for Brown's production (due to Diggs taking targets away from Brown).

 

Either way, it's good for the Bills.

It will help both if Josh can adequately read defenses this year. Look off the safety and let it fly. I think Beasley will also benefit drastically. 

[Doc]

So, top-10 you say...

[Buffalo716]

41 minutes ago, LABILLBACKER said:

It will help both if Josh can adequately read defenses this year. Look off the safety and let it fly. I think Beasley will also benefit drastically. 

Josh improved dramatically reading zone defenses over these two years

 

He struggles way more in tight press man coverage. And diggs should help because he has a guy who could beat one-on-one coverage

Edited May 18, 2020 by Buffalo716

[MJS]

3 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

Josh improved dramatically reading zone defenses over these two years

 

He struggles way more in tight press man coverage. Annie diggs should help because he has a guy who could beat one-on-one coverage

 

And win contested catches, something our receivers have absolutely sucked at for a long, long time. Allen will be more willing to throw up 50/50 balls and not feel like he needs to lead his receivers so much on deep balls.

 

Seriously can't think of a single contested catch from our wide receivers last year except for one or two from Duke Williams. I think Knox had a couple, but he's a TE.

Edited May 18, 2020 by MJS

[MJS]

44 minutes ago, Limeaid said:

It is hard for smaller WRs to win contested catches for the bigger DB usually has leverage.

 

Diggs isn't that big though. He's 6'0" and 194 pounds. And he's one of the best in the league at contested catches. I think the most important thing in catching contested passes is being able to high point the ball and get good position on the defender, but you are right, size does help a lot. And Diggs just has great hands.

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

18 minutes ago, MJS said:

 

Diggs isn't that big though. He's 6'0" and 194 pounds. And he's one of the best in the league at contested catches. I think the most important thing in catching contested passes is being able to high point the ball and get good position on the defender, but you are right, size does help a lot. And Diggs just has great hands.

he's insanely athletic. Like Sammy athletic, but with football focus and less crazy. 
 

as an aside watch clips of this Davis kid. He plucked a Josh pass lout of the air on a slant that looked 9 feet off the ground with out breaking stride. 
 

Imagine if both Diggs and Davis pass him on the chart? 

Edited May 18, 2020 by Over 29 years of fanhood

[aristocrat]

can't wait to watch this offense go this year.  could be a lot of fun

[NewEra]

43 minutes ago, MJS said:

 

Diggs isn't that big though. He's 6'0" and 194 pounds. And he's one of the best in the league at contested catches. I think the most important thing in catching contested passes is being able to high point the ball and get good position on the defender, but you are right, size does help a lot. And Diggs just has great hands.

Great hands and equally as important, great body control in the air.  
 

cant wait to see this offense.   Let’s hope the OL can give them holes and time

[GunnerBill]

3 hours ago, NoHuddleKelly12 said:

Why can't Brown seamlessly assume the role Thielen played in forcing opposing D's to also shade coverage elsewhere besides Diggs? Similar opportunities should abound in our offense, imho. I read it here first, that Brown is every rich man's #2, our poor man's #1 last year. 

 

That is not really what happened though. The coverage more often than not shaded to Diggs in Minnesota. The question is really does Brown make hay facing 1 on 1 more often?

[Malazan]

..but obviously will be eclipsed by the receivers drafted this year that have a 70% (or more) failure rate of even staying in the NFL for 3 years

[GoBills808]

24 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

That is not really what happened though. The coverage more often than not shaded to Diggs in Minnesota. The question is really does Brown make hay facing 1 on 1 more often?

I think the real question is does he make hay facing CB2s and I think the answer is unequivocally yes

[YoloinOhio]

3 hours ago, MJS said:

 

I'm still wondering if Diggs will be better for John Brown's production (due to taking away double coverage and defensive focus, thus freeing him up more) or worse for Brown's production (due to Diggs taking targets away from Brown).

 

Either way, it's good for the Bills.

I think Brown will get more total yards in 2020, but fewer TDs. I think he will get a lot of opportunity but Diggs will be that clutch “go to” guy that Brown tried to be  but wasn’t always able to make the play. 

[MJS]

4 minutes ago, YoloinOhio said:

I think Brown will get more total yards in 2020, but fewer TDs. I think he will get a lot of opportunity but Diggs will be that clutch “go to” guy that Brown tried to be  but wasn’t always able to make the play. 

I think Brown will have less production. Maybe not by much. Who knows? I imagine it turning out something like this for the top 3 WR's:

 

Diggs- 1,200 yards, 9 TD's

Brown- 900 yards, 7 TD's

Beasley- 700 yards, 6 TD's

[machine gun kelly]

1 hour ago, Over 29 years of fanhood said:

he's insanely athletic. Like Sammy athletic, but with football focus and less crazy. 
 

as an aside watch clips of this Davis kid. He plucked a Josh pass lout of the air on a slant that looked 9 feet off the ground with out breaking stride. 
 

Imagine if both Diggs and Davis pass him on the chart? 

Davis is a stud.  I understand people don’t know him, but living in FL I watched most of his UCF games.  He runs routes so well.  He will be a good fourth WR.

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

30 minutes ago, machine gun kelly said:

Davis is a stud.  I understand people don’t know him, but living in FL I watched most of his UCF games.  He runs routes so well.  He will be a good fourth WR.

I want a 2! If brown is the third best WR it means this offense can do anything 

[Sherlock Holmes]

We have Beasley which can be Diggs poor mans Thielen. 

[Doc]

1 minute ago, Sherlock Holmes said:

We have Beasley which can be Diggs poor mans Thielen. 

 

Brown is better than Thielen.  He's a #1 WR.  Thielen will struggle in that role this year.

[John from Riverside]

I just love how we aggressively addressed this position......THREE wide receivers with 2 of them being drafted in a WR rich draft.

 

Diggs was my guyu......wanted him on the bills for a while...he makes everything easier

[Ethan in Cleveland]

Diggs, Brown, Beasley, and Knox will all have over 700 yards receiving this year while one go over 1000.  Add another 300 for Singletary.  Daboll is going to spread the ball around.  

3 hours ago, Over 29 years of fanhood said:

I want a 2! If brown is the third best WR it means this offense can do anything 

Brown is a 1a.  He is better than any #2 in the league.  Beasley is a role player perfect #3.  The only issue will be who is the #2 when they are in a 2 WR red zone or running down and distance.  Will they go with Duke Williams or the rookie for their size?  Os just play it straight with Diggs and Brown?  

[MJS]

3 hours ago, Doc said:

 

Brown is better than Thielen.  He's a #1 WR.  Thielen will struggle in that role this year.

Thielen is pretty dang good...

 

24 minutes ago, Ethan in Portland said:

Brown is a 1a.  He is better than any #2 in the league.  Beasley is a role player perfect #3.  The only issue will be who is the #2 when they are in a 2 WR red zone or running down and distance.  Will they go with Duke Williams or the rookie for their size?  Os just play it straight with Diggs and Brown?  

 

Part of it will depend on matchups and the teams we faced. When we played Baltimore our receivers were getting mugged and the officials decided to just let them play, so we were physically outmatched. For teams like that they might play the bigger WR's (plus Diggs because he should never leave the field, IMO).

Edited May 19, 2020 by MJS

[Doc]

36 minutes ago, MJS said:

Thielen is pretty dang good...

 

We'll see.  I'm betting he has a JuJu-like season without Diggs.

[GunnerBill]

8 hours ago, GoBills808 said:

I think the real question is does he make hay facing CB2s and I think the answer is unequivocally yes

 

Yea that is right. 

7 hours ago, Doc said:

 

Brown is better than Thielen.  He's a #1 WR.  Thielen will struggle in that role this year.

 

Hmmm. I have been the first to say Thielen will miss Diggs. But he is better than John Brown. 

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

6 hours ago, Ethan in Portland said:

Diggs, Brown, Beasley, and Knox will all have over 700 yards receiving this year while one go over 1000.  Add another 300 for Singletary.  Daboll is going to spread the ball around.  

Brown is a 1a.  He is better than any #2 in the league.  Beasley is a role player perfect #3.  The only issue will be who is the #2 when they are in a 2 WR red zone or running down and distance.  Will they go with Duke Williams or the rookie for their size?  Os just play it straight with Diggs and Brown?  

Brown imo is overrated by bills fans. His ability to separate is limited in the route tree to the deeper /longer stuff and contested catch red zone ability haven’t been displayed. I like him, but wait till folks see Diggs up close. 

Teams with better #2’s
Tampa

Atlanta 

cleveland

Maybe/debatable: 
Kansas City 

Arizona 
Seattle 

San Diego 

Dalllas 

new Orleans 

Edited May 19, 2020 by Over 29 years of fanhood

[No_Matter_What]

10 hours ago, MJS said:

I think Brown will have less production. Maybe not by much. Who knows? I imagine it turning out something like this for the top 3 WR's:

 

Diggs- 1,200 yards, 9 TD's

Brown- 900 yards, 7 TD's

Beasley- 700 yards, 6 TD's

 

I agree with this. It is hard to imagine that Diggs gets over 1k (which I believe) and at the same time Brown increases his production. I also expect Knox and RBs to produce more, and Allen won't throw 6.000 yards

[Putin]

14 hours ago, NoHuddleKelly12 said:

Why can't Brown seamlessly assume the role Thielen played in forcing opposing D's to also shade coverage elsewhere besides Diggs? Similar opportunities should abound in our offense, imho. I read it here first, that Brown is every rich man's #2, our poor man's #1 last year. 

I think Brown will be our Peerless Price this season 

[Doc Brown]

30 minutes ago, Over 29 years of fanhood said:

Brown imo is overrated by bills fans. His ability to separate is limited in the route tree to the deeper /longer stuff and contested catch red zone ability haven’t been displayed. I like him, but wait till folks see Diggs up close. 

Teams with better #2’s
Tampa

Atlanta 

cleveland

Maybe/debatable: 
Kansas City 

Arizona 
Seattle 

San Diego 

Dalllas 

new Orleans 

I agree with this although I still need to see more from Ridley.  Just having to watch Benjamin, Zay, Holmes, Foster, Thompson, Matthews etc. over the two previous seasons made Brown look pretty good last year.  

[Royale with Cheese]

16 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

That is not really what happened though. The coverage more often than not shaded to Diggs in Minnesota. The question is really does Brown make hay facing 1 on 1 more often?

He better.

[Bangarang]

14 hours ago, Doc said:

 

Brown is better than Thielen.  He's a #1 WR.  Thielen will struggle in that role this year.

No he’s not and you don’t know that.

[Doc]

8 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

Hmmm. I have been the first to say Thielen will miss Diggs. But he is better than John Brown. 

 

6 minutes ago, Bangarang said:

No he’s not and you don’t know that.

 

We'll see if he can produce almost 71 yards/game without a true #1 opposite him.  Do I smell a bet here?

[Joe Miner]

The number of snaps played by Bills WR last year that are not just below average, but not NFL caliber WRs is astonishing.

 

They now have 3 legit high quality NFL receivers on the team and an ever improving QB entering his third year.  Expect big things.

[RoyBatty is alive]

16 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

That is not really what happened though. The coverage more often than not shaded to Diggs in Minnesota. The question is really does Brown make hay facing 1 on 1 more often?

 

Yep. huge question

[GunnerBill]

13 minutes ago, Doc said:

 

 

We'll see if he can produce almost 71 yards/game without a true #1 opposite him.  Do I smell a bet here?

 

Even if he doesn't, he is still a better receiver than John Brown. Look I have been king of the Diggs is better than Theilen party for 3 years. I am absolutely certain his production will be down without Diggs opposite him. But having Brown as better than him is bonkers. 

[RoyBatty is alive]

1 minute ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Even if he doesn't, he is still a better receiver than John Brown. Look I have been king of the Diggs is better than Theilen party for 3 years. I am absolutely certain his production will be down without Diggs opposite him. But having Brown as better than him is bonkers. 

 

So you are inferring Brown is better than Theilen?  That i cant wait to see, if true Brown better have a much improved borderline monster year.

[GunnerBill]

Just now, RoyBatty is alive said:

 

So you are inferring Brown is better than Theilen?  That i cant wait to see, if true Brown better have a much improved borderline monster year.

 

How did you get that from my post?

[RoyBatty is alive]

12 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

How did you get that from my post?

I was asking a question as i didnt understand what you  were getting at.  So I assume that means you think Theilen is better than Brown, am i correct on that?