Recently, Pro Football Focus has been putting together their rankings of each position and for some, like Dion Dawkins, they missed the mark and for other positions included some surprising names, like Devin Singletary at running back.
However, when looking at the wide receiver rankings they have seemed to get Stefon Diggs’ rank right for this upcoming season.
Buffalo Bills’ WR Stefon Diggs among the ‘elite’ at his position
Pro Football Focus has been creating tiers with their rankings and the Bills’ top wide receiver is in that top tier with seven other wide receivers. Anthony Treash has Diggs fourth behind Davante Adams, Cooper Kupp, and DeAndre Hopkins.
"Diggs is one of the best route-runners in the game, but he is also one of the league’s best at the catch point. Since joining Buffalo in 2020, Diggs ranks seventh or higher in separation rate against single coverage, contested-catch grade and grade versus man coverage.An underrated aspect of his game is how good Diggs is when the play starts to break. There’s no quit — he finds a way to get open and gives quarterback Josh Allen an opportunity to make a play. Diggs’ 26 receptions on plays outside of the structure of the offense since 2020 are six more than any other pass-catcher in the NFL."
While I don’t necessarily agree with Hopkins ahead of Diggs, I believe he has gotten the group of the elite receivers correct and the difference between these eight wide receivers is marginal. After Diggs, were Tyreek Hill, Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and Mike Evans.
The Bills traded for Diggs prior to the 2020 season and has ascended to this top group of wide receivers with back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons and being selected to the Pro Bowl both years. He is a key part of this offense and been Josh Allen’s go-to wide receiver.
One of the reasons that this pairing has worked so well is that they are seemingly always in sync, especially when the play breaks down. Josh Allen has excellent athleticism and ability to extend plays and Diggs seems to always be in the right position as evidenced by the fact that they lead the league in receptions on these plays when they break down as Treash notes.
The Buffalo Bills understand how important Stefon Diggs is to this offense and made sure he isn’t going anywhere anytime soon with the contract extension this offseason. The Bills now have Allen and Diggs under contract together through the 2027 season and making sure they continue to have one of the best quarterback-wide receiver duos in the league.