Bills fans have noticed. So have fantasy league managers. For whatever reason, the production of Buffalo receiver Stefon Diggs has dipped.
Everything is down for the three-time Pro Bowler and NFL reception leader from 2020. Josh Allen isn’t targeting Diggs as much, his snaps are down. His routes aren’t even as long.
Diggs enjoyed a sizzling start to his season, exceeding 100 yards in receptions in five of the Bills first six games. Since then, he’s had one game of 75 yards or more. And Diggs is the second-highest paid Bills player after Allen. The Bills made a major move in mid-November, when coach Sean McDermott fired offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey and elevated Joe Brady.
Is that change the reason?
“I don’t think it’s any one thing,” Brady told reporters this week. “Look, I think it’s a combination of — we have been trying to run the ball a little more. I think other guys continuously step up, and naturally, a focus is always going to be on Stefon Diggs, right? When you play teams, that’s where the focus is going to be, and I have to continue working through just finding ways to get him (the ball) regardless of that. … It’s nothing Stef isn’t doing.”
The Bills have won five of their last six games to right their season. At 10-6, Buffalo can win the AFC East if the team beats the Dolphins, which are currently the No. 2 seed in the AFC. The Bills also make the post-season if the Jaguars or the Steelers lose.
Bills star ranks 10th in NFL in receiving thanks to fast start
What’s curious about the Bills resurgence is they did so with other offensive weapons. In the Bills last three games, Diggs was on the field for only 65 percent (or fewer) of Buffalo’s offensive snaps. He’s also posted four straight games of 50 yards or fewer. Those aren’t the numbers of a No. 1 receiver. Overall, Diggs ranks 10th in the NFL with 100 catches. That’s thanks to his fast start to the season, when he was on pace for 139 catches.
Bills coach Sean McDermott stressed that Diggs isn’t hurt. He also added that Allen is going through his reads as opposed to trying to force the ball to Diggs.
“The ball finds the open players,” McDermott said. “So Stef continues to work. He’s going to be fine, but we have things we need to work on overall as a team, and that’s one of them because you can’t let your No. 1 receiver go like he has, and in particular the last few games. We’ve got, obviously, some work to do.”
Diggs enjoyed an excellent game the last time the Bills played the Dolphins. In Buffalo’s 48-20 victory, Diggs caught six passes for 120 yards and three touchdowns. Diggs always has matched up well with Miami. In eight career games, Diggs has 46 catches for 632 yards and seven touchdowns.
“He’s a factor,” McDermott said. “He’s a big factor for us. He brings so much energy and vibe to our team, to our offense — let’s just start there — and collectively to our team. So he’s a valued member of our team, and in particular our offense.
“We’re going to need him down the stretch here.”
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