Stefon Diggs Has Re-Established Himself as One of the Best Receivers in Football on a Team in Desperate Need of a True WR1

Back in the dark days of mid-to-late March in the Year of Our Lord 2025, I asked for this:

And the universe provided it:

And looking back now, I can see where I had a little trepidation. After all, I'd been burned before. A lot of other suitors had come along, trying to win my heart and become the true No. 1 wide receiver my soul had been yearning for. And I wasn't quite sure I'd be ready to love again:

Part of me doesn't want to accept this as either real, or a good deal. 

I have to confess I spent a few minutes confirming this was, in fact, Schefter reporting and not just some bot or sadist out trying to toy with my emotions. 

And I've been let down before over the past five seasons. In dating terms, I've fallen for the wrong types and been let down. There have been too many Josh Gordons, Juju Smith-Schusters, DeVante Parkers and [shudder] Antonio Browns, where I'd convince myself we finally landed the WR1 we've been lacking, only to expose as a needy, hopelessly naive loser who's going to die alone and be eaten by my cats. And I'll admit I've had my doubts about whether Diggs was really the one to put my hopes in.

Of course, there were more practical, less emotional reasons to have doubts. Diggs was coming off an ACL tear. He'd famously clashed with the reigning league MVP:

Plus he's 32. But if all those RomComs (and I think I've seen like four if you count Bridesmaids and Jerry Maguire) taught me anything, it's that you're only going to find what your heart desires if you're willing to take a leap of faith, put yourself out there, and risk being hurt again. So I chose to believe:

And all Stefon Diggs has done since the moment he arrived is reward that faith. No, strike that. He's exceeded all my expectations. Even the most irrationally optimistic and grandiose ones. So I'm here to celebrate. 

Through five games, Diggs has established himself a true WR1 by every definition. Let us count the ways:

--On a team that's got one of the most even run/pass balances in the league (19th in pass attempts, 17th in rush attempts), Diggs is still 12th among all players in receiving yards, with 359.

--Those 359 represent 21.3% of the Patriots total offense. And despite the fact they heavily on two tight ends, he's got 28.4% of their receiving yards. 

--He's caught 85.3% of his targets, which is basically a running back-level percentage. And second highest in the league among wideouts with more than 15 targets behind only Amon-Ra St. Brown. And Diggs' yards per reception is higher, 12.4 to 11.6.

--Diggs is 4-for-4 on contested catches, making him the only WR in the league batting 1.000 with that many targets.

--He's ninth at his position in converting 1st downs and 11th in yards after the catch.

--Pro Football Focus has him graded fifth among all wide receivers overall, and with the fourth highest receiving grade.

In an effort to be totally forthcoming - and not just come across as some shameless Patriots homer, which of course would be a vicious lie - one thing Diggs has not done is get into the endzone. Not even on a team that has more receiving touchdowns (seven) than rushing (six). But I'll also point out that his production has only improved as we've gone along here. Following up a 101-yard game with 146 in Buffalo. With passer ratings when targeted of 118.8 and 117.4 the past two weeks after a 61.0 to open the season.  

Josh McDaniels has lined him up out wide more, with 63.2% and 69.2% of snaps on the outside the past two weeks, after just 45.0% and 42.9% the two previous games. So it's inevitable he'll get his endzone targets as you see him and Drake Maye developing that chemistry you can't define, but you know it when you see it. And we're seeing it:

And finally, Diggs is doing the things you can't quantify. What the true WR1s do. At least the ones who last do. He's leading:

So here's a message for anyone who doubted he wasn't the right veteran to add and restore this team's wide receiver room to its former glory: