Stefon Diggs signs with New England: The Dynasty Fantasy Football Impact
The New England Patriots have simply been unable to come close to looking like the franchise that once dominated the NFL over the past few years, patching their roster together with over-the-hill veterans or unproven players who just haven’t panned out in recent seasons. They also haven’t spent much money on proven skill position options, hoping to essentially find lightning in a bottle and repeatedly coming up empty. That may have changed tonight as the Patriots have turned to free agency to shore up one of their biggest positions of need and signed former Vikings, Bills, and Texans wide receiver Stefon Diggs to a big-money, three-year deal worth up to $69 million with $26 million guaranteed. The $26 million in guaranteed money matches that of Davante Adams for the most this off-season for a receiver. The total value is $24 million more than Cooper Kupp received and $25 million more than Adams as well. In other words, Diggs got his money and New England hopes they have their man. It’s a development that has some clear dynasty ramifications, so let’s break it down.
Stefon Diggs, WR NE
Diggs has been fantastic throughout his career in the NFL, posting 857 career catches for 10,491 yards and 70 touchdowns in 144 career games played with Minnesota, Buffalo and Houston. His yardage total puts him in the top-50 all-time and that’s not too shabby for a fifth-round pick from Maryland. Diggs has been one of the steadiest players in all of dynasty leagues over the past decade and one of the true lineup locks we’ve had for quite some time.
However, there are some real concerns here. After he became unhappy in Buffalo, he was sent to Houston right about this time last season. It looked like a match made in heaven with CJ Stroud, but things just didn’t work out. The numbers were fine as Diggs posted 47 catches for 496 yards with three touchdowns in just eight games, but Nico Collins emerged as the clear WR1 in the offense and Diggs tore his ACL mid-way through the year, ruining what could have been another fine season and unlocking what could have been a magical multi-year run with Stroud with the Texans.
There were few places better to land for a receiver than New England, so dynasty managers should breathe easy. However, again, there are questions here. Diggs is now coming off a major knee injury and while reports on his progress have been positive, it’s hard to say just what he’s going to be able to provide next year, especially since it really does usually take a full season to get back to full strength from a torn ACL. In addition, Diggs is also 31 years old and that’s right about the time we tend to see some serious declining start to happen with wide receivers. On the plus side, New England is desperate for someone to throw to and he fits in perfectly with what looks to be an emerging player in Drake Maye. All in all, Diggs should be treated more as a WR2 than WR1 at this point in his career, but this looks like a solid landing spot for him and the money says New England believes he has a lot left in the tank. His ADP should start rising now that he’s found a new home and got a nice deal as well. Things could start out slowly, but Diggs could become a difference maker once the season wears on next year.
Drake Maye, QB NE
There’s a lot of talk about Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels, and there should be as they were both pretty dynamic as rookies last season. However, Maye was pretty good himself on an offense that didn’t have nearly the same level of talent as Washington or Chicago. On the season, he posted 2,276 passing yards, 15 touchdowns and ten interceptions. He also added 421 rushing yards and another two scores. Maye looks the part and the numbers really don’t show the whole story with as well as he played. Adding Diggs is a real boost to his value and this could very well be the season he really emerges as an option in dynasty leagues.
DeMario Douglas, WR NE
Douglas was a bright spot for the Patriots last season, posting a 66/621/3 line in his Sophomore season. Still just 24, there’s a lot to like here from a dynasty perspective. However, adding Diggs is going to take some targets away from him and it looks like he may still be a ways away from real dynasty relevance. In the end, he looks like a decent hold in dynasty leagues but not a player who is going to see many lineups each week without some more maturation and possibly a disappointing season from Diggs.
Kayshon Boutte, WR NE
Speaking of emerging players, Boutte really came alive last season with 43 catches for 589 yards and three touchdowns, including a finale that featured seven catches for 117 yards and a touchdown. Chances are either Boutte or Douglas will emerge as the second wide receiver option for the Patriots next season, but it’s honestly hard to determine just one that may be at the moment. Much like Douglas, Boutte needs to be held onto in dynasty leagues so we can see just where his career trajectory may end up going.
Ja’Lynn Polk, WR NE
The real loser in this deal may be Polk, who had just 12 catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns last season, with next to nothing coming after the first month of the season. It’s way to soon to give up on him, but Diggs is going to step in as the alpha receiver and both Douglas and Boutte have both shown more than Polk thus far. His ADP is in a freefall and this certainly isn’t going to help.
Other Patriots Receivers
This includes Mack Hollins and Kendrick Bourne. Hollins had some sleeper potential prior to the Diggs signing, but that’s hard to really see now. In the end, both of these players look like roster cloggers more than lineup or roster staples at this point. You can likely do better with your roster spots, especially with the a new rookie class on its way.
Ken is on Twitter at DLF_KenK
