Odds Say Stefon Diggs Will Not Be a Viking In 2020
- The opening odds favor Diggs moving on from Minnesota
- Vikings receiver averaging career-worst three catches per game this season
- Diggs finished with 1,021 receiving yards, nine TDs in 2018
A week after reports began to swirl regarding Stefon Diggs’ future with the Vikings, the star wide receiver made it clear he wants to stay in Minnesota.
Diggs missed several team meetings and practices, leading many in the Vikings organization to believe he was looking for a way out.
One sportsbook even released a prop wager on whether Diggs will be a part of the Vikings team next season, with ‘No’ coming in as the -140 favorite.
Is there any value in taking ‘Yes’ or is Diggs’ time up in the North Star State?
Odds Stefon Diggs Is a Viking Next Season?
Outcome | Odds |
---|---|
Yes | +100 |
No | -140 |
*Odds taken 10/10/19
Things turned sour last week to the point the Vikings fined Diggs $200,000 for missing meetings and practises. However, he was on the field when the Vikes defeated the New York Giants 28-10.
While the relationship seems to be patched up for the time being, where does this leave Diggs’ future in Minnesota?
On #Vikings WR Stefon Diggs: His frustration with the organization has been palpable. He was not at practice yesterday for non-injury reasons. Teammates are left wondering if he wants to be there. The team is adamant he is not available for a trade, barring some massive deal.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 3, 2019
Diggs hasn’t had a strong season through five weeks of action, as he’s caught just 16 of 23 targets for 253 receiving yards and one TD.
That’s still a long way off from his career season from a year ago when Diggs caught 102 of 149 targets for 1,021 yards and nine touchdowns in 15 games.
When the news broke that Diggs wanted out of Minnesota, there were rumours of a possible trade to the New England Patriots. However, NBC Sports NFL Insider Peter King said he was told “it is highly unlikely that he will be traded. They don’t think he wants to be traded.”
There's no place like home for Stefon Diggs 😉 pic.twitter.com/Q82TuwuXjL
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 6, 2019
Career-Worst Numbers For Diggs
Diggs is averaging a career-worst three catches per game and five targets per game. His frustrations may very well be from not being a bigger part of the Vikings offense. Or even perhaps that quarterback Kirk Cousins has struggled to get Diggs the ball.
Prior to Diggs’ big 2018 season, he never broke the 1,000-receiving yard mark in his previous three years in the NFL.
How much of Diggs’ frustrating season has to do with Cousins?
https://youtu.be/dJuhRSgvGJY?t=36
The Vikings quarterback, who is in the second year of an $84-million contract, has completed 86 of 126 passes with a 68.3 completion percentage through five games this season. Cousins has thrown for five touchdowns, but he’s been picked twice and sacked 11 times during that span.
There is the possibility of the Vikings eating Cousins’ cap hit in the final year and going a different direction at quarterback while keeping Diggs in the fold.
Vikings Not Deep At Wide Receiver
The truth of the matter is the Vikings need Diggs more than they need Cousins moving forward. After Adam Thielen and Diggs, Minnesota’s options as wide receiver are spread pretty thin.
The Vikings have fined WR Stefon Diggs more than $200,000 for unexcused absences from practices and meetings. https://t.co/9tpsHXf6Yo
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 6, 2019
Winning will heal all wounds and will likely repair the relationship between Diggs and the Vikings even further.
While the odds favore Diggs not being with the Vikings next season, consider taking the other side.
Minnesota invested $72 million on Diggs and the franchise likely won’t want to trade him unless things get really bad.
Pick: Yes (+100)