Fantasy Football: 8 Players With Easy Early-Season Schedules
Stefon Diggs, Minnesota Vikings
| Week | Opponent | Projected Defensive Pass NEP Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saints | 29 |
| 2 | Steelers | 21 |
| 3 | Buccaneers | 7 |
| 4 | Lions | 31 |
If Stefon Diggs stayed healthy last year, we might be talking about him as a second or third round draft pick this season. Diggs screamed out of the gate in 2016 with two straight 100-plus yard receiving efforts, but after suffering an injury in Week 4 that kept him out of three games, he wasn't the same upon his return.
Moreover, the Minnesota Vikings' offense was required to move to a quick-strike strategy with an offensive line in shambles and no running game with Adrian Peterson on the shelf. So when Diggs did come back, he was both bothered by a lingering injury, and hamstrung by an offense that couldn't provide Sam Bradford time to take any chances downfield.
But after finishing as the 29th-best offensive line unit in 2016 per Pro Football Focus, the Vikings are projected to sport the 14th-best offensive line this season. With Dalvin Cook and Latavius Murray now in the backfield, the Vikings have multiple threats to make opposing defenses respect the run and offering up opportunities for deep shots down the field.
Fortunately for Diggs owners, he could get those chances right out of the gate. With shootout potential in Weeks 1, 2, and 4 against the Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Detroit Lions, Diggs has a great opportunity to start the season hot based on his matchups.
