Washington’s receiver room just changed in a big way. Terry McLaurin suffered a torn patellar tendon that will end his season, leaving Stefon Diggs as the clear top option for Jayden Daniels coming out of the bye. Diggs already leads the Commanders in targets and has scored four touchdowns, and now he gets a Philadelphia defense that has been generous to receivers near the end zone on Sunday Night Football. Find out whether you should start or sit Stefon Diggs in Week 8.
Stefon Diggs Start or Sit Advice for Week 8
Diggs’ role was already secure, and it is about to get bigger. He leads Washington with 38 targets, a 20.3% share at 7.6 per game, and he has four red zone targets to go with four touchdowns. McLaurin’s 27 targets and 20.6% share of the air yards now need a new home, and Diggs is the natural first beneficiary.
The matchup is excellent. Philadelphia allows 39.4 PPR points per game to wide receivers against a league average of 31.5, along with 185.3 receiving yards and 67.9 YAC per game. Most important, the Eagles have surrendered 26 red zone targets and nine touchdowns to receivers, both well above league averages of 15.3 and 5.8. For a receiver with four touchdowns already, that is a major opening. The Eagles have faced Washington, Tennessee, Chicago, the Rams, Jacksonville, Carolina and Dallas, a group throwing right around league average against them, so these numbers are not a schedule mirage.
The Eagles’ secondary is also dealing with injuries. Cornerback Michael Carter II has been limited this week while working back from an abdomen injury, cornerback Jonathan Jones has not practiced, and safety Marcus Epps has been limited.
Diggs has also shown a ceiling. He posted 21.7 PPR points in Week 2 and 16.4 in Week 6, his last game before the bye.
The Biggest Fantasy Risk for Stefon Diggs in Week 8
Diggs has been managing hand and hamstring issues this week. He missed practice early in the week, a day that included rest, then returned as a full participant, so he appears on track, but it is worth monitoring heading into a late kickoff.
Efficiency has also been modest. Diggs is averaging 5.6 yards per target with a 63.2% catch rate, so his production leans on volume and touchdowns rather than big plays. Four touchdowns on 24 catches is a scoring rate that will be hard to sustain, and a week without a score could look ordinary.
Washington’s offense is the other limit. The Commanders are throwing for 200.0 yards per game with a 94.2 team passer rating and scoring 22.0 points per game. Without McLaurin, defenses can focus more attention on Diggs, which could cut into his efficiency even as his volume rises.
Fantasy Outlook for Stefon Diggs in Week 8
Diggs is a Strong Start in Week 8 and belongs in lineups as a solid WR2. McLaurin’s season-ending injury pushes more volume his way, and Philadelphia has given up red zone looks and touchdowns to receivers at an alarming rate.
The modest efficiency and the hand and hamstring issues keep a bit of uncertainty in his floor, but the opportunity and matchup are too strong to bench. Lock him in for Sunday night.