New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs has been managing his return from a torn ACL throughout the offseason, raising questions about his availability for Week 1. The veteran star has dealt with recovery concerns that kept him out of all preseason games but showed promising signs during training camp. Here’s the latest on Diggs’ status and what fantasy football managers need to know heading into the regular season.
Is Stefon Diggs Playing Week 1?
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel has provided a clear answer regarding Diggs’ Week 1 availability. When asked directly during Tuesday’s appearance on WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show” about the receiver’s status for Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Vrabel was confident in his response.
“Yep, as of today, he’ll be out there,” Vrabel stated. The coach’s declaration comes after weeks of uncertainty surrounding Diggs’ recovery timeline from the ACL injury he suffered in October 2024 while playing for the Houston Texans.
Stefon Diggs looking ready for Week 1🔥
–@CLNSMedia #Patriots #NFL pic.twitter.com/DwM57aQgLM— Patriots on CLNS (@PatriotsCLNS) September 1, 2025
Diggs tore his ACL during Week 8 of last season on a non-contact play, ending what had been a productive start to his campaign with Houston. The injury typically requires 9-12 months of recovery time, making his potential Week 1 return remarkable given the timeline.
The veteran receiver was cleared for full participation when Patriots training camp began in late July. Throughout the summer, he participated in the majority of practices without limitations and made impressive catches during joint practices with the Minnesota Vikings.
However, Diggs created some uncertainty in mid-August when he provided cryptic comments about his Week 1 status during an interview with Dianna Russini. “We’ll see,” Diggs said. “I don’t know how I feel about it, we’ll see. Coaches aren’t too excited, I’m not too excited.”
Vrabel addressed those comments with some irritation when questioned by reporters. “Did you really believe that, Phil?” Vrabel asked NBC Sports Boston reporter Phil Perry. “You’re a smart guy. Do you really believe that or are you just trying to bait me into something?”
The Patriots coach has consistently praised Diggs’ work ethic throughout camp. “He’s been out here almost every day. I’m excited where he’s at,” Vrabel added. Beyond making plays on the field, Diggs has been a vocal presence on the sideline and in the locker room.
Diggs’ Fantasy Football Outlook
Stefon Diggs’ aDOT has dipped from 11.9 yards in 2022 to 10.8 in 2023 and 8.3 in 2024. That’s not rare regarding how a skill set fits the age curve at the receiver position, but it is concerning.
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DeMario Douglas is the designated short-area winner with a feel for this offense, and Drake Maye was the 23rd-ranked passer on short throws as a rookie. For Diggs to succeed at a usable level, he either needs to reverse the course of Father Time and ramp up his aDOT or co-exists with Douglas as a chain mover in an offense with a QB who has yet to show he can expose defenses on those quick routes.
Thanks, but no thanks.
The Raiders had the eighth-highest opponent pass TD rate last season (5.2% of attempts). If my fade on Diggs is going to be wrong, it could be obvious as soon as Week 1, but I’m comfortable in taking my chances in betting against a 31-year-old WR who is on his third team in as many years and didn’t exactly have a clean offseason.
— Kyle Soppe, PFSN Fantasy Analyst
