Stefon Diggs remains a DNP per official report

Diggs did not practice this week and was ruled out by the team shortly after Friday’s practice concluded. His absence will give rookie Antonio Williams, who ran 30 routes last week, a chance to take on a bigger role. Williams tied for the team lead with eight targets in Week 4’s game against the Colts and could be treated as a desperation WR4/FLEX play. Fantasy managers considering Williams for their lineups may want to check the weather, as rain and wind are currently forecasted for the area, which could create a suboptimal environment for Washington’s passing game.

Diggs was unable to get on the practice field this week and will likely be ruled out for Week 5’s game against the Giants in the next few hours. Rookie receiver Antonio Williams would again be in line for a busy day and could be the favorite to lead the team in targets this week, especially if Terry McLaurin (hamstring) also misses this week. McLaurin’s status remains wait and see after he was spotted on the practice field Friday after being a DNP on the first two days.

Diggs was held out of Wednesday’s session because of the hamstring issue. Even a limited practice today puts him on track to suit up on Sunday. Terry McLaurin, on the other hand, looks likely to miss another week with a hamstring injury of his own. That will put Diggs in the WR1 seat for Week 5 against the Giants. Antonio Williams will continue to operate as the team’s No. 2 receiver.

Diggs didn’t appear to get hurt during the Commanders’ Week 4 loss to the Colts, but it looks like he felt something after the game. With Terry McLaurin also sidelined for today’s practice, Antonio Williams could be the Commanders’ No. 1 receiver in Week 5. He saw eight targets on Sunday, only one fewer than Diggs. The Commanders’ absurdly long injury report will be one to monitor as the week progresses.

Diggs was the Commanders’ No. 1 receiver with Terry McLaurin out. That was good for a 24 percent target share and a handful of PPR points, but not much else. Marcus Mariota went down on the second drive and Athan Kaliakmanis took his place for the remainder of the game. Kaliakmanis made a few big throws but the offense struggled on the whole. Diggs could be in line for a big boost in fantasy production if Jayden Daniels is back next week, but McLaurin could just as easily return and take back his WR1 role. Diggs’ Week 5 fantasy outlook could swing wildly depending on how those injuries shake out this week.

Diggs didn’t catch any passes in the first half on his three targets, but “bounced back” in the final two quarters to turn a disaster of a game into a middling one. The wideout was able to score two touchdowns in Week 2 against Dallas, but was closer to non-factor than threat against a tougher Seattle defense. He’ll look to rebound and find the end zone again as the second option behind Terry McLaurin against the Colts in London in Week 4.

Diggs’ six targets were tied for the second-most on the Commanders in Sunday’s loss. Diggs was responsible for both of his team’s touchdowns, with his first coming on a four-yard pass in the end zone from Jayden Daniels, who exited at the end of the second quarter with what has now been diagnosed as a dislocated elbow. In the fourth quarter, Diggs connected with Marcus Mariota for a leaping 20-yard score to cut the Cowboys’ lead to 30-20, but that would be the closest Washington would get to any hopes of a comeback. Diggs has now scored in each of his first two games with the Commanders but will be hard to trust as anything more than a WR3/WR4 against a stout Seahawks defense next week.

Diggs’ nine targets led all Commanders players, while his 55 receiving yards were second to rookie Antonio Williams. He had two crucial drops earlier in the game, but Diggs (somewhat) made up for them when he hauled in a 10-yard receiving touchdown in the fourth quarter as the Commanders were attempting to draw even with the Eagles. Unfortunately, a careless unsportsmanlike penalty by Diggs after the touchdown moved the Commanders out of position to consider going for a two-point conversion while trailing 17-15, instead forcing them to go for a long 47-yard PAT. Diggs’ nine targets were an encouraging sign for him in his Commanders debut, but it’s worth noting that Terry McLaurin saw only four targets after being bottled up for most of the day. That said, Diggs has commanded targets wherever he plays, and could have some value as a WR3 in next week’s game against the Titans.

In addition to Daniels, the Commanders are also expected to play Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs, giving us the first look at the team’s revamped passing game under new offensive coordinator David Blough, with most of its starters on the field. We wouldn’t expect Daniels and company to play more than a series or two, but this will be Daniels’ first game since Week 14 of last season.

Breer adds that third-year Commanders WR Luke McCaffrey has “taken another step.” Perhaps this receiving corps is slightly better than one may have thought a few months ago. Both players are behind WR Terry McLaurin and WR Stefon Diggs, who has “immediately stepped into a leadership role” on his new team, but receiving depth is a plus for QB Jayden Daniels.