Green Bay Packers: 5 Toughest matchups for Jaire Alexander in 2019
By Joe Kipp
2. Stefon Diggs, Week 2 and 16
Minneosta Vikings receiver Stefon Diggs has had an interesting career thus far. Drafted in the fifth round in 2015, Diggs has been an outstanding receiver while on the field. The biggest issue has been injuries. Diggs has missed nine games in his career thus far, mostly due to soft tissue injuries. That said, his explosive ability and route running make him one of the most dangerous weapons in the NFL.
It’s arguable whether Diggs or Adam Thielen is the true No. 1 receiver for Minnesota. In any case, many believe Diggs to be the more talented wideout, with the ability to score any time he touches the ball. He sees most of his work underneath, utilized with bubble screens, crossing routes and short slants. Last season, Diggs caught 102 passes for 1,021 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging just 10.0 yards per catch.
Alexander didn’t spend much time covering Diggs last season, mainly because of his assignment with Thielen, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see defensive coordinator Mike Pettine delegate most of the attention to Diggs. In fact, we could see one game where Alexander spends the majority of the time against Thielen with the other against Diggs. Pettine is well-known for mixing up his game plans.