The Houston Texans escaped with a 23-20 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 8, but star wide receiver Stefon Diggs suffered a non-contact knee injury. Diggs exited the game in the third quarter and did not return. Here’s the latest on Diggs’ injury and his fantasy football outlook going forward.
What Happened to Texans WR Stefon Diggs in Week 8?
Diggs was hand fighting with Indianapolis Colts cornerback Kenny Moore III when he appeared to get his right foot stuck in the turf and immediately grabbed at his right knee.
Diggs was at least able to walk from the field under his own power and make his way back to the locker room without needing the cart.
Here is the non-contact knee injury suffered by Stefon Diggs pic.twitter.com/GSTvg1BqPd
— Ben Brown 🌻 (@BenBrownPL) October 27, 2024
The fact that Diggs was able to walk off the field is hopefully a good sign. However, we have seen players with knee injuries able to walk off under their own power only then to miss significant time. This is a major blow for a Texans offense that was already without Nico Collins, as he remains on the injured reserve (IR) with a hamstring injury.
Diggs was leading the offense in terms of targets in Week 8 with nine. He had caught five of those for 81 yards and led the team in terms of receiving yards for the game. Diggs is in his first season with the Texans after being traded from the Buffalo Bills in the offseason. He entered the game with 415 yards from 42 receptions, with a catch rate of 76.4%.
DeMeco Ryans Offers Update on Diggs
Diggs has had an excellent injury history, missing just 11 games in his NFL career, six of which came in his first two seasons in Minnesota. Although that could be put to the test as the Texans appeared to be concerned about Diggs following Houston’s win in Week 8.
“It’s unfortunate to see Stef go down there,” Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said after the game. “He’s still being evaluated for a knee. We’ll find out further information as the week goes on.”
While Ryans didn’t offer a detailed update on Diggs’ status, it’s clear that he is worried about the team’s star wide receiver. Diggs will undergo an MRI as the team continues to evaluate his injury.
Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud also offered his thoughts on Diggs following the game.
“Prayers go out to Stef,” Stroud said. “You know him, you know God doesn’t make any mistakes. So, I hope he’s okay. I don’t know what’s going on yet, but I’m praying for him and hoping that he starts to feel better.”
Potential Fantasy Fallout From Diggs’ Injury
Collins has one more week on his IR stint, making this a thin receiver room in Houston for the short term. Tank Dell’s value rises the most, though his size profile could make the WR1 role a net downgrade due to defenses scheming more in his direction. Should Diggs miss time, Dell will be a WR2, though one that comes with a wide range of outcomes.
Dalton Schultz is the primary fantasy gainer here, as any high-volume role at the tight end position is noteworthy. His weekly ceiling isn’t overwhelming, but the floor that comes with this role would land him inside the top 15 at the position.
C.J. Stroud’s value is on shaky ground, and he’s more of a matchup play in the short term. Once he gets Collins back, however, you can feel good about locking him in weekly.