So much of the attention leading up to Super Bowl 2026 has been focused on the two quarterbacks.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold is the betting favorite to win Super Bowl MVP entering Sunday’s game. Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, who has the second-best odds, just found out that he missed out on the regular season NFL MVP award by just one first-place vote.
But neither quarterback can have success Sunday without the help of a skilled receiver to catch those passes, and Maye will need Stefon Diggs at his best if he hopes to pull off the upset at Levi’s Stadium.
Diggs has bounced back well a year after tearing his ACL during his lone season with the Texans. He was Maye’s top target by far this season with 85 catches for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns.
The playoffs have been less dynamic for Diggs and the Patriots’ offense. In fairness to Pats, the three teams they’ve faced — the Chargers, Texans, and Broncos — were all among the 10 best pass defenses in the league this season.
It also didn’t help that they were battling the elements. That won’t be the case in Santa Clara, Calif, where the weather will be a comfortable 55 degrees all game.
Here’s where things are looking up for Diggs. Despite the tough opponents and horrible conditions, he still led the Pats in receptions in the last two games.
He’s been Maye’s most reliable target this season, pulling in 83.3 percent of his targets, which is the best mark among players with 100 targets this season.
Betting on the NFL?
Diggs also has big game experience on his side. So many of the key players in this game are playing in the playoffs for the first time, but Diggs has been in big postseason games more than most on the field.
I’m expecting Maye to lean heavily on Diggs in this game, and I think Diggs will deliver. He has averaged five receptions per game this season, so we’re betting him to have a median performance.
I think Cardi B’s boyfriend is more than capable of getting it done.
The pick: Stefon Diggs Over 4.5 receptions (-118, FanDuel)
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Malik Smith has been immersed in the sports betting industry since 2017. He’s a data nerd with a particular focus on the NBA and combat sports. He spends his weeknights in the winter looking for edges on plus-money NBA player props.
