Week 16 at Arizona Cardinals
Sterling Shepard had had a season full of ups and downs, but he was very good against the Eagles last week, catching 11 passes for 139 yards and a touchdown. He was targeted 16 times, after being targeted only 3 times against the Cowboys in Week 14.
Shepard has upside as clearly the best healthy receiver for the Giants, but he also has risk because of how volatile he and the New York offense has been this year. He’ll face a Cardinals defense that has been average against the wide receiver position this year, but he may face up against Patrick Peterson, limiting his value. Fantasy owners in deep leagues and PPR formats should consider Shepard as a fringe WR2/WR3/FLEX option, but know that he has some risk associated with him.
Week 15 vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Sterling Shepard was disappointing last week against the Cowboys, catching only 2 passes for 16 yards. Shepard should be the primary target for the Giants, but he’s had nagging issues with headaches and a hamstring issue. He hasn’t looked fully healthy since coming back to action in Week 13.
This week, Shepard has some upside against the Eagles in a game that could feature a fair amount of passing. The Eagles are so stout against the run, the Giants may need to throw the ball to have any chance of getting first downs. However, outside of deep PPR leagues, it’s probably unwise to bank on Shepard or any Giants receiver this week.
Week 14 vs. Dallas Cowboys
Sterling Shepard only caught 3 passes for 56 yards last week against the Raiders, but he was dealing with Geno Smith at quarterback. Shepard remains the most talented healthy receiver on the Giants roster right now, and he should get plenty of targets moving forward.
This week, Shepard gets Eli Manning back at quarterback, and he’ll face a Cowboys defense allowing the third-most fantasy points to opposing receivers. Shepard should catch enough passes to make him a high-floor option in PPR formats and he has WR2 potential.
Week 13 at Oakland Raiders
Sterling Shepard has missed the last couple of games, but is supposed to return this week. He’s definitely the best healthy receiver the Giants have and should be heavily targeted if he plays this week. However, with Geno Smith set to start at quarterback, and Shepard’s status up in the air, he should probably be left on the bench. While he has upside in a good matchup against the Raiders, who allow the best passer rating to opposing quarterbacks this year, fantasy owners should take a wait-and-see approach with Shepard.
Week 12 at Washington
Sterling Shepard missed the game against the Chiefs last week with an illness, but he’s on track to play Thursday against Washington. Be sure to have a backup plan for him in case he’s a late scratch again, but he has upside against a Washington defense that has allowed 18 touchdown passes this year. Shepard should see a ton of targets go his way, if he’s active. He has WR2 potential in a good matchup.
Week 11 vs. Kansas City Chiefs
The Giants have been leaning heavily on Sterling Shepard in the passing game over the past two weeks, as he’s been targeted 22 times, catching 16 passes for 212 yards in that span. Shepard should continue to be the primary target at the receiver position for quarterback Eli Manning, and he has WR2 potential each week as a result.
This week, Shepard has WR1 upside against the Chiefs. Kansas City has allowed the most fantasy points per game to opposing receivers this season, and Shepard should continue to be heavily targeted. Fantasy owners in all league formats should have him active this week.
Update: Shepard is likely to miss the game with an illness. It's hard to trust any of the Giants WRs in his stead, so it's probably best to look elsewhere.
Week 10 at San Francisco 49ers
Sterling Shepard looked healthy last week against the Rams, and the Giants need him badly. He was second on the team with 9 targets, and he caught 5 balls for 70 yards. While those numbers don’t pop out at you, it was good to see any Giants receiver Giants put up a viable stat line.
This week, Shepard should continue to be the primary outside target for quarterback Eli Manning. He faces a vulnerable 49ers pass defense that has allowed 16 touchdown passes this year. While it’s hard to get too excited about the Giants, Shepard should be considered a potential low-end WR2 option in this matchup. He might also be an excellent bye week filler for teams needing help at the position.
Week 9 vs. Los Angeles Rams
Sterling Shepard is supposed to be okay this week after missing the past two games with an ankle injury. Shepard is the last player standing in a receiving corps that has been ravaged by injuries this season, and he should benefit from additional targets as a result.
This week, Shepard has low-end WR2 potential against the Rams. Los Angeles has given up only 205 passing yards per game this year, but with the target volume Shepard is likely to receive, he has enough upside to warrant consideration in deep leagues. Make sure you check the last-minute inactives, but early signs point to him returning to action this week.
Week 6 at Denver Broncos
Sterling Shepard may be the last man standing in New York after the Giants lost three WRs to season-ending injuries last week. He only had 1 catch for 9 yards last week, but he should benefit from an increased number of targets moving forward. Against the No Fly Zone this week, he should be avoided if possible. Shepard should be rostered in most leagues, but he should be considered a very low-end WR3 at best this week in a tough matchup.
Update: Shepard has been ruled out for Week 6, so make sure you get him out of your lineup. He still belongs on rosters for depth, especially given the injuries the Giants have at the position.
Week 5 vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Sterling Shepard has been one of the more effective receivers for the Giants so far this season—aside from Odell Beckham Jr. However, there are only so many targets available as the third WR on the depth chart. Shepard has upside in any given week and has a relatively high floor with an average of 5.25 receptions and 63.5 yards per game. Regardless of the matchup, he’s not likely to produce enough to make him better than a low-end WR3 option in large leagues.
