Week 4 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sterling Shepard had 7 catches for 133 yards last week against the Eagles, including a 77-yard touchdown reception. Shepard was targeted 10 times and has averaged over 7 targets per game through three games. While Odell Beckham Jr.’s return to form will affect the number of targets available in the Giants offense, Shepard has thus far outperformed Brandon Marshall.
This week, Shepard faces a Bucs team that gave up 369 yards and 3 touchdowns to Case Keenum last week. Shepard should be heavily targeted again this week. He’s hard to trust since he’s technically still third on the depth chart, but he has some upside as a low-end WR3 option.
Week 2 vs. Detroit Lions
Sterling Shepard is an interesting option moving forward. He showed some talent as a rookie last year and he was fed the ball in the opener against Dallas, catching 7-of-8 balls thrown his way. He only wound up with 44 yards, but he was clearly the focal point for Eli Manning with Odell Beckham Jr. nursing an ankle injury.
Shepard has some WR3 potential against the Lions this week if Beckham is still hurt. However, with Beckham expected to make his season debut, it’s unlikely Shepard will duplicate his eight targets from Sunday night. He’s worth adding to your roster since he looked light years better than Brandon Marshall, but he’s not worth putting in your lineup just yet.
Week 1 at Dallas Cowboys
Sterling Shepard had his moments as a rookie last season, but he’ll likely be outshined by Brandon Marshall, and be relegated to the slot position. While the Giants are prolific enough to give him a few good weeks, it’s too risky to trust starting him when he’s third on the depth chart.
This week against Dallas, watch the injury report. If Odell Beckham Jr. ends up missing the game with his recovering sprained ankle, Shepard could rise up to potential WR3 territory. Otherwise, it’s probably better to leave Shepard on the bench.
Fantasy Upside
Sterling Shepard showed a lot of upside last season as a rookie, catching 65 passes on 105 targets for 683 yards and 8 touchdowns. He was second on the team in all receiving categories and proved he has the ability to line up outside the hash marks, not just in the slot. The Giants have been prolific passing the ball in the past, so it is possible for multiple receivers to be viable fantasy options with Eli Manning throwing the ball.
Fantasy Downside
While Shepard is a rising talent in the league, the addition of Brandon Marshall will likely take too many targets for Shepard to get triple-digit looks again. Additionally, Shepard suffered a sprained ankle in training camp. It’s not expected to keep him out of the regular season, but ankle sprains can linger and make receivers less explosive.
2017 Bottom Line
Shepard has some upside, and he’s still a quality player to keep in dynasty formats, but with fewer targets to go around and the possibility of a nagging ankle injury, it’s hard to justify putting a lot of draft capital into him. His ADP is in the 12th round, so if he’s still available at the back end of the draft, he’s worth rostering for depth, but he shouldn’t be considered a breakout candidate this year.
Wild Card Round at Green Bay
Sterling Shepard was largely inconsistent this season, but he finished the year with eight touchdowns, showing a penchant for the end zone. Shepard had only one game with over 100 yards receiving, and that was all the way back in Week 2, but the future looks bright for the rookie, as he was second on the team with 105 targets.
This week, Shepard has some upside against the Packers. Green Bay allowed 32 touchdown passes this season, tied for third most in the league. Additionally, the Green Bay offense has been on a tear over the later part of the season, making it likely that the Giants will need to air it out. While Shepard is a little risky, he’s not a bad low-cost secondary option in leagues that use week-to-week lineups during the playoffs.
Week 17 vs. Washington
Sterling Shepard had a nice game against the Eagles last week, catching seven passes for 61 yards and a touchdown. Shepard has run hot and cold this season, and has been very touchdown dependent, making him a risky option week-to-week. This week against Washington, Shepard will face a defense that gives up passing yards but is tied for 14th in the league with only 22 touchdown passes allowed this year. Shepard should be considered a risky, low-end WR3 option at best in all fantasy leagues and should likely stay on the bench.
Week 16 at Philadelphia
Sterling Shepard had four catches for 56 yards and a touchdown against the Lions last week. He’s been inconsistent for much of the season, and he hasn’t had 100 receiving yards since Week 2. However, he has scored a touchdown in five of his last seven games, making him an interesting upside option, particularly in touchdown-only leagues.
This week, Shepard has some upside against an Eagles team that has allowed 23 touchdown passes this year, tied for 11th most in the league. He’s risky because his fantasy value is so touchdown dependent, but if you’re desperate and needing a WR3 with scoring upside, Shepard might be worth considering.
Week 14 vs. Dallas
Sterling Shepard had a touchdown last week, but he had only four catches for 21 total yards to go with it. The Steelers did a good job containing the New York passing game, and when they face a good defense, it’s hard for the Giants to support more than one quality fantasy receiver. This week against Dallas, expect the Giants to once again lean heavily on Odell Beckham Jr. Shepard has some upside if he gets another eight targets like he did last week, but in the fantasy playoffs, Shepard is too risky to trust in most leagues.
Week 13 vs. Pittsburgh
Sterling Shepard was on the field for 91% of the offensive snaps last week against the Browns but he wasn’t targeted once. Shepard has been up and down this season, which has been frustrating for fantasy owners.
This week, Shepard faces a Steelers defense that has given up the 10th most passing yards, but has allowed only 13 passing touchdowns this season. The Giants may need to throw the ball a lot if Pittsburgh’s offense shows up, but Shepard hasn’t been consistent enough to make him worth gambling on at this point in the season.
Week 12 vs. Cleveland
Sterling Shepard had five catches for 50 yards and a touchdown last week against the Bears. He was also targeted 11 times, which is a good sign for the rookie. Shepard hasn’t eclipsed 50 yards since the third game of the season, but he’s now scored a touchdown in three straight games and has been targeted at least seven times in all but one game this year.
Shepard has a lot of upside this week. While he’s risky because he’s been so touchdown dependent this year, he has some low-end WR3 potential due to a great matchup. The Browns have allowed the most passing touchdowns in the league this season and expect the Giants to continue to look to Shepard as a secondary option in the passing game.
