Lost in the brilliance of Odell Beckham Jr. and the emergence of Sterling Shepard have been the New York Giants tight ends. Larry Donnell and Will Tye, last year’s starters, have flown under the radar.

It’s not as if they’re not making plays. Every day it seems Donnell, Tye and even Matt LaCosse are catching balls with the first-team offense. But with the reps split between the three, there haven’t been many days with dominant tight end performances.

It served as a reminder that the Giants may have their deepest group of tight ends in recent years. Donnell, Tye and LaCosse have all looked good as receivers this summer. They have looked serviceable as blockers, the story said.. Donnell is trying to get back to full speed. He fractured his neck last season and the Giants thought he was playing a little slow in the spring. He’s been playing faster this summer, and he was moving well on Tuesday. The story added the Giants are adapting and using many two-TE sets in practice as well as moving around their TEs. Tye has even lined up as a WR.

Giants rookie wide receiver Sterling Shepard is making plays.

Shepard worked with the first-team offense and caught several passes during team drills. None were more impressive than when he plucked an Eli Manning pass out of the air in the middle of the field during a no-huddle drill.

He continues to be an early offseason story for the Giants and someone to really keep an eye on in the fantasy world. The author also had in the story that one NFC executive told him Shepard's "going to be a really good player." The team continues to bring Victor Cruz along slowly.

Giants WR Sterling Shepard has been lining up opposite Odell Beckham Jr. in two-receiver sets in the first two training camp practices. When the Giants use three receivers, Shepard has played outside and in the slot.

The bottom line is that the second round pick out of Oklahoma has been on the field a lot. The same was true during minicamp in the spring. So Ben McAdoo's comment about playing young players didn't come as a surprise.

The 5-foot-10, 194-pound Shepard has the prototypical frame and quickness of a slot receiver, but he's comfortable moving around the formation. McAdoo said he trusts Shepard and the team isn't going to be afraid to play younger players. It's not always easy for rookie WRs to make an impact, and some following the team felt Shepard's final stats may not impress this year, however that could change if Shepard keeps getting opportunities.

There has been a palpable buzz around Giants WR Sterling Shepard ever since the Giants selected him in the second round of this year's NFL Draft.

All indications are he has the ability to be a perfect running partner to Odell Beckham Jr. and give the Giants a second star in their receiving corps. But it's tough for rookie wideouts to step right in and put up big numbers.

Shepard should put together a solid rookie year, but his stats may not knock you out when all is said and done.

The potential return of Victor Cruz could impact what Shepard does this year as could Dwayne Harris who also seems in store for work. Cruz is expected to be a full-go when camp starts on Friday but the Giants will likely take it slow with Cruz which could mean lots of early opportunities for Shepard in camp.

The comparisons between Sterling Shepard and Odell Beckham aren’t just in the unrelated complements from evaluators. Giants’ defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo flat-out mistook Sterling Shepard for Odell Beckham Jr. :

"I'll tell you, I was looking at tape the other day and we had a receiver doing some things against us and I told the staff we have to do a better job there against Odell (Beckham, Jr.). And then I looked again and it was not Odell -€” it was actually Shepard."

It's a good sign for Shepard if his own defensive coordinator can't tell him apart from one of the best receivers in the league. It appears that Shepard is going to play starter's snaps regardless of the status of Victor Cruz. Rueben Randle was the #32 WR in PPR formats serving as the Giants' WR2 last year.

Star wideout Odell Beckham Jr. says he is excited to play with rookie Sterling Shepard for reasons he'd prefer not elaborate at this time.

"He's going to be a phenomenal player," Beckham said Tuesday after the Giants opened their three-day mandatory minicamp. "I just feel like I really know what he's capable of, and I'd rather let him just shock the world than spill his secrets."

"He can run routes, he can catch, he can pretty much do it all. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing him develop," Beckham said, adding that Shepard has adjusted well to the Giants' offense after a few understandable early rough patches while learning the system."

It appears that Shepard is going to play starter's snaps regardless of the status of Victor Cruz. Rueben Randle was the #32 WR in PPR formats serving as the Giants' WR2 last year. Shepard is small and quick and could play the Randall Cobb role in Ben McAdoo's offense.

There has been nothing but raves for Sterling Shepard, the second-round receiver out of Oklahoma, who has drawn comparisons to both a healthy Victor Cruz and to Odell Beckham. He has flashed terrific speed and great hands throughout the Giants' spring drills and appears to be a lock to land in the starting lineup.

The mini-camp drills will be more of the same — no contact, no game-planning — but it'll be more of an opportunity to watch him one-on-one against the Giants' best cornerbacks. So far he's been up to the challenge and the excitement over the 22-year-old sure has seemed justified.

Shepard's fantasy value will depend somewhat on the status of Victor Cruz, but it appears that the rookie may start even if Cruz is 100 percent.

Second-round wide receiver Sterling Shepard is in the best position to make a significant impact. The Giants targeted him early in the draft process as a wideout they liked, and coach Ben McAdoo sees him as a player he can use all over the formation in a variety of roles as a complement to star Odell Beckham Jr. With Rueben Randle gone and Victor Cruz still a major question mark as he attempts his comeback from knee and calf injuries, there's an opening for a No. 2 wide receiver in New York. Shepard will get every opportunity to lock down the role for the short and long term, and he has the skill set to do it.

The only thing standing in the way of a major role for Shepard is Cruz and his balky knee and calf. If Cruz looks like his old self, then the Giants will probably let Shepard grow into a larger role, but if Cruz doesn't have a great offseason then Shepard will be thrust into a major role immediately. He could fill the Randall Cobb role in Ben McAdoo's offense.