Team news: Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Page 75

Third-year wide receiver Mike Evans has slimmed down, and he's loving the results.

"I got my weight down," Evans said after Wednesday's practice. "This is the lightest I've been since college -- around 220. I feel real good."

Last season, Evans, who is 6-foot-5, was listed at 231 pounds. He didn't like the way he felt during the team's offseason conditioning program, though. "In OTAs, I felt slow and heavy," said Evans, who lost the weight by monitoring what he ate more closely. "Now I feel good, like I can run all day."

Evans is also working on reducing drops, the story said. In 2015, he had 1,206 receiving yards, which was 11th in the league. But he caught only 50 percent of his targets -- the lowest percentage of anyone who reached 1,000 yards. Almost every other 1,000-yard receiver was between 8 and 20 percentage points better than Evans, with only T.Y. Hilton (53 percent), Emmanuel Sanders (56 percent) and Allen Robinson (54 percent) near Evans' mark.

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.

After recording 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons, Buccaneers WR Mike Evans looks primed to continue his success in 2016. Head coach Dirk Koetter has spoken about Evans’ intent to improve his chemistry with Jameis Winston and it appears to be going well. The two connected on several passes during team drills at practice, including a handful deep down the field. Evans was also able to successfully limit any drops during the three practices open to the media.

Last year, Evans was the #23 receiver in PPR formats, but he has been working on building better chemistry with his quarterback. He's currently the #8 receiver off the board in early drafts, so the fantasy community is expecting a big bounce back season from the third-year wideout. He was the #13 WR as a rookie and has missed one game in each of his two seasons.

Jameis Winston and Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans worked through countless routes and were together on and off the field. Winston invited Evans over to his house several times this offseason to break down film before watching Golden State Warriors games.

Tim Grover, who has worked with NBA greats Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, received a call in early February. Grover agreed to meet and establish a preliminary workout but under one condition: Winston would have to abide by strict guidelines and show improvement by Grover's next visit.

"I have to put my stamp on him," said Grover, who is very selective about the high-profile clients he trains. "When it's actually time to follow up on it, sometimes athletes don't do it. I wanted to make sure not only was he saying the right things but was doing them."

Grover was pleasantly surprised when he resumed workouts with Winston a month later.

Without depriving Winston of his favorite foods but rather modifying his eating schedule, Grover helped him drop 18 pounds since February. Grover would prefer Winston lose about five more pounds to reach a goal weight between 225 to 229 pounds.

Winston was the #13 fantasy quarterback in his rookie season thanks in large part to his six rushing touchdowns. He may not be able to repeat that feat, but he should be able to improve as a passer and post a similar finish in 2016.