Fantasy Upside
Rookie second-round pick Sterling Shepard had a great final season at Oklahoma, catching 86 passes for 1,288 yards and 11 touchdowns. He is a prototype slot receiver with reliable hands, quick feet, and a 5-foot-10-inch frame. He runs well after the catch and should be an ideal fit in Ben McAdoo’s west coast offense. With Rueben Randle off to Philadelphia, Shepard has a good chance to step into the WR2 or WR3 spot immediately, depending on the health of Victor Cruz, and if he does so, he could be in line for 75-100 targets as a rookie.
Fantasy Downside
If Cruz comes back healthy, Shepard may finish third on the team in targets, and there’s no way he’ll challenge Odell Beckham Jr. as the team’s top option in the passing game. His size and skill set makes him an ill-fit as an outside receiver, although that may be mitigated by McAdoo’s system. Shepard is also a rookie and while the trend has changed over the past few years, rookie receivers don’t often make a huge impact immediately.
2016 Bottom Line
Shepard has a pretty high floor for a rookie. He’s already looked good in camp and the Giants throw the ball enough to make a WR3 on their team fantasy viable. Eli Manning was fourth in the league last year with 618 passing attempts, so there should be enough balls to go around, even if Cruz comes back strong. Shepard's 8-9th round price tag is about right for a player with his combination of low risk and high upside.
