Is Michael Davis Or Sterling Shepard the Giants’ No. 1 Wide Receiver?
No doubt there are still questions surrounding Mike Davis or Sterling Shepard, but one thing is for certain: This Giants team desperately needs some help up the middle. And now. Their receiving corps is in disarray.
Shepard, who had been on the physically unable to perform list since December, has been cleared for return. He’s still recovering from a torn Achilles but should be ready for this weekend’s game against the Cowboys.
So far this season, the Giants’ wide receivers have been a mess. But Shepard could be their answer. He’s a big target who can get open in the slot and an incredibly accurate route runner. Shepard could be just what they need to turn things around.
He’s fast, too, which allows him to get around defenders and make a catch. And with Coach Brian Daboll’s new-look offense in place, he could potentially become more than just a depth receiver.
Shepard can offer Daniel Jones stability and the kind of support he needs to start making his mark as an NFL quarterback. That would be a tremendous help, and could even be the difference in getting the Giants their first win of the season.
Shepard is a veteran, so he should have no trouble fitting into the new system. Additionally, Shepard is motivated to get healthy and play again after missing the first six games due to injury.
His father Derrick Shepard played football for the University of Oklahoma, so he has firsthand knowledge of what it takes to succeed in this league. Additionally, he’s known for his willingness to show up each day at practice – an invaluable trait for any NFL player.
It should come as no shock that Shepard is the top contender for a starting role this year. The Giants need an experienced presence up front, and Shepard looks poised to fill that role.
He can play both deep and wideout roles, so he should be an ideal addition to Daboll’s offense. Daboll favors small, quick receivers who can make plays out of the pocket and fool defenders.
Shepard can be an excellent fantasy option in PPR formats if he can achieve those results. The wide receiver has plenty of potential and should be in the mix for some key targets this week.
Shepard should get some playing time against the Cowboys this week, and with the Giants’ severely limited wideout depth, he represents an excellent value at this stage in the season.
Shepard hasn’t been the same player since his Achilles injury in December, but he’s shown plenty of promise this season. As a reliable route runner with plenty of upside, Shepard could be an excellent pick for fantasy owners in any league looking to replace their leading receiver. With such talent on board, fantasy owners should feel confident picking him up this season.