Sterling Shepard

Shepard's situation might have been better had the Giants not acquired his virtual clone. With Odell Beckham Jr. gone, it looked like Shepard might be the team's undisputed top target, but the Giants quickly signed Golden Tate to a four-year deal, locking him in as the co-No. 1, likely in the slot. Tate's addition should force Shepard to the outside, where he lined up on only 30 percent of his snaps in 2018. Much like the 5-10, 197-pound Tate, Shepard is 5-10, 201, and both have above-average speed (4.48 40 for Shepard). The 25-year-old averaged a modest 8.1 YPT last year and a similarly average 13.2 YPC. He did haul in three catches for 40-plus yards, but lacks the size or deep speed to be a regular field stretcher. Shepard saw a fair amount of red-zone work - 19 targets from inside the 20 and eight inside the 10 - four of which he converted for scores. The Giants are high on Shepard - they gave him a four-year, $41 million contract extension, similar to what they paid Tate. The issues are weak quarterback play from Eli Manning and a crowded receiving corps in the short areas of the field - besides Tate and Shepard, both tight end Evan Engram and running back Saquon Barkley figure to be looking at a lot of targets in similar places. Look for Shepard to run more intermediate routes and possibly increase his efficiency, assuming Manning can still make those throws.

The Giants lost their top three wideouts, Shepard, Brandon Marshall and Odell Beckham, in Week 5 last year, and Shepard was the only one who made it back - before missing Weeks 11 and 12 with migraines. Even so, Shepard managed three 130-yard games in 11 contests, averaging a respectable 8.7 YPT despite playing in one of league's worst passing offenses. Shepard wasn't much good near the goal line - he failed to score from inside the 10 on seven targets, or inside the 20 on 11. Accordingly, he only scored twice all year, and that's despite missing Beckham for most of the season. At 5-10, 194, Shepard is on the small side, but he has a 41-inch vertical leap and a large catch radius for his height. He also has good speed (4.48 40) and is a smooth route runner with good hands. As such, he makes for a steady complement to the more explosive Beckham, and the bigger, faster Evan Engram. Just don't expect too many big plays or touchdowns, especially with uber-prospect Saquon Barkley also added to the mix.

Shepard's rookie season was a mixed bag. On one hand he caught 65 passes and scored eight times. On the other, he rarely made a big play -- six catches of 20-plus yards, none for 40 -- and averaged a paltry 6.5 YPT (36th among the league's 41 100-target WR). At 5-10, 194, Shepard is on the small side, but he has a 41-inch vertical leap and a large catch radius for his height. He also has good speed (4.48 40) and is strong and athletic for his size. Playing opposite Odell Beckham Jr. caps his upside, and it's likely to get worse this year with Brandon Marshall in the fold. Expect Shepard to operate out of the slot and run shorter routes, while Beckham stretches the field and Marshall siphons off red-zone work. As such, Shepard's more viable in PPR this year, but even that requires Eli Manning to play better than he has in recent seasons.

Shepard, a second-round pick, landed in an ideal spot, even more so if Victor Cruz isn't healthy. Playing opposite Odell Beckham Jr. ensures an easy transition where Shepard will never be the focus of defenses. Moreover, the Giants don't target Beckham with an inordinate percentage of their attempts. The Giants were also one of the league's more pass-happy teams, though that could change if their defense moves closer to league average in preventing points. At 5-10, 194, Shepard is on the small side, but plays bigger due to his 41-inch vertical and large catch radius for his height. He also has good speed (4.48 40) and is strong and athletic for a small receiver. He has upside, and even if Cruz were to return to his 2013 level, Shepard would immediately be the No. 3 receiver on a team without a good tight end.