The Tampa Bay Buccaneers agreed to terms with veteran free-agent wide receiver Sterling Shepard on an undisclosed one-year deal on Thursday, according to a source. After eight seasons with the New York Giants after he was drafted in the second round in 2016 out of Oklahoma, Shepard will reunite with former Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield. The 31-year-old veteran pass-catcher played in 15 games (two starts) in 2023, but he was on the field for a combined 10 games in 2021 and 2022 due to serious injuries, which have sapped his fantasy value heading into 2024. He caught 10 of his 22 targets in a limited role with New York last year for just 57 yards and a touchdown. With better health, Shepard could find himself with a bigger role, but he'll merely be competing for a depth role behind Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Trey Palmer.
Darius Slayton, Sterling Shepard Practice On Thursday
New York Giants wide receivers Darius Slayton (neck) and Sterling Shepard (back) both practiced on Thursday. Slayton practiced in a limited capacity while Shepard was a full participant. Slayton caught four passes for 82 yards and one touchdown last week, putting him on the fantasy radar as a WR4. Shepard, on the other hand, lacks fantasy appealing heading into the Giants' Week 12 clash with the Patriots.
Sterling Shepard Limited On Wednesday With Hip Injury
New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard (hip) got in a limited practice on Wednesday ahead of his team's Week 12 matchup against the New England Patriots. Shepard caught one of his three targets for five yards in a Week 11 win over the Washington Commanders. The veteran wideout could just be having his practice reps managed by the Giants early in the week. That being said, his ability to remain at least limited in practice on Thursday and Friday would be a good sign as to his availability in Week 12.
New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard drew a season-high in targets (four) in Week 10 against Dallas, converting his only catch into a short touchdown. Despite a marginal increase in activity, the veteran wideout needs to be nowhere near fantasy football rosters in any format. Shepard has just five catches on the entire season and is routinely playing 20 percent of the snaps or fewer. Undrafted rookie quarterback Tommy Devito is struggling to connect with every pass-catching option on the roster, not just Shepard. The Washington Commanders own one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL, but it won't make much of a difference for Shepard with DeVito under center.
Sterling Shepard Catches Late Touchdown Against Dallas
New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard snagged his first touchdown of the 2023 season on a two-yard reception with just six seconds remaining in the game. It was the veteran's only catch of the contest. Unfortunately for the Giants, the late touchdown only allowed New York to lose by 32 points. Despite a lack of playmakers on the roster, Shepard has taken a back seat to other wide receivers this season. His touchdown grab was just his fifth catch of the campaign. With a lack of involvement and undrafted rookie Tommy Devito under center, Shepard doesn't need to be on fantasy football radars. His score can be viewed as nothing more than a garbage time touchdown.
New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll said he expects wide receiver Sterling Shepard to play more in Week 5 against the Miami Dolphins. Daboll indicated the team had more personnel packages with Shepard in them for the Monday night game against the Seattle Seahawks, but they didn't use them. The Giants' receiver room is crowded, but apparently they want to get the 30-year-old more involved after he hasn't played more than 20 percent of the offensive snaps through the first four weeks. He has only two receptions on three targets for 10 yards. Even if Shepard sees the field more this Sunday, none of New York's pass-catchers can really be trusted right now in an offense that has been putrid early on.
Sterling Shepard Lost In The Wide Receiver Crowd To Begin Season
New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard has ended each of the last two seasons on injured reserve. Due to his pension for finding himself on the shelf, the Giants brought in a slew of receiving options. Now, the veteran finds himself deeper on the depth chart. The ex-Oklahoma Sooner averaged eight targets per game in his three appearances in 2022. A majority of those targets in Week 1 will now be divided between starters Isaiah Hodgins, Parris Campbell, and tight end Darren Waller. Shepard is not on fantasy football radars until he proves to be a consistent option in 2023.
Sterling Shepard Catches One Pass In Return To Game Action
New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard played in his first game in Friday's preseason contest against the Carolina Panthers since tearing his ACL in Week 3 of 2022, and he hauled in his only target for a six-yard gain. Shepard has had extremely bad injury luck the last two years -- he's played in just 10 games -- and now has more competition than ever in the slot in New York heading into the 2023 campaign. The 30-year-old is healthy for now, but he's currently too buried on the receiver depth chart to be considered a realistic option in fantasy football drafts. Former Indianapolis Colts wideout Parris Campbell is the leading candidate to start in the slot for the G-Men, and they also have second-year receiver Wan'Dale Robinson and veterans Cole Beasley and Jamison Crowder as options in the slot.
New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard (knee) has been activated from the PUP list and will practice on Sunday. The veteran wideout hopes to stay healthy this season, mainly since he played seven games in 2021 because of a torn Achilles and three in 2022 because of a torn ACL. Shepard, who has played his entire career in New York, has the benefit of playing for Brian Daboll, one of the best offensive minds in the National Football League. But even if he manages to stay on the field, he might have difficulty finding consistent targets during the 2023-24 campaign, considering the Giants Isaiah Hodgins, Darius Slayton, and Darren Waller, among others, will be vying for looks from Daniel Jones.
Wan'Dale Robinson, Sterling Shepard Placed On PUP List
The New York Giants placed wide receivers Wan'Dale Robinson (knee) and Sterling Shepard (knee) and defensive tackle A'Shawn Robinson (knee) on the Physically Unable to Perform list on Tuesday. Both Wan'Dale Robinson and Shepard are attempting to return from torn ACLs suffered last season. Robinson, 22, is a former second-rounder, but his role is uncertain heading into the 2023 campaign now that the Giants have Parris Campbell, Jamison Crowder (calf), Shepard and Cole Beasley as options in the slot. Robinson has more fantasy upside than the oft-injured Shepard at this point, but Campbell could be a real nuisance for Robinson's potential ceiling in his second NFL season. Given his injury and now-crowded receiver corps in New York, Robinson will likely start on the waiver wire in most redraft fantasy leagues this year.
