Will Sterling Shepard Be Ready By Week 1? Fantasy Football Injury Update

June 17, 2023

Will Sterling Shepard be ready for Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season? Will he be a fantasy football asset this year with the Giants? Will he be a starter in 2023?

Will Sterling Shepard be ready by week one? According to Shepard, the answer to that question is a resounding "yes." Two days ago, Shepard claimed that he is "right on schedule" in regard to the rehabbing of the ACL he tore last season. Adding that the "goal is to be ready for the season," the veteran receiver will be competing for snaps in a Giants wide receiver corps that includes Isaiah Hodgins, Darius Slayton, Parris Campbell, Jalin Hyatt, Darren Waller, and Wan'Dale Robinson (knee).

Shepard caught 13 passes in three games last year before he tore his ACL. In the campaign the year before, he played in only seven games, catching 36 passes for 154 yards and one touchdown before his Achilles injury.

While no longer viewed as a starter, his presence on the team as a leader is vital to the Giants and helped lead to his extension with the Giants back in March.

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How Did Sterling Shepard Play in the Weeks Before His ACL Tear?

In the first three games of the 2022 campaign, Shepard led the Giants' receiving corps with 24 targets, 154 receiving yards, one touchdown, and 51.3 receiving yards per game. He was looking well coming out of training camp and would have continued on his successful start to the season had it not been for his injury.

Before his Achilles injury in 2021, Shepard led the Giants' receivers in targets, receptions, and receiving yards per game for the first seven games of the season.

Should I Pickup Sterling Shepard in Fantasy Football?

Given the range of outcomes that could arise after he is fully recovered, Shepard could become a prominent part of the Giants' offense or emerge as a waiver-wire option as the season progresses. Most people recover from an ACL tear within six to nine months and based on Shepard's own timeline (I'll trust him on this one), and the best doctors and treatment money can buy, I believe he'll be back at the start of this season.

After playing only ten games over the past two seasons, he still has much to prove concerning his health. That said, he has proven to be a pivotal member of the receiving corps and loves being a New York Giant. He is looking to come out strong and prove himself after an injury-riddled last two seasons.

Shepard will continue to be a favorite target of Daniel Jones and if both players stay healthy, the partnership will continue to flourish, whether at the beginning or middle of the season.

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