Sterling Shepard (WR, NYG) - Week 4 Waiver Wire Pickups

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ANALYSIS: New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard has developed into an excellent sidekick to the team's top-playmaker Odell Beckham. The third-year pro led the Giants with 731 receiving yards -- 315 of those yards coming after the catch -- despite playing in just 11 games last year. However, most of that work came with Beckham sidelined.

This season -- despite the fact that Beckham is healthy once again and the Giants added an excellent pass-catching option out of the backfield in Saquon Barkley in the draft -- Shepard has been highly involved in the offense. Shepard is coming off a season-best performance against the Houston Texans in Week 3 where he racked up six catches for 80 yards along with the game-winning touchdown. The game marked the second time that Eli Manning has targeted him seven times in a game this year. Still, Shepard could see a significant increase in targets with tight end Evan Engram out between two-and-four weeks.

The 5-foot-10, 203-pound wideout has hauled in 14 of 19 targets this season for 159 yards and one touchdown overall. He already has two-five reception games to give him 15 such games in 30 career contests. While he won't overtake Beckham as Manning's favorite target, Manning has shown a propensity to look for Shepard in the red zone. The 25-year-old has been targeted three times by Manning in the red zone, which is equal to what Beckham's number. Overall, Shepard ranks among the top-50 wide receivers in receptions along with targets, receiving yards, yards after catch, target share and WOPR per Air Yards.com.

Shepard has a solid Week 4 matchup against a vulnerable New Orleans Saints secondary. The Saints secondary entered the season ranked as the eighth best in the league by Pro Football Focus. But 2017 Pro Bowl corner Marshon Lattimore, while still above average, has regressed after an outstanding rookie campaign and veteran nickel back Patrick Robinson has been placed on injured reserve with a broken left ankle. Ken Crawley, who was replaced in the starting lineup by P.J. Williams last week, has struggled this season in coverage and overall. The defensive combo of Crawley and Williams got taken to the woodshed by Atlanta Falcons rookie Calvin Ridley three times last week. Crawley and Williams have combined to give up a perfect quarterback rating of 158.3 in their coverage. It would behoove fantasy owners to grab Shepard off the waiver wire and just watch the fantasy points rack up.