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Sterling Shepard 2022 NFL Player Outlook – Potential No. 1 WR in New York
2 years agoNew York Giants wideout Sterling Shepard opened the 2021 season on fire, catching 16-of-19 targets for 207 yards and a touchdown in his first two games. However, in typical Giants' fashion, the injury bug struck. After suffering a hamstring injury in Week 3, he returned in Week 6 and produced a 10-catch, 74-yard performance before dealing with injuries once again and never returning to his greatest form. He ultimately finished with just 36 catches for 366 yards and one touchdown in seven games played. However, his early-season breakout showed us he could be the team's No. 1 WR, so why is most of the fantasy football community writing him off? RotoBaller rankings place him at the WR92 spot in PPR leagues, but his ceiling is far greater. Yes, New York has a crowded group of skilled players, with Wan'Dale Robinson, Kadarius Toney, Kenny Golladay, and even Saquon Barkley. However, Shepard has every opportunity to be the top target in 2022. If this offense takes a significant step forward under Brian Daboll, Shepard has top-24 upside in PPR leagues. We know he can command targets, so if there are more scoring opportunities, he might just be a late-round lotto-ticket stash who could outperform ADP and preseason rankings. His upside is higher than guys ranked above him, such as Byron Pringle, Laviska Shenault Jr., and Devin Duvernay. In late drafts, taking the upside is all that matters. Throw safety out the window and select a player who could smash his draft spot. We know the Giants will have to air it out to stay in games, so in 2022, Shepard could be that guy.
