The Giants selected Sterling Shepard in the second round. Considering the team's roster, he stands a chance to be one of the top 3 receiving targets right away. Maybe even No. 2.
Michael Eisen of Giants.com expects Shepard to be heavily targeted from the start. He thinks that will happen even if Victor Cruz is able to come all the way back from the knee and calf injuries that wrecked his season a year ago. "As long as he proves he can handle the workload, a productive, sure-handed, speedy receiver like Shepard should constantly be in the middle of the action," he writes.
As for Cruz, the team is bringing him along slowly. He concedes he's not sure he'll be fully cleared by training camp. It's only May and no time to worry, but it's a reminder of the significance of the injury he's trying to come back from. It's not a given he'll be the same player he used to be.
In Shepard and fifth-rounder Paul Perkins, the Giants will have two of the more intriguing fantasy rookies, particularly in long-term formats. Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News, however, isn't sure Perkins will have a major impact as a rookie. He thinks it will be a Rashad Jennings-Shane Vereen backfield.
Vacchiano hopes it was Tom Coughlin, not coordinator Ben McAdoo, who operated the four-man backfield. If so, maybe we'll get more fantasy impact from one or two backs this season.
And lots of targets for Shepard.
--Andy Richardson