I don’t expect I’ll come close to drafting either Brandon Marshall or Evan Engram this year. With Engram, I just don’t like rookie tight ends. And with both of these players, I think they’ll face an uphill battle trying to see enough targets, given the depth of New York’s receiving corps.
Odell Beckham Jr., of course, is about as good as any receiver in the game. He’ll be their No. 1 option.
But I also see Sterling Shepard as a viable target. He had a really good rookie season, catching 65 balls. He’s not a burner, but he’s quick and tough – and willing to make catches in traffic.
In the last 10 years, only 13 rookie wide receivers have caught more passes than Shepard. I think he’s for real, and my leaning is that he’ll be more productive than Marshall. I believe Shepard will be a lot more productive than Engram.
ROOKIE WIDE RECEIVERS WITH 50 CATCHES (2007-2016) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Player | No | Yards | Avg | TD |
2016 | Michael Thomas, N.O. | 92 | 1,137 | 12.4 | 9 |
2008 | Eddie Royal, Den. | 91 | 980 | 10.8 | 5 |
2014 | Odell Beckham Jr., NYG | 91 | 1,305 | 14.3 | 12 |
2014 | Jarvis Landry, Mia. | 84 | 758 | 9.0 | 5 |
2014 | Kelvin Benjamin, Car. | 73 | 1,008 | 13.8 | 9 |
2015 | Amari Cooper, Oak. | 72 | 1,070 | 14.9 | 6 |
2013 | Keenan Allen, S.D. | 71 | 1,046 | 14.7 | 8 |
2007 | Dwayne Bowe, K.C. | 70 | 995 | 14.2 | 5 |
2014 | Mike Evans, T.B. | 68 | 1,051 | 15.5 | 12 |
2014 | Jordan Matthews, Phil. | 67 | 872 | 13.0 | 8 |
2010 | Mike Williams, T.B. | 65 | 964 | 14.8 | 11 |
2011 | A.J. Green, Cin. | 65 | 1,057 | 16.3 | 7 |
2014 | Sammy Watkins, Buff. | 65 | 982 | 15.1 | 6 |
2016 | Sterling Shepard, NYG | 65 | 683 | 10.5 | 8 |
2012 | Justin Blackmon, Jac. | 64 | 865 | 13.5 | 5 |
2012 | Kendall Wright, Tenn. | 64 | 626 | 9.8 | 4 |
2008 | DeSean Jackson, Phil. | 62 | 912 | 14.7 | 4 |
2011 | Greg Little, Clev. | 61 | 709 | 11.6 | 2 |
2016 | Tyreek Hill, K.C. | 61 | 593 | 9.7 | 12 |
2009 | Percy Harvin, Minn. | 60 | 790 | 13.2 | 8 |
2009 | Austin Collie, Ind. | 60 | 676 | 11.3 | 7 |
2015 | Jamison Crowder, Wash. | 59 | 604 | 10.2 | 2 |
2009 | Jeremy Maclin, Phil. | 56 | 773 | 13.8 | 4 |
2011 | Julio Jones, Atl. | 54 | 959 | 17.8 | 8 |
2016 | Tyler Boyd, Cin. | 54 | 603 | 11.2 | 1 |
2008 | Donnie Avery, St.L. | 53 | 674 | 12.7 | 3 |
2014 | Brandin Cooks, N.O. | 53 | 550 | 10.4 | 4 |
2010 | Jordan Shipley, Cin. | 52 | 600 | 11.5 | 3 |
2013 | DeAndre Hopkins, Hou. | 52 | 802 | 15.4 | 2 |
2015 | Stefon Diggs, Minn. | 52 | 720 | 13.8 | 4 |
2011 | Doug Baldwin, Sea. | 51 | 788 | 15.5 | 4 |
2013 | Ace Sanders, Jac. | 51 | 484 | 9.5 | 1 |
2014 | Allen Hurns, Jac. | 51 | 677 | 13.3 | 6 |
2015 | Tyler Lockett, Sea. | 51 | 664 | 13.0 | 8 |
2011 | Torrey Smith, Balt. | 50 | 841 | 16.8 | 7 |
2012 | Josh Gordon, Clev. | 50 | 805 | 16.1 | 5 |
2012 | T.Y. Hilton, Ind. | 50 | 861 | 17.2 | 7 |
—Ian Allan