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Friday PM update: Shepard is officially a no-go for Sunday’s matchup at New Orleans.
WR Sterling Shepard (hamstring), WR Darius Slayton (hamstring), and G Ben Bredeson (hand) are all officially OUT for the Giants on Sunday.
— Ralph Vacchiano (@RVacchianoSNY) October 1, 2021
LB Tae Crowder (hamstring), TE Kaden Smith (knee), CB Keion Crossen (elbow) and S Nate Ebner (quad) are QUESTIONABLE.
Friday update: Shepard was once again absent from practice for a third straight day, per Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News. He’s not expected to be available for the Giants’ matchup at the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
Thursday update: Shepard was absent from practice for a second straight day, per ESPN’s Jordan Raanan. It’s “not looking good” for both Shepard and Darius Slayton playing in Week 4 vs. the Saints. Both WRs have hamstring issues and could be held out, leaving New York with a very thin/inexperienced receiving core.
Wednesday update: Sterling Shepard isn’t at practice on Wednesday, per ESPN’s Jordan Raanan. Darius Slayton, who is also dealing with a hamstring injury, wasn’t there either. The teams could be down to Kenny Golladay, Collin Johnson and rookie Kadarius Toney this week.
New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard has a chance to play next Sunday on the road against the New Orleans Saints, per Ryan Dunleavy. Shepard left Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons with a hamstring injury.
Fantasy football implications
Losing Shepard for Sunday is a huge blow to the Giants as he’s been their best wide receiver through the first three weeks of the season. In the regular season opener against the Denver Broncos, he had seven receptions (nine targets) for 113 yards and a touchdown. He followed that up the next week with nine receptions (10 targets) for 94 yards against the Washington Football Team.
For fantasy options, keep an eye out for second-year wide receiver Collin Johnson and rookie wideout Kadarius Toney. Johnson had five receptions (seven targets) for 51 yards. Meanwhile, Toney recorded two receptions (three targets) for 16 yards.