Shepard & Slayton still out Wednesday

Giants WRs Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton remained sidelined on Wednesday with their hamstring injuries. At this point, we should be assuming they won't play vs. the Cowboys this weekend. That'd make WR Kadarius Toney a viable Week 5 fantasy starter. The rookie turned 9 targets into a 6-78 line last week.

The Giants have activated WRs Sterling Shepard and Jamison Crowder from the Non-Football Injury List. They’re practicing today, but both veterans remain off the redraft radar.

The Giants are starting WR Sterling Shepard on the PUP list for training camp. That's no shock. Shepard's 2022 ended with a torn left ACL. And that followed a 2021 Achilles' tendon tear. We'll see how soon Shepard can return to action in 2023. Don't be surprised if he has a low-impact season in a suddenly crowded WR corps, though.

Giants WR Sterling Shepard is running routes in 7-on-7 work, according to insider Art Stapleton. It's good progress as Shepard works back from a torn left ACL suffered on September 26. He re-signed with the Giants in March on a 1-year deal worth just $1.3 million with $0 guaranteed. So Shepard isn't even a lock to make the final roster -- although Stapleton says, "I think the speculation on here about Shep not making the team is very premature. Would not count him out." We'll see, but Shepard isn't worth a pick in early best-ball drafts.

The Giants have agreed to a one-year deal with WR Sterling Shepard ahead of free agency. Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 in Houston reports that Shepard will make just $1.317 million. That's not enough to guarantee any significant role on offense. Our guess is that Shepard (and his representation) didn't expect to find much of a market. So he elected to stick with the familiar team on a "prove it" deal. He's not more than an end-of-draft flyer for best ball formats at the moment -- and an unexciting option even there.

Giants WR Sterling Shepard tore his left ACL at the end of Monday night's loss to the Cowboys and will miss the rest of the season. It's an especially tough blow for a guy who just came back from a December Achilles' tear and was leading a disappointing Giants WR corps. Shepard's injury helps the opportunity for Kadarius Toney, if the 2nd-year wideout can get healthy and get his stuff together. Otherwise, it's David Sills V, Richie James and the ghost of Kenny Golladay. We'll see about Shepard's status heading into 2023, which will be his age-30 season.