Packers versus Giants: The official Week 5 prediction
By Tim Muma
The rookie wide receiver is dangerous in the slot and could give the Packers fits in the middle of the field.
Through the first quarter of the season, the 22-year-old rookie has 20 catches for 263 yards and a pair of touchdowns. While those aren’t eye-popping stats, they’re solid and his best is yet to come.
With all the attention on Odell Beckham Jr. – especially this week – Shepard is primed for a huge game.
Everyone knows the Packers’ secondary has been scorched recently, particularly without Sam Shields at cornerback. The defense is allowing 307.3 passing yards per game.That likely means Dom Capers will give extra help to Damarious Randall this week to handle Beckham Jr.
It may not make ODB happy, but I’m seeing Shepard with nine receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown.
So with extra manpower focused on ODB, Shepard will have underneath routes and the middle of the field to work all day. That’s a recipe for disaster for the Packers’ linebackers and safeties.
Shepard is terrific working in and out of cuts, has extremely reliable hands, and has enough speed to go deep when the situation presents itself.
He also has the ability to go up and get balls in the air.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see Shepard pick up a lot of catches and yards with underneath stuff early. Then later, with the safeties worried about Beckham Jr., finding a seam deep down the middle of the field.
It may not make ODB happy, but I’m seeing Shepard with nine receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown.