20/20: Sterling Shepard

Posted on February 17, 2016

Welcome to 20/20. As part of our continued Dynasty Scouts coverage and in preparation for the NFL Combine later this month, we’ll be profiling 20 of the top incoming rookies of the class of 2016 by giving you 20 facts you must know.

1.) Player Name – Sterling Shepard

2.) College – Oklahoma

3.) Height/Weight – 5-foot-10, 193 pounds

4.) Birth date – 2/10/93 (23 years old)

5.) Class – Senior

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6.) Basic college stats – 2012 – 45 receptions, 621 yards (13.8 YPR), 3 touchdowns
2013 – 51 receptions, 603 yards (11.8 YPR), 7 touchdowns
2014 – 51 receptions, 970 yards (19.0 YPR), 5 touchdowns
2015 – 86 receptions, 1,288 yards (15.0 YPR), 11 touchdowns

7.) NFL Draft round projection – Shepard could has been mocked as high as the first round, but I wouldn’t be shocked if he fell all the way to the third round if he doesn’t test as well as teams hope. The early to mid-second round feels right for Shepard, and I could see a team in need of a slot receiver taking him in that range.

8.) Current NFL comp – It’s thrown around a lot, but Shepard is very similar to Tyler Lockett. Lockett is the faster player but Shepard is more explosive and has is better on jump balls and during contested catches.

Both players run very good routes and have solid hands. Like Lockett, I expect Shepard to contribute more to his real life team than to a fantasy team.

9.) Best possible destination – Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals have been searching for a receiver to pair with A.J. Green for years, and Shepard would complement Green very nicely. He could play the slot, but could also play outside if need be. He could work the short and intermediate crossing routes, freeing Green to go deep and take the top off the defense.

10.) Worst possible destination – Cleveland Browns

I wouldn’t be excited about owning anyone on the Browns besides Josh Gordon and maybe Gary Barnridge. Shepard would be the third option on a team that lacks a quarterback, and a running game to complement the weakness at quarterback. Duke Johnson could also take away targets from Shepard if he were to land with the Browns. He would have limited opportunities with a bad quarterback situation, which sounds like a bad landing spot for Shepard.

11.) Best current skill – Route Running

Shepard runs beautiful routes, and in my eyes is the best route runner in the class. He is explosive in and out of his breaks, and is very good at creating separation on these breaks. By using a variety of releases and fakes, Shepard creates separation off the line of scrimmage that allows him to beat his defender. Lastly, he is a smart player who runs option routes well and can find the soft spots in zones.

12.) Skill that needs to be improved – While it isn’t anything that Shepard can drastically improve, he isn’t the fastest receiver in the world. He also lacks strength, and when this is coupled with his lack of speed, he can easily be knocked off his route or overmatched by NFL caliber corners.

13.) Past/current rookie ADP – No. nine overall player, No. seven receiver (February). No. 45 overall player, No. 26 receiver (September).

14.) Projected dynasty value – Shepard’s best case scenario for his career would be as a super slot receiver. He will likely be a better real life player than a fantasy player, but could be a serviceable WR2/3 for fantasy purposes for many years.

15.) Oklahoma Legacy – Shepard’s father was a record setting receiver for the Sooners, and two of his uncles also played for the team. His father died when he was only six years old, and the football program took in young Sterling and allowed him to attend practices, stand on the sideline for games, and even be in the locker room with the players. Shepard wore number three to honor his late father.

16.) Injury History – Shepard pulled his groin during his junior year, and was hampered by the injury for the rest of the year. While he missed a game, it did severely affected his play for the rest of the season. Luckily, Shepard didn’t seem to show any lingering effects this year and it shouldn’t bother him in the future.

17.) Award History – In 2015, Shepard was a Semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award, named a First Team All-American by ESPN.com, named a Second Team All-American by CBS Sports and USA Today, and was named to All-Big 12 First Team by league’s coaches, ESPN.com and Phil Steele. In 2014, Shepard was a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award, was named to the All-Big 12 First Team by the league’s coaches and ESPN.com, and was named All-Big 12 Second Team by the AP, 247Sports, Athlon Sports and Phil Steele.

18.) As a Recruit – Four-star prospect, No. 13 prospect, and 93rd best player nationally according to 247sports consensus. Also had offers from Clemson, Notre Dame, and Oklahoma State.

19.) DLF Ranking – Shepard is currently the sixth highest ranked receiver at DLF. He is ranked highest by Rob Leath, who has him ranked second, and lowest by Dan Meylor, who has him ranked ninth. I currently have Shepard ranked fifth, in a tier with Tyler Boyd, Leonte Carroo, and Josh Doctson (who is behind Shepard at 6).

20.) Great Hands – Shepard was second (of qualified receivers) in the Big 12 in 2015 with a catch rate of 70.37 percent, catching 76 of the 108 balls thrown his way.

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