Fantasy football: Fantasy implications of Giants' rookie class

As the old saying in the NFL goes, "there is no offseason." This mantra is becoming true in the fantasy football world as well.  Beginning with the Combine in February, the start of free agency in March, and the draft in April, the majority of NFL teams have consequential changes to their roster.  Some players see their fantasy stock skyrocket, as their main competition for touches/targets leave town.  Other players see their stock plummet as new competition for playing time comes to town. The Giants made all of their noise in free agency on the defensive side of the ball, as well as using high draft picks on a CB (Eli Apple), a Safety (Darian Thompson), and a LB (B.J Goodson).  While we are hopeful that this improves the Giants play on the field, this doesn't change the Fantasy Football outlook of the Giants offense.  That is, unless you are rooting for bad defense and high scoring shootouts, to which I'd say BOOOOOOOO.

Let's take a look at the new offensive weapons the G-men drafted this year, and if you will want them on your fantasy roster come September.

Sterling Shepard, WR

With the 40th pick in the draft, the Giants may have struck gold. Or should I say....silver? (That was awful, sorry). Sterling Shepard was a top WR prospect in this draft, and somehow fell to the mid-second round.  With concerns of Victor Cruz's return from injuries, the departure of underachiever Rueben Randle, and nothing but question marks in the remaining WR group, Shepard was the best possible Round 2 pick for Jerry Reese. I believe Shepard probably starts immediately opposite Odell Beckham Jr., and pushes for 100 targets as a rookie. I love him as a WR3 target in redraft leagues, and won't hesitate to draft him after the 6th/7th round in a standard 12-team league.

Paul Perkins, RB

Another potential steal for Reese, Paul Perkins in the fifth round could look like a genius pick in a few years. Unfortunately, I don't think it will be this year. The Giants RB room is overcrowded to say the least, and unless Perkins blows the doors off everyone in training camp, I think his touches will be limited. The Giants have Rashad Jennings and Andre Williams to fill the early down banger role, and Shane Vereen and Bobby Rainey to be the third down/space backs. None of these backs have the all-around skill set that Perkins possesses, which leads to great optimism about his future role as a potential workhorse three down back. Unless we see some trades or surprise cuts this offseason, I think Perkins will need to bide his time and wait for his opportunity. For fantasy purposes, he is a late-round flier or handcuff for a Jennings owner.

Jerell Adams, TE

If you're an optimist, you're happy that the Giants got the most athletic TE in the draft in round six. If you're a realist, Adams skillset and body of work in college may lead to struggles in his transition to the NFL.  At 6-foot-5, 247 pounds, he ran a 4.66 second 40 at the Combine. That is a BIG....FAST TE prospect. On the other hand, he dropped multiple balls in the gauntlet drill, and doesn't look like a natural hands catcher of the football.  Larry Donnell and Will Tye have both flashed in the last two years, but neither have the theoretical upside of Adams. I think Adams needs a few years of NFL coaching before he has a shot  at taking over the starting TE gig, which makes him undraftable in fantasy as a rookie.