NFL Week 2: Top receiver Sterling Shepard likely out for Giants vs. Bills

The NFL's schedule-makers gave the Buffalo Bills a bit of an interesting twist to open the 2019 season. They opened the season at the New York Jets, pulling the upset, and in Week 2 will visit the New York Giants at the same MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Buffalo is a 2-point favorite on the NFL odds with an over-under of 43.5 points.

Buffalo won't leave the state of New York or its surroundings – yes, MetLife Stadium is in East Rutherford in New Jersey across the river, but it's basically New York City – for a game until Oct. 6 when it visits Tennessee because the Bills host the Bengals in Week 3 and the Patriots in Week 4. The Bills were rather unlikely winners at the Jets last Sunday considering they turned it over four times, allowed two Jets defensive scores and were down 16-0 late in the third quarter. The 17-16 win was Buffalo's biggest comeback victory since Week 3 of the 2011 season against the Patriots.

The Bills look as if they will catch a break this week because the Giants are likely to be without their top two receivers. Golden Tate is suspended the first four games for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances. The team's new No. 1 with the offseason trade of Odell Beckham Jr. is Sterling Shepard, and he's in the league's concussion protocol and questionable at best. Shepard had six catches for 42 yards in the Giants' Week 1 35-17 loss at the Cowboys. He was on the field for 68 of the 69 offensive snaps.

That means New York could be starting the rather non-imposing duo of Cody Latimer and Bennie Fowler at wideout with Russell Shepard also seeing a lot more action. T.J. Jones was re-signed this week. Latimer has 49 career receptions, Fowler 77 and Shepard 57. Expect a very short passing game from Eli Manning to the likes of tight end Evan Engram and running back Saquon Barkley. Engram was targeted 14 times as it was vs. Dallas and had 11 catches for 116 yards and a touchdown. He could be in line for another terrific fantasy game.

SportsLine's game forecast page projects the Giants with a 20-17 upset victory. 

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