Week 12 – Odell Beckham vs. Dallas
Odell Beckham had six catches for 93 yards against the 49ers last week and he was targeted 13 times. The rookie continues to impress each week and he’s clearly become a favorite target of quarterback Eli Manning already.
This week, Beckham faces a Dallas pass defense that has been very middle of the road this year in passing yards allowed, but has only given up 14 touchdown passes this season. They have been surprisingly effective, despite their struggles a year ago, and will likely force some Giant turnovers. Still, Beckham should be targeted often and has shown the ability to run short and long routes, making him a solid fantasy option in all leagues. We have him as a good WR2 option and he should be active for as long as he stays this productive.
Week 11 – Odell Beckham vs. San Francisco
Odell Beckham has immediately clicked with Eli Manning in a way that used to be rare for rookie wide receivers. Beckham had another impressive game against the Seahawks last week. Even though the Giants lost, Beckham caught seven of the nine passes thrown his way for 108 yards. He even drew praise from opposing cornerback Richard Sherman, one of the best in the game.
This week, Beckham should do well against the 49ers. Despite giving up only 215 yards passing per game this season, San Francisco lacks depth in their secondary and the Giants have been relying on Beckham like they used to rely on Victor Cruz. Operating in different spots on the field to create mismatches, Beckham has become a reliable WR2 early in his career, and we even have him as a borderline WR1 in PPR formats.
Week 10 – Odell Beckham vs. Seattle
Odell Beckham has been a welcome addition to the Giants offense since coming off an injury that delayed his NFL debut until Week 5 of the season. Beckham caught eight of 11 passes thrown his way last week against the Colts for 156 yards, and has shown a nack for getting open and coming down with the ball.
This week, Beckham has upside as he’s been getting the targets lately to make him a viable option. We have him downgraded to WR3 territory however due to a tough matchup against the Seattle Seahawks, who will likely notice him after a few solid games to start his career. Fantasy owners should use caution with Beckham, and view him as a risky option with upside.
Week 9 – Odell Beckham vs. Indianapolis
Odell Beckham has been very solid since coming back from injury a few weeks ago, and he had two touchdowns before the bye last week in a loss to the Cowboys. He’s filling in for the injured Victor Cruz, who is out the rest of the season, and Beckham so far is making the most of it. While he only caught four passes for 34 yards against Dallas, he was targeted seven times and seems to be an active part of the passing game.
We have him as a borderline WR2/WR3 option this week against the Colts, who have been surprisingly good on defense this year. It’s hard to put too much faith in a rookie, but Beckham seems to have found a role in this offense already and he’s not a bad option for fantasy teams needing bye week filler.
Week 7 – Odell Beckham vs. Dallas
Odell Beckham had only two catches for 28 yards against the Eagles last week as the Giants were shut out on Sunday night. Beckham stands to benefit the most from the likely season ending injury to Victor Cruz, as Beckham’s role will only increase and the Giants will probably move him all over the field like they did with Cruz.
It’s risky to start Beckham until we know how things are going to shake out in New York, especially against a surprisingly tough Dallas defense. However, now second on the depth chart, Beckham has WR3 or low-end flex upside this week and should definitely be added to a roster if he’s still on waivers.
Week 6 – Odell Beckham vs. Philadelphia
Odell Beckham had a very nice start to his young career against the Falcons last week. The rookie has been injured so far to start the season, but he caught four of five passes thrown his way in his debut, gained 44 yards, and scored his first NFL touchdown.
No doubt, Beckham will be a hot waiver add in leagues this week, but fantasy owners should remember that he is still number three on the depth chart and will likely end up with streaky, inconsistent, rookie numbers. Expect a volatile season for the playmaking rookie, making him roster worthy, but a risky starter.
Week 5 – Odell Beckham vs. Atlanta
Odell Beckham is set to return from injury this week and make his regular season NFL debut against the Atlanta Falcons. Only Jacksonville has allowed more passing yards per game to opposing offense than Atlanta, so Beckham will face a nice matchup to start his career. However, he’s a risky start until we see that he’s healthy and can get up to speed in the new Giants offense that took the rest of the team three games to get going. We have him as a nice waiver add, but not a starter this week.
Week 1 – Odell Beckham vs. Detroit
The Giants drafted the playmaking Beckham with their first round pick this offseason, but he has a nagging hamstring injury that has kept him out for pretty much the entire preseason. This is concerning, as hamstring injuries often stay with players, especially receivers, for a long period of time. As it stands, he’s set to miss the first few weeks of the season, meaning he should definitely remain on your bench for now.
The Giants used their first round pick to draft LSU receiver and playmaker Odell Beckham Jr. The rookie comes to New York with high expectations, after the departure of Hakeem Nicks in free agency and a season in which the Giants finished 19th in the league in passing offense.
Fantasy Upside
The Giants are hoping the undersized playmaking Beckham Jr. can live up to his lofty billing and create space for fellow receiver Victor Cruz. Beckham Jr. should line up in both the slot position and outside, allowing Cruz to move around the formation as well, creating mismatches for opposing defenders. New Offensive Coordinator Ben McAdoo comes over from Green Bay and brings with him a scheme that specializes in receivers making yards after the catch, something Beckham Jr. did successfully at LSU.
Fantasy Downside
Unfortunately, Beckham Jr. has been struggling with a hamstring injury and has seen minimal reps. Those hamstrings can be troubling for receivers often reducing effectiveness and not really getting better until a full offseason of recovery. If it continues to be a problem, then drafting this rookie receiver is even more risky than it would normally be.
Bottom Line
Beckham Jr. might get a better ranking from us if he wasn’t hobbled by his hamstring, but even if he were healthy, he’d be contending with Cruz and Rueben Randle for targets and the Giants don’t often have rookies play major roles in their offense. He’s a name worth knowing, but probably not worth drafting until he’s healthy and has a more established role in New York.
