Week 7 vs. Los Angeles
Odell Beckham Jr. (OBJ) finally broke out last week, putting up 222 yards and a pair of touchdowns on eight receptions. It was only a matter of time before the talented Beckham had a big game given the quantity of targets he sees week-to-week, and he was phenomenal last week against Baltimore.
This week, he’ll face a Rams defense that was supposed to be very good this year, but has been underwhelming. The Rams have been average most of the year, but they gave up four touchdown passes to Matthew Stafford last week. OBJ is a must-start every week regardless of the matchup, and we have him as a top-five option once again this week.
Week 6 vs. Baltimore
Odell Beckham Jr. (OBJ) finally found the end zone last week against the Packers, but he only had five catches for 56 yards. OBJ has been disappointing this year, but he still is getting a large amount of targets and is an excellent buy-low candidate in all league formats right now. He was targeted 12 times last week and is tied for seventh in the league with 51 this season.
He’ll face a Ravens defense that has only allowed 191 passing yards per game this year, but has given up nine touchdown passes, so the chances of him scoring again this week are high. He remains an elite option and should be used in all league formats every week as a WR1.
Week 5 at Green Bay
Odell Beckham Jr. (OBJ) struggled on Monday night against a tough Vikings defense, gaining only 23 yards and catching only three of the nine balls thrown his way. OBJ still leads the Giants in receptions, targets, and receiving yards, however, and he remains an elite fantasy option and a must start every week.
This could be the game he comes back to life. While there are rumors about his attitude and he’s been visibly frustrated on the sidelines, he remains an elite talent in an offense that likes to throw ball. He faces a Green Bay pass defense that has given up an average of two passing touchdowns per game so far this season and is 29th in the league in passing yards allowed per game. Expect the Giants to figure out a way to get him the ball.
Week 4 at Minnesota
Odell Beckham Jr. (OBJ) is having what many consider a down year so far, but he’s still ninth in the league in targets and is averaging 93.3 yards per game. He just hasn’t found the end zone yet. OBJ had seven receptions for 121 yards last week against Washington and he remains the focal point in the Giants’ passing game, leading the team in targets each and every week.
This week, OBJ remains an elite fantasy option, despite going up against the league’s third best scoring defense. He should be targeted heavily, and as one of the most talented players in the game. He’ll find a way to at least get his yardage and catch average this week. With the tough matchup, he may still struggle to find the end zone this week, but he should remain active in all leagues based on how much the offense focuses on him.
Week 3 vs. Washington
Odell Beckham Jr. (OBJ) only had 86 yards against the Saints last week, but he was targeted a team-high 11 times, catching eight passes on the day. That’s a bit of a down day for OBJ, considering what is expected of him week-to-week, but he remains an elite option in all fantasy leagues, and is the number one target in New York.
Expect elite numbers this week against Washington. While he will line up against Josh Norman at times, he should be moved around the field enough to be valuable. Additionally, while last year’s matchup with Norman resulted in a suspension for OBJ due to some after-the-play chirpiness, he still managed six catches for 76 yards and a touchdown against the top CB. OBJ should be active in all leagues every week.
Week 2 vs. New Orleans
Odell Beckham Jr. (OBJ) had a quiet opening to the season by his standards, catching four passes for 73 yards. He was targeted a team-high eight times though and is still an elite fantasy WR and a must-start every week.
Sometimes the sky opens up and everything shines down on a fantasy player. That could be the case this week for OBJ, who gets to face a horrible Saints defense this week. When he played against them last season, he had eight catches for 130 yards and three touchdowns. While it’s hard to expect that kind of production again this week, owners should still expect a big game. He’s the top WR on our board this week and should never be on your bench.
Week 1 at Dallas
Odell Beckham Jr. (OBJ) was fifth in the league with 1,450 receiving yards last year, and he was also tied for fourth in the league with 13 touchdown catches. OBJ has established himself as an elite fantasy WR and should be considered a WR1 option and a must start every week.
Dallas was a top-5 defense in both yards and touchdowns allowed to opposing passers last year, but they enter this season with suspensions and injuries along the front seven, and the loss of pass-rusher Greg Hardy over the offseason will affect how much pressure they can put on opposing teams. OBJ’s two worst games last year came against Dallas, but with the off-season changes and his elite status, he should still be active in all leagues, regardless of the matchup.
Fantasy Upside
Odell Beckham Jr. enters this season healthy and with two years of experience under his belt. Last season, he finished in the top-5 in both yards and touchdowns and was eighth in the league with 96 receptions. He has a nose for the end zone, scoring 25 touchdowns over the past two seasons (more than any other player in the league). The Giants passing game leans heavily upon him and he is a perfect fit for their West Coast offense, which emphasizes tough running and the ability to make plays after the catch. OBJ should be entering his prime at age 23 and is an elite player at his position.
Fantasy Downside
He missed the first four games of his rookie season, though he didn’t miss any time with injuries last year. He was suspended for Week 16 for his conduct while being covered by former Panthers cornerback Josh Norman, which means he could be a candidate for another suspension if he doesn’t learn to keep his cool. He’ll also face Norman, now in Washington, twice this season. OBJ honestly doesn’t have much downside though, as he’s been a premier fantasy receiver since entering the starting lineup.
2016 Bottom Line
Beckham will likely be one of the first players taken in all fantasy leagues and he should be considered one of the safest options in the draft. His consistent production, the offense he plays in, and the stability the Giants have at the quarterback position all point to continued success for OBJ. He’s an elite fantasy option and is exactly the kind of player to target with a top-5 pick in the draft.
Week 17 vs. Philadelphia
Odell Beckham Jr. was suspended last week, but managed to put up a touchdown against Josh Norman in Week 15. He’ll be back and ready to go against the Eagles this week. Beckham has been phenomenal this season. Even after missing a game last week, he still ranks fourth in the NFL in receiving yardage, and is tied for third in the league with 13 receiving touchdowns.
Beckham should explode this week as he shakes off last week’s suspension. Only the Saints have given up more touchdown passes to opposing teams than the Eagles have this year, and they were just torched by Kirk Cousins last week for four touchdown passes. Beckham has been an elite option all year and should be active in all leagues as a WR1.
Week 16 vs. Minnesota
Odell Beckham Jr. managed to score a touchdown and put up six catches and 76 yards against the Panthers last week, but he also managed to get himself suspended after some after-the-play activity with Panther corner Josh Norman. He’ll appeal, but this is an easy choice for fantasy owners, even against a pretty solid Minnesota pass defense. If Beckham is active, he’s a must start every week as a WR1 in all formats. If he’s suspended, obviously get him out of your lineup.
