Odell Beckham

Some laughed at offseason reports of the 30-year-old Beckham seeking upward of $15 million per year, following a 2021 in which he averaged less than 40 yards per game and a 2022 in which he didn't play at all after tearing an ACL in Super Bowl LVI. Beckham got the last laugh, signing with Baltimore on a one-year, $15 million deal that's nearly all guaranteed and includes another $3 million via incentives. The Ravens then signed QB Lamar Jackson to an extension and used their first-round pick on WR Zay Flowers, completing the passing-game makeover for new OC Todd Monken. Jackson and Beckham are happy, but there's an awful lot that can go wrong in fantasy terms, starting with Beckham's injury history (which includes two ACL tears and a fractured ankle) and recent lack of production. Even if he comes back strong and stays healthy, he probably won't be the target hog he was in New York years ago, now sharing an offense with not only Flowers but also WR Rashod Bateman and TE Mark Andrews. On top of that, Jackson's presence leads to a combination of designed QB runs and scrambles that likely will limit passing volume to about middle of the league (or lower) even if the team's philosophy is changing.

Beckham seems to be a magnet for adversity, sometimes through no fault of his own. He reached the game's biggest stage in February with the Rams and completed his redemption narrative with a Super Bowl touchdown and ultimately a ring. In between the TD and the ring ceremony, however, Beckham tore the ACL in his left knee — the same injury that ended his 2020 campaign early. He made it back for Week 3 last year but never got on track in Cleveland, eventually getting waived by the Browns in November. He then signed with the Rams — a move that became all the more important when Robert Woods went down in practice with an ACL tear shortly thereafter. Beckham didn't get much run in his first game with the Rams, but after that he averaged 3.6 catches for 41 yards on 6.4 targets, scoring five TDs in a seven-game stretch. Come playoff time, he kicked it up a notch, averaging 5.3 catches for 72 yards and 0.5 TDs in four games despite exiting the Super Bowl early. Beckham will be just seven months removed from the ACL tear come Week 1, making him a long shot to have any fantasy impact in the first half of the season. He should only be drafted as a bench stash, if at all.

Beckham began his career on an inner-circle Hall of Fame pace, but injuries and dysfunction have since set him on a sharply divergent path. Last year was a case in point when Beckham tore his ACL in Week 7, costing him the better part of 10 games and adding to the 16 he missed from 2017-18. To that point, Beckham’s production was pedestrian — 7.4 YPT, only three catches of 20 yards. He never seemed especially in sync with Baker Mayfield, and in fact Mayfield’s play improved in the second half with Beckham out. At 5-11, 198, Beckham has average size and good speed (4.43), but it’s his acceleration, open-field vision and leaping ability that have long set him apart. Now that he’s 28 and coming off yet another injury, it’s fair to wonder how much of these traits he still has left. (Beckham did show his explosiveness on a long touchdown run in Week 4 against Dallas.) Beckham reportedly is on track in his ACL recovery, and given the normal timetable for such an injury, he’s likely to be ready for the start of training camp. The Browns did not make any major offensive moves in free agency or the draft (third-round burner Anthony Schwartz is a long shot for significant targets), so Beckham returns as one of the team’s top two wide receivers along with Jarvis Landry. The volume should be there so long as Beckham holds up physically.

Beckham played 16 games for the first time since 2016, but he wasn't at full capacity for many of them, as he battled a core muscle injury that eventually required surgical repair in January. It didn't help that the team and offense were dysfunctional, and the quarterback play surprisingly subpar. Beckham's per-play numbers were pedestrian as a result - 7.8 YPT, only three catches of 40-plus yards on 133 targets, and four touchdowns. Despite his one-handed catching ability, vertical leap and body control, Beckham saw only 14 red-zone looks, and only five of those were from inside the five. At 5-11, 198, Beckham has average size, and his timed combine speed (4.43) was good but nothing special. Beckham seems to play faster in pads, and when healthy has been one of the most dangerous open-field runners in the league. He's expected to be completely healthy for the start of training camp, and he's still only 27, but given his multi-year health issues, quarterback Baker Mayfield's struggles behind a weak offensive line and bad management from the GM down, there's plenty of risk to match the enormous upside. One bright spot is new coach Kevin Stefanski taking over for Freddie Kitchens. Last year's offensive coordinator in Minnesota, Stefanski is likely to bring a Kyle Shanahan-style rushing offense to Cleveland, which, if successful, could generate more downfield looks to Beckham off play-action. While he could have more competition for targets - Jarvis Landry will be back, Kareem Hunt is around for a full season and new tight end Austin Hooper will see work - a healthy Beckham should still be the primary playmaker and top dog.

How good would Beckham be if he'd ever had an above-average quarterback? It looks like 2019 is the year we find out. Thanks to an April trade, Beckham goes from almost single-handedly (and thanklessly) carrying Eli Manning's rotting carcass into Canton to catching passes from rising star Baker Mayfield, who managed 27 TDs and 7.7 YPA in 13.5 games as a rookie despite playing with terrible receivers. And even with Manning, Beckham was productive. Before being shut down for the season's final four games with a quad injury, Beckham put up 12-game stats that prorate to 103 catches, 1,403 yards and eight scores. And while Beckham wasn't especially efficient - 13.7 YPC, 8.5 YPT - those numbers were slightly better than his 2016 showing when he had 1,367 yards and 10 TDs, i.e., there's no indication Beckham has lost much from his peak. At 5-11, 198, Beckham has only average size, but his leaping ability, athleticism and ability to catch passes with one hand help him play taller than he is. Beckham also ran a 4.43 40 at the combine and seems to move faster in pads - few receivers are as dangerous in space or as big a threat to take a short ball to the house. The one issue for Beckham is durability. Last year's quad injury came on top of a 2017 broken ankle that cost him 12 games, and he has now missed at least four games in three of his five professional seasons. That said, Beckham was completely healthy for OTAs, he's still only 26 - firmly in the prime of his career - and he put up massive numbers despite Manning's subpar play dating back to his rookie season. Finally paired with a competent quarterback, the sky's the limit, even if slot man Jarvis Landry will also see his share of looks.

After missing Week 1 due to a summer ankle sprain, Beckham was on pace for a 1,200-yard, 12-score, 100-catch season through the better part of four games before breaking his ankle late Week 5 and missing the rest of the season. Beckham is the only receiver in NFL history to post 90-1,300-10 receiving lines in his first two seasons, and he did it for three. At 5-11, 198, he has only average size, but he ran a slick 4.43 40 at the combine, plays faster in pads and is even quicker than he is fast. One of the league's most dangerous players in space, he can beat defensive backs down the field or take a short slant to the house. And while Beckham isn't big, he plays big - Beckham can out-leap defensive backs in the end zone, and his large hands and ability to catch the ball one-handed extend his catch radius. Assuming Beckham is fully recovered - as expected - the biggest question is the Giants offense. The team brought back a declining, 37-year-old Eli Manning, but the departure of inept play callers Ben McAdoo and Mike Sullivan in favor of new coach Pat Shurmur could have a major impact. After all, as offensive coordinator of the Vikings, Shurmur got 1,276 yards and 9.0 YPT out of Adam Thielen and 849 yards and 8.9 YPT out of Stefon Diggs with Case Keenum under center. Beckham is a far greater talent than either Vikings wideout and won't turn 26 until November. In other words, he's still firmly in his prime. Second-overall pick RB Saquon Barkley figures to occupy a large share of the team's offense, and third-year man Sterling Shepard will have a significant role as will second-year TE Evan Engram. But a healthy Beckham should command his usual target share, and the circumstances around him have never been better. Beckham ran routes on the side during minicamp in June, and he was a full participant at the start of training camp.

Jerry Rice had Bill Walsh and Joe Montana. Randy Moss, Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. Beckham Jr., sadly, is saddled with present-day Eli Manning and Ben McAdoo. Still, Beckham managed a 101-1,367-10 line, making it his third straight year of 90-1,300- 10 to start his career, something no other player has done. Beckham's efficiency dropped off significantly, however, with only 13.5 YPC and 8.1 YPT, easily the lowest marks of his career, tracking Manning's slide to 6.7 YPA in his age-35 season. At 5-11, 198, Beckham has average size, but his large hands, leaping ability and skill at catching one-handed make him a good red-zone target, something the Giants recognize as he was tied for second in red-zone looks with 23 and fifth with seven targets inside the five. Beckham runs a 4.43 40, but looks even faster in pads, taking short throws to the house and finishing third among WR with 518 yards after the catch. For all his skill and opportunity, Beckham is part of a low-octane offense (24th in YPP) with an easily outsmarted head coach who alternates between neglecting Beckham and forcing the ball to him at inopportune times. Moreover, the Giants also added two more pass catchers this offseason in Brandon Marshall and Evan Engram, and last year's second-round pick Sterling Shepard will have a role, so Beckham could lose a few opportunities.

Quick, name the players in NFL history with more than 180 catches, 2,600 yards and 25 TDs in their first two years. There's only one, so let's ease the criteria and ask for 150 catches, 2,000 yards and 20 TDs. Still just Beckham. Did we mention he didn't see full-time snaps until Week 7 in 2014 and missed another game due to a (well-earned) suspension last year? Beckham has put on a show during his first two years like no WR since Randy Moss (149-2,726-28) in 1998-99. At 5-11, 198, Beckham has average size, but he plays bigger due to his huge hands and ability to snag the ball out of the air one-handed. The Giants didn't take full advantage of his red-zone skills last year, targeting him 20 times inside the 20 (19th) and seven inside the 10 (120th). Offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo promoted to head coach, it's unlikely Beckham's usage changes much. That's OK because he does plenty of damage from deep - his eight catches for 40-plus yards tied for the NFL lead with Antonio Brown who had 35 more targets. While Beckham's 4.43 40 is merely good, he ran a blazing unofficial 4.31 at the Combine, more reflective of the damage he's done to DBs. While a healthy Victor Cruz and rookie Sterling Shepard could see their share of targets, they replace Rueben Randle and low-end options. None is a significant threat to Beckham.

Beckham's rookie season defied laws of physics and limits of credulity. After missing most of training camp and four games with a hamstring injury, and seeing only six targets in his first two games, Beckham went on a 10-game rampage peak-Jerry Rice would envy. From Weeks 8-17, he went 85-1,233-11, a pace that prorates to 136-1,973-18. That would give him the second-most single-season receptions of all time, the most yardage and the third-most TDs. Before we scream "regression to the mean," of which there will almost surely be some, it's worth noting Beckham was a rookie learning a new system without the benefit of training camp reps, working with a quarterback for the first time while claiming to battle a hamstring injury all year. At 5-11, 198, Beckham has only average size, but ran a blazing 4.31 unofficial time at the NFL Combine (his official one was a merely fast 4.43). He also plays big thanks to a 38.5-inch vertical leap, elite ball skills and large hands, allowing him to operate in the red zone — he tied for fifth in red-zone targets with 26 in only 12 games. Beckham remarkably dropped only two of the 130 passes thrown his way, several of which he snagged with one hand. He also averaged 10 yards per target (4th among the league's 41 100-target wideouts). Beckham had the benefit of being the only game in town for much of last season — at least until Rueben Randle came on during the final two games. With Victor Cruz presumably returning from a knee injury early in the year, that might not be the case in 2015. Still, even if Cruz were 100 percent healthy and Randle emerges as a consistent option — two possibilities that are far from assured — Beckham is the team's unquestioned No. 1 target and one of the rising superstars in the league.

The 12th overall pick in this year’s draft, Beckham has the speed and athleticism to strike for big plays, something that was lacking for the Giants last year. At 5-11, 198, Beckham has only average size, but he has a 38.5-inch vertical leap and ran an unofficial 4.31 40 at the NFL Combine, considerably faster than his 4.43 official time. he should see a piece of the team’s targets right away in the new West-Coast-style offense under coordinator Ben McAdoo. However, third-year man Rueben Randle is still around, along with Jerrel Jernigan who came on late in the season. And of course Victor Cruz is entrenched as the team’s top option, so a major breakout for Beckham as a rookie would be a surprise.