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.