Following an 11-month hiatus, Odell Beckham Jr. returned to the Browns’ lineup after tearing his ACL last October. Although the stat-line wasn’t spectacular, he looked as healthy as ever and appeared to have a solid rapport with Baker Mayfield. The young quarterback targeted Beckham nine times on the afternoon and the receiver corralled five of those throws for 77 yards. Kevin Stefanski even called his number of a jet sweep, where he gained another 10 yards.
Beckham played almost every snap through three quarters but sat out most of the fourth quarter due to the lopsided scoreboard. Beckham participated in 52 of the Browns’ 81 plays (64 percent) and should only shake off more rust going forward.
I'd be trying to buy Odell Beckham everywhere. He looked as explosive as ever while pacing the Browns in yards (77) & tgts (9, 29% share) on just 64% of snaps.
— Wolf of Roto Street (@RotoStreetWolf) September 27, 2021
“He was productive in those 52 snaps,’’ Stefanski said. “He was in constant communication with (pass game coordinator/wide receivers) Coach (Chad) O’Shea and (offensive coordinator) Alex Van Pelt to make sure that he was good. Any first time back, it’s always going to be working through it, getting your wind and that type of thing, but I thought he did a nice job.”
With Jarvis Landry sidelined for at least another two weeks, Beckham will be called upon to move the chains. The receiver and the medical staff said he would not be on a pitch count and the number of plays would be based on how he felt throughout the game.
The next positive to take from the game was Beckham’s chemistry with Mayfield, which hasn’t always been apparent throughout his short time with the Browns. Over his first two seasons with the team, the combo had the second-lowest completion percentage (54.6 percent) among any quarterback-receiver duo in the league.
After working out together in the offseason, the two look like they’re on the same page and I’d feel comfortable rolling out Beckham in fantasy lineups on a weekly basis.
Odell’s debut caught The Wolf’s eye enough to come in at WR27 (+4 vs ECR) on his updated Rest of Season Fantasy Football Big Board.