Odell Beckham Jr. Trade Reaction: Browns Get NFL’s Best WR, Baker Mayfield’s Fantasy Stock Rises
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports. Pictured: Odell Beckham Jr.
- The Odell Beckham Jr. trade gifts the Cleveland Browns with the NFL's best active receiver and boosts Baker Mayfield's fantasy football stock.
- Ian Hartitz breaks down what this deal means for both teams on the field, plus more fantasy takeaways.
It actually happened: The New York Giants traded Odell Beckham Jr. to the Cleveland Browns for a 2019 first-round pick, 2019 third-round pick and safety Jabrill Peppers.
Yes, that certainly doesn’t seem like much for a consensus top-five wide receiver. Some (including myself) even believe that OBJ is the NFL’s best active receiver.
Let’s break down the on-field and fantasy football impacts of this blockbuster deal for both teams.
What This Trade Means for the Browns
The Browns have their first true No. 1 outside receiver since prime Josh Gordon.
Beckham has played in just 59-of-80 (74%) games since entering the league in 2014, but he’s still established himself as one of the best to play the position through his first five seasons: OBJ’s average of 92.8 receiving yards per game trails only Julio Jones (96.7) among all wide receivers in NFL history.