The noise is everywhere. Odell Beckham Jr. had a terrible season and was a bitter disappointment in his first season in Cleveland. It’s inescapable, particularly from New York-based media that still loves to poke at their old bear from his days with the Giants.
Was it a great year for Beckham with the Browns? No, no it was not. But anytime a wide receiver can post 74 receptions and 1,035 yards, it’s still a pretty solid season. That’s what Beckham did, all the while battling a debilitating sports hernia injury that required surgery.
Here’s the reality: Beckham was still one of the more productive and targeted wideouts in the entire NFL.
It might not have seemed like it, and it wasn’t always as effective as either the Browns or Beckham would have liked, but Beckham got ample opportunities on first downs. The Browns offense did not shy away from featuring No. 13 to kick off drives or keep the chains moving.
Keep in mind Beckham is splitting those targets with Pro Bowler Jarvis Landry, a hindrance to targets and yards that none of the others here had to deal with. It got even better late in the year for Beckham.
The productivity perked up over the final eight weeks of the season. Beckham became more involved in the crunch time offense, specifically:
If Beckham can still do that while playing hurt and with no real prep time in a new offense and an unfamiliar quarterback, his future in Cleveland looks pretty bright in 2020 and beyond.
Charts and data courtesy of NFL Inside Edge
