The Return of Odell Beckham Jr.
Odell Beckham Jr. will presumably be healthy for the entire 2018 season. This changes the entire dynamic of the Giants offense. Since Beckham entered the league, he has had over 90 receptions and over 130 targets.
Beckham’s pecking order in the Giants offense is clear, he is at the top and everyone else falls in line. Plus, Beckham received his record-setting contract extension just before the regular season, making it clear he is “the man” in New York. The return of Beckham tremendously hurts what Evan Engram can do on the field.
Obviously, Engram won’t get as many opportunities with Beckham returning.
Meanwhile, Engram should be the favorite in the red zone, since he is a big tight end and a walking mismatch. But why would Eli Manning not throw to Beckham in the red zone instead of Engram? Manning has great chemistry with Beckham, and Beckham may have the best hands in the entire league.
If you look around the NFL, a team either has a dominant No. 1 wide receiver or a dominant tight end presence. A superstar tight end and wide receiver don’t coexist on the field at the same time. It will be no different in New York. Beckham will lead the team in targets, while Engram will be scrambling to get his own.
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