MLB Best Bets – Free (Wednesday 7/24)
Josh Gross
Ex-Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham has signed with the Los Angeles Rams, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The move comes after Beckham and the Cleveland Browns’ public falling-out, following the wideout’s dissatisfaction with his role in the team’s offense and his belief that quarterback Baker Mayfield was seemingly unwilling to feed him the ball. The 29-year-old receiver played 29 games for the Browns over three seasons, totaling 1,586 yards on 114 receptions and scoring 7 touchdowns.
The Rams have fantasy’s No. 1 (Cooper Kupp) and 12 (Robert Woods) PPR receivers. Beckham will presumably slide in as the No. 3 in the offense ahead of Van Jefferson and TE Tyler Higbee, replacing the released DeSean Jackson.
Rams land Odell Beckham after Browns release | Fantasy reaction
Fantasy impact: There were potential landing spots for Odell Beckham where he could have immediately been a big-time fantasy option – namely, New Orleans, where he’d have been the new No. 1, or Green Bay, where he’d have slid in behind Davante Adams as the clear No. 2. Los Angeles is very clearly not that. Beckham isn’t going to take any meaningful work away from Kupp, and Woods’ workload is probably also safe. The No. 3 receiving option in Los Angeles – intermittently, Van Jefferson, Tyler Higbee or others – has had moments, but this is not a landing spot for Beckham to be a real fantasy factor going forward. He might have an occasional big week, and this certainly gives him a shot with a real contender, but the real impact of this move is that it all but eliminates Jefferson’s fantasy value and hurts Higbee’s as well. – Daniel Kelley
