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Odell Beckham Jr.: Giants return 'was everything I was expecting it to be'

Odell Beckham Jr. returns to the Giants after a year off, feeling good about his body and looking spry, but still competing for a roster spot.

First seen Aug 17, 2026 · 1:06 PM UTC · last updated Aug 17 8:33 PM

Scoring Zone's Take

Odell Beckham Jr.'s return to the Giants is a name-value storyline, not a fantasy signal yet. Both sources are clear that he is competing for a roster spot, not guaranteed one — he's coming off a year away from football, and "feeling good about his body" is encouraging but unverified in game action. Until he's confirmed on the 53-man roster and shows up in a target share, treat him as an unrostered flier at best in draft prep. Do not spend a meaningful draft pick on him; if you're in a deep dynasty or best-ball format, a late-round speculative add is defensible, but he has no standalone value in most fantasy formats right now.

The ripple effect matters more for JuJu Smith-Schuster, Darnell Mooney, and Braxton Berrios, none of whom have direct news here but are the players whose roster and target-share outlook could shift if Beckham actually makes the Giants' roster and carves into snaps. Since this cluster carries a -1.0 impact score, the presumption should lean toward Beckham being a marginal roster/depth piece rather than a threat to established pass-catchers — but keep an eye on preseason reports for confirmation before downgrading any of the other three in your rankings.

Confidence here is moderate (80% on the reporting itself), but the substance is thin: this is an "trying to make the team" story, not a depth-chart lock. In draft prep, keep Beckham firmly off your board unless you get late confirmation he's secured a role, and don't let this news move your valuation of Smith-Schuster, Mooney, or Berrios yet — there's no concrete target-share or snap data to act on.

Odell Beckham Jr.: Giants return 'was everything I was expecting it to be'

One of the most raucous cheers in Saturday’s Giants-Vikings preseason game at MetLife Stadium came with 5:18 left in the second quarter. It was the moment receiver Odell Beckham Jr. entered the game in a Big Blue jersey for the first time since December 2018.

“It was everything I was expecting it to be,” Beckham told Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post. “Just the love to be able to be back here in a place I’ve done special things. It was a special moment with a lot of emotions going into it, so you kind of have to check them and make sure you don’t burn too much energy too early.”

Beckham played with the backups mostly over the second and third quarters of Saturday’s 13-10 preseason loss, seeing one fourth-quarter rep.

The 2014 No. 12 overall pick by New York is competing to make the Giants roster. He opened camp with the backup crew but has taken some first-team snaps during training camp.

“[The ovation] was fun,” head coach John Harbaugh said. “I love Odell. What he’s doing, what he’s fighting for, I don’t know how it’s going to turn out. It’s going to turn out the way it turns out based on what happens.”

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Beckham sat out all of last season and has participated in just 23 games over the past four seasons.

He caught two of three targets on Saturday, generating 6 yards. While the production isn’t much, he did show spryness and the ability to generate separation, even if the ball didn’t find him a ton. His 10 routes run were tied for the most of any Giants WR, per Next Gen Stats.

“I’m impressed by the way he looks right now,” general manager Joe Schoen said during the TV broadcast.

Beckham signed in New York this offseason looking for a full-circle moment. Before he can have that dream capper to his career, OBJ must first make the squad. He’s battling the likes of veterans Darnell Mooney, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Braxton Berrios for a roster spot.

Beckham said he felt good coming out of his first game action since Dec. 8, 2024.

“It’s just a day-by-day thing,” Beckham said. “I feel good as far as my body, knowing what I can do. It’s just going to be making the most of the opportunities that come your way. ... That goes for everybody. It’s been a minute [since I played in a game], but I feel the same as leaving practice.”

New York has two more preseason games, at Miami on Saturday and “at” the New York Jets in the annual Snoopy Bowl on Aug. 28, for Beckham to state his case.

Coverage from Nfl Dot Com News · by Kevin Patra · Aug 17, 2026 · read original