The 2023 fantasy football season is nearly over! Most fantasy leagues have their playoffs starting in Week 15 — if they haven’t started already. Therefore, fantasy players must make life-or-death decisions with the lineups and waiver wire moves over the next few weeks.
One player who will be a popular waiver wire target this week is Baltimore Ravens WR Odell Beckham Jr. Could the veteran wide receiver be a league-winning addition off the waiver wire?
Should Odell Beckham Jr. Be a Fantasy Waiver Wire Add in Week 15?
Beckham missed the 2022 season after tearing his ACL during Super Bowl LVI with the Los Angeles Rams. Yet, many called the star wide receiver a sleeper candidate during the offseason when he signed with the Ravens. However, Beckham quickly found himself on the waiver wire in most fantasy leagues.
The former LSU superstar was the WR98 in fantasy over the first eight weeks, averaging 4.3 targets and 3.9 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. He scored fewer than 4.8 fantasy points in all but one contest and had more than just four targets only once.
Yet, the veteran receiver’s role on offense has increased over the second half this year. He has seen at least seven targets in three of the past five contests, averaging 6.2 per game. Furthermore, Beckham is coming off a season-high 10 targets on Sunday against his former team, the Rams, totaling four receptions for 97 receiving yards, a touchdown, and 17.7 half-PPR fantasy points.
After scoring more than 4.8 fantasy points only once over the first eight weeks, OBJ has scored 10.5 or more in four of the past five contests. Last week, he had a season-high in fantasy points, and it was his best fantasy performance since Week 4 of 2020.
More importantly, Beckham’s role on offense should continue to grow. The Ravens lost superstar tight end Mark Andrews to a season-ending ankle and fibula injury in Week 11.
Since Andrews got hurt, Beckham has averaged 7.3 targets, 82.3 receiving yards, and 12.1 fantasy points per game, seeing at least seven targets, 97 receiving yards, and 13.6 fantasy points twice. Furthermore, he has played well despite playing fewer than 35% of the snaps in two of three contests.
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Meanwhile, Baltimore’s wide receivers have an appealing fantasy playoff schedule. They face the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 15. Last week, the Jaguars surrendered 28.8 fantasy points to the Cleveland Browns WR corps with Joe Flacco under center, and they have given up 31.1 fantasy points on average to wide receivers this season.
Then the Ravens face the San Francisco 49ers in a critical NFL matchup in Week 16. While the 49ers have a talented defense, they have struggled to slow down opposing wide receivers recently. San Francisco has surrendered 30.5 fantasy points per game to wide receivers in 2023.
In the final week of the fantasy season, Beckham and Baltimore’s WR room face the Miami Dolphins in what should be a high-scoring matchup. The Dolphins surrendered 27.8 fantasy points per game to wide receivers over the first 13 weeks this year. However, they held wide receivers to 23.1 fantasy points per game in the first five contests with Jalen Ramsey.
Fantasy players who need help at the wide receiver position should make Beckham their top priority off the waiver wire this week. The veteran wide receiver has an increasing role on offense and an appealing fantasy playoff schedule. He can be a reliable plug-and-play WR3 or Flex option the rest of the way.
Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer, Start/Sit Optimizer, and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!