5 Cleveland Browns players who need to improve

2. Odell Beckham, Jr.

This is an example of a player that’s not playing bad but he has to be better for Cleveland to reach its peak. There’s no doubt that Odell Beckham Jr. is a superstar — heck, that’s why John Dorsey traded for him in the offseason.

He has been good this year but he hasn’t been a superstar. 29 catches for 436 yards and one touchdown isn’t bad, but those aren’t the numbers Browns fans expected from a guy who set almost every record for a receiver in their first three years in the league.

No receiver has 10 catches and 100 yards every game but the problem with Beckham has been that he has been ineffective for multiple games this season. Let’s look at his last four games.

He recorded six catches for 56 yards and no touchdowns against the Rams. Just two catches for 20 yards against the Ravens. Two catches for 27 yards against the 49ers. He broke through with a good game versus the Seahawks with six catches for 101 yards, but he hasn’t scored a touchdown in that stretch.

That’s simply not going to get it done. OBJ is too talented to play the way he has so far this season, and the team needs him to be better.

He’s being keyed on by coverage because the only real threat other than him is Jarvis Landry. Antonio Callaway hasn’t been good since returning from suspension and Damion Ratley has not done much of anything with his chances.

There’s no reason to think this will continue. The coaching staff will find some way to get Beckham in situations to succeed.

Hopefully wide receiver Rashard Higgins can work his way back into the offense and running back Kareem Hunt returning in a few weeks can take some of the pressure off. Hunt is a better receiving back than Nick Chubb and can even lineup out wide.

If his lack of production does continue, there will be fireworks coming out of Cleveland bright enough for the whole NFL to see.