A year ago, many analysts were calling the 2014 NFL Draft class one of the most talented in history.  A few months later, when the league’s new crop of talent hit the field, they didn’t disappoint. There were players from every round of the draft making an impact, and it soon became clear that this could go down as the best receiver draft ever.

The first round, was full of stars such as Sammy Watkins, Mike Evans, Odell Beckham Jr., Brandin Cooks and Kelvin Benjamin. But the 2014 draft was so deep that it would be a pretty decent class of receivers even if you leave out the first round picks. Jarvis Landry was a second round pick for the Miami Dolphins, and quietly recorded 84 receptions to lead his team and rank second among rookie receivers. Late-round picks such as Paul Richardson, John Brown and Allen Robinson seem to have bright futures as well.

The top three wide receivers – Watkins, Evans and Beckham Jr. – are joined by Cincinnati Bengals running back Jeremy Hill and Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater as finalists for the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the year award. Bridgewater had a nice season, but he falls short of the receivers or Jeremy Hill. While there is an argument to be made for Hill considering how heavily he was leaned on this season,  I think he made less of an impact than the receivers. Watkins had a very good rookie season on a team that had to turn to Kyle Orton at quarterback, but he was outshined by each of the two receivers drafted after him in Evans and Beckham, each of whom had more catches, yards and touchdowns, in fewer games.

Despite one fewer start than Watkins, Evans finished the season with 68 catches (three more than Watkins’ 65). Evans also outgained Watkins picking up 1,051 receiving yards in his rookie campaign, which was 69 more than Watkins. When it came to touchdowns, Evans doubled Watkins’ performance, bringing in 12 touchdown catches in a season that didn’t see many for a terrible Bucs team. As great as Watkins was, his season paled in comparison to Evans’ year.

But then there’s Beckham Jr. Like Evans, Beckham finished his rookie season with 12 touchdowns, but Beckham did it in just 12 games. Unlike his fellow Offensive Rookie of the Year finalists, Beckham didn’t play a single snap during any of the New York Giants’ five preseason games. Beckham missed almost all of Giants training camp, and didn’t take a snap for the Giants until Week 5. When Beckham did get on the field, it didn’t take long before he changed the conversation from him being one of the best rookies in football to him being one of the best players in football.

Forget about the catch. Yes, Beckham’s one handed grab against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 7 may have been the greatest catch of all time, but it has nothing to do with why Beckham’s season was great. It may be the first thing that comes to mind when Beckham’s name is mentioned, but his greatness is not a flash of brilliance. What makes Beckham great is his consistent dominance. Beckham wasn’t the best rookie receiver in football the last two months of the season, he was the best receiver in all of football, and it wasn’t really close. For the season’s final two months, Beckham led the league in almost every significant receiving category, and dominated week in and week out. In his final game of the season, Beckham tied Michael Irvin’s NFL record of nine consecutive games with at least 90 yards receiving. When you consider that Beckham tied the record in his rookie season, after missing the preseason and the first four games of the year, on a team with a bad offensive line (and that Irvin set the record on a Super Bowl team with one of the league’s greatest offensive lines), it shows just how amazing Beckham’s dominance is.

Now it’s being reported that Beckham may have accomplished all of this with two torn muscles in his legs, making it even more impressive. Beckham’s season would have been incredible for a fully healthy player who played 16 games. If he did it more injured than we knew, then there’s likely even more greatness to come from him and we’re all in for a treat for years to come. The numbers alone say that Odell Beckham Jr. should be the 2014 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Combine the numbers with the hype around his amazing catches, and it’s safe to say Beckham is an absolute lock to win the award on Saturday night.