The NFL has suspended New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr for one game following his on-field antics during Sunday's defeat to the unbeaten Carolina Panthers.

Beckham, 23, was called for three personal fouls, including one on a second-half play in which he took a running start and launched himself head-first into Panthers cornerback Josh Norman. 

He was flagged on the play, but allowed to stay in game.

However, the league has taken a dim view of the incident and opted to ban Beckham for his actions.

"The disqualification of a player is a judgement made by the on-field officials," the NFL said in a statement.

"The actions of the players involved in unsportsmanlike conduct will be reviewed as per the standard protocol that is followed in all situations of this type throughout the season."

The suspension is a hit for the Giants (6-8), who were beaten 38-35 by the Panthers in a huge blow to their play-off hopes in the NFC.

Going without Beckham, one of the NFL's most talented receivers, leaves a void in New York's offensive game plan. He is tied for the league lead in touchdowns with 13 and ranks third in receiving yards with 1,396.

Beckham is widely expected to appeal the suspension, but if the decision is upheld he will miss Sunday's encounter against the Minnesota Vikings.

Timing and context could have been factors in the league's suspension.

The game between the Giants, a team from the NFL's largest market, against the undefeated Panthers, led by odds-on league MVP Cam Newton, was one of the marquee match-ups of Week 15.

It was played only two days after the NFL announced some $140,000 in fines against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals coming out of their overly aggressive game the Sunday before and days before wide release of "Concussion," a film that takes aim at the NFL game's violent nature.