The Great Browns Hope
We can also remember the bad moves that crushed up. The memory of that 40 point game the season prior led me to draft Vick No. 1 overall the following season. I wasn’t alone as many…cough, cough, Matthew Berry, cough, cough.. advocated the same. That didn’t work out so well.
But the reason I bring this up is that it’s our long memory, specifically the Fantasy playoff run in the 2013 season, that had many fans somewhat excited and nostalgic when Josh Gordon was reinstated by the NFL. He won’t be eligible to play until Week 13 at the earliest, but many have already picked him up on waivers, and others are considering it. While that might seem odd for a guy that hasn’t played a snap in the NFL since December 2014, it’s our memories that keep us coming back to the well with Gordon.
But is that a good idea? Let’s consider.
The Career of Flash Gordon
It’s hard to believe because he’s been in the NFL since 2012, but Gordon is only 26-years-old. He should, in theory, be hitting the prime of his career. But, instead, he’s trying to work his way back after not playing for nearly three full seasons. For most players in that position, the answer to whether you’d want them on your fantasy team is pretty clear. But Gordon isn’t a normal case.
Gordon first broke into the NFL in 2012, playing in all 16 games for the Browns. It was the only such time in his career he played a full season. And he was all right. He caught 50 passes on 96 targets for 805 yards and five touchdowns. But he did have some special games. In a back-to-back game stretch Gordon caught six for 116 yards and a touchdown in a 20–17 win over the Raiders on December 2, 2012, then caught eight passes for 86 yards in a 30–7 win over the Chiefs on December 9, 2012. He had some highs and lows that season, and came into 2013 on the fantasy radar if nothing else.
But little could have prepared people for what they saw in 2013. Gordon simply exploded. The Browns finished a dismal 4–12, but Gordon was a Pro Bowl player. He caught 87 passes for 1,646 yards and nine touchdowns. And he did it all playing in just 14 games that season. Better still, he had a ridiculous five-game stretch in late November and early December that probably won some people’s leagues for them. On November 15, 2013, he went for five receptions for 125 yards and a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals. The following week, he caught 14 passes for 237 yards and a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers. On December 1, 2013, versus Jacksonville, he caught 10 passes for 261 yards and two touchdowns. The following week, in what became a signature game, Gordon caught seven passes for 151 yards and a touchdown in a 28–27 loss to the New England Patriots. That game against the Patriots came in Week 14 of the NFL season, a time when most fantasy leagues have gone to the playoffs.
In Week 15, against the Bears, Gordon went for three catches, 67 yards and his final TD of the season. The final two weeks he came back to earth a bit, going 6–97 and 7–82 to end his campaign. But at the end of that season it was clear Gordon was destined to be one of the best receivers in football.
But a funny thing happened. He got popped for marijuana and ended up serving an eight-game suspension to begin the 2014 season. When he returned, fans expected to see that old Gordon magic, but it didn’t materialize. He played just five games that season, catching 24 passes for 303 yards total. He ended the season suspended again, this time by the Browns. And that was the last time he saw the field. His final game came on December 21, 2014, where he caught four passes for 45 yards.
Gordon was popped for drug use again, and suspended for the entire 2015 season. He hasn’t played a game since, and it was fair to wonder if he ever would. That’s what makes his story so fascinating. By all accounts, Gordon has spent his nearly three years away from the NFL becoming a different person. In candid interviews he talked about the drug and alcohol use that cost him so much playing time and nearly ended his career. And he seems like someone who is excited to get another chance. He’s also reportedly in great shape and still possess blazing speed. Those are elements that could prove to be a huge lift to a Browns team that’s won just a single game in two seasons.
But will we get that old Gordon magic back?
A Cautionary Tale
Gordon isn’t the only budding star receiver to miss a lot of time due to substance abuse issues. In fact, this season fantasy owners welcomed back Martavis Bryant, the Steelers’ talented wide receiver who thrilled in 2014 and 2015 before being suspended for the entire 2016 season. Based on his previous performances — which in fairness didn’t come close to what Gordon did in 2013 — there were high hopes for Bryant in 2017. But it hasn’t materialized.
He was drafted by many as a WR3 with hopes he could flash WR1 or WR2 talent. In fact, many reached for Bryant in drafts. But he’s proven a tough return on investment. Bryant caught three passes for 91 yards and a touchdown in Week 2, but he’s had just 21 receptions for 276 yards and a TD all season. He was also suspended by the team for a game because of his antics, as he hasn’t seemed to find a groove in the offense or with the team.
That feels somewhat similar to Gordon in his return in 2014, when he caught eight passes for 120 yards in his first game back but fizzled the next four before being suspended by his team because of his attitude. That should give fantasy owners a moment of pause when considering how easy it might be fore Gordon to ease right back into his 2013 level of production with the Browns, especially since his layoff has been much longer. But it’s also fair to say that Bryant’s personality clashes with his teammates and coaches have hampered his ability to shine on the field, something that doesn’t seem to be the case with Gordon at this point.
A Different Browns Team
In fact, it’s all new coaches, new front office personnel and mostly new players on the field than the last time Gordon was in uniform for the Browns. During his breakout 2013 season, the Browns’ quarterbacks were Brian Hoyer, Brandon Weeden and Jason Campbell. So, unlike Bryant who returned to largely the same supporting cast and same coaches, the first hurdle for Gordon will be developing rapport with Deshone Kizer and his teammates, an learning Hue Jackson’s system.
It’s fair to say that Gordon has never had excellent quarterback play during his time with the Browns, but Kizer (assuming he’s still starting) has not been great this season. Obviously part of that comes from the lack of WR talent, with Kenny Britt appearing to be a bust, Sammie Coates never really getting going and others, like Ricardo Louis and Rashard Higgins never really panning out. Kizer has played eight games for the Browns’ this season, starting all of them, throwing for 1,376 yards and four TDs with 12 INTs. Kevin Hogan, who’s played in four games and started one, has thrown for 517 yards, four TDs and five INTs. So the Browns’ passing game isn’t lighting the world on fire.
In addition, Gordon isn’t the only receiver the Browns will be easing back into the lineup. Second year WR Corey Coleman is set to likely make his return from short-term IR in Week 11. As a rookie, Coleman looked promising with 33 receptions for 413 yards and three TDs. He started 2017 off well, too, with five catches for 53 yards and a TD in Week 1. Then he grabbed one for nine yards in Week 2 before being injured. Coleman is a talented receiver who is more familiar with Jackson’s scheme, and the current offensive players, than Gordon. He could easily become a focal point in the passing game as he’ll return to play before Gordon, too.
The Case for Rostering Gordon
Week 13 is the end of the regular season for most, so it’s usually not the ideal time to be tinkering with your lineup. And, to be fair, that’s what starting Gordon right out of the box would be. Could he go for seven catches, 125 yards and a TD in his return? Sure, he could. But he could also catch one pass for 12 yards, too. It’s the great unknown — both because of his time away and because his team is poor. And there’s not guarantee he starts or even gets meaningful playing time. It’s the Browns after all.
But here’s the thing: the Browns are going nowhere in 2017. They’re 0–9 and looking at another lottery pick. But they have Coleman and Gordon returning down the stretch. If I’m Jackson, I want to see if Kizer has long-term potential. The best way to achieve that is to give him the best supporting cast possible. Watching a Browns offense of Kizer surrounded by Coleman, Gordon, David Njoku, Duke Johnson, Jr., and Isaiah Crowell might not mean much in an NFL sense, but it could be a lot of fun. And, really, what do they have to lose.
So if I’m a fantasy owner bound for the playoffs, I would pick up Gordon to stash on my bench. If I need someone to start every week, he’s not the guy right now. But if you’re bound for the playoffs, you likely have a pretty solid core already. Instead of keeping a handcuff at the end of the bench, why not Gordon? It’s possible he doesn’t play much, or ends up putting up middling numbers like Bryant. But what if he doesn’t?
That five-game stretch in 2013 won people their league, or at least got them to the title game. (I know, I played a team with Gordon and Antonio Brown in the 2013 Fantasy Championship.) If Gordon catches fire in the Fantasy Playoffs, better he’s on your bench (or in your lineup) than starting opposite you. The talent is there, and to me it’s worth the gamble.
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