Cleveland Browns: 3 players to avoid in fantasy football

Given his 1,646 receiving yards in 2013, the idea of drafting Browns receiver Josh Gordon is appealing to many fantasy managers. In fact, despite a four-game suspension, Gordon will likely start for fantasy teams when he returns in leagues throughout the world. Many think that since the former Baylor Bear has slipped under the radar, they can steal the 2013 Pro Bowl selection.

There are several dilemmas with this way of thinking however. The most minor is what the majority of fantasy managers view as the most major. This is a problem within itself. But, of course, Gordon’s four-game suspension will have an impact on his fantasy stats.

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In a fantasy season, four games is an even larger portion of the season than in an NFL regular season. Missing four games initially already raises questions about whether drafting Gordon is a smart move.

The other problem with the mentality that Gordon would be a solid fantasy pick is the assumption that he will return to his past form. This isn’t even close to true, as Gordon has played little the past two seasons and was only activated recently. This lack of preparation for an already fractured 2016 season makes Gordon an unreliable option.

Also, the problem with Gordon is that his incentive is unknown. Whether he will show up to play even when his suspension has concluded is always an unknown factor for the troubled player. In addition to all of this, Gordon’s role will be diminished with other productive receivers on the roster. Due to all of these reasons, it would be a stretch to assume that Gordon will be half as productive in 2013, which would not provide sufficient fantasy stats for a starting receiver.

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