Fantasy: What's the value of a partial season from Josh Gordon?
The latest scuttlebutt is that Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon will have his indefinite suspension reduced to eight games should the NFL and NFLPA agree to a new drugs policy.
What does this mean for fantasy owners? First, it means Gordon must be owned in all but the shallowest of leagues (we're talking eight-teamers with only three or four bench slots). If Gordon's somehow sitting on your waiver wire, snatch him up. Bid as much as 50 percent of your FAAB dollars.
But is squatting on Gordon until his suspension ends the best possible move you can make? Maybe not. Assuming Gordon's suspension is cut to eight or 10 games, the Cleveland Browns will have him on the field for only part of the season. The Browns also have a Week 4 bye, which doesn't count toward an eight-game suspension.
Fantasy owners, however, will have Gordon available for much less time. The fantasy playoffs begin in Week 13 in standard formats, which means owners who stash Gordon will get to use him for a few weeks of the regular season before the fantasy playoffs begin.
No one doubts Gordon is a top-five fantasy wide receiver when he's on the field, but is it worth tying up a roster spot half the season for such a player?
It depends on how you feel about your team's playoff chances.
If you're sure you'll be in playoff contention in Week 10 and have a bench deep enough to get through the bye weeks with Gordon stashed, by all means make a move to acquire him. He could be the final piece of a championship team puzzle.
But if you're 0-1 and having doubt about your team's playoff chances, the better move could be to trade Gordon away immediately.
Gordon's value may never be higher this season. First, there's no guarantee a new drugs deal is reached and Gordon has his suspension reduced. People seem to believe it's a slam dunk, however, so that has created a window of opportunity to trade him for significant value.
If you can trade Gordon for a wide receiver who you can use for the first half of the fantasy season, maybe a Michael Crabtree or Michael Floyd, you should strongly consider making the move. Gordon does you no good in Week 10 if you're out of the playoff race. Trading him for a player who can propel you to the top of that playoff race right now could easily prove to be the smarter move.