Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon was conditionally reinstated by the NFL on Wednesday. Whether you should rush to add him to your fantasy lineup is a questionable proposition at best.
Gordon, who recently completed a 90-day rehab stint, is ineligible to play until Week 13. The 26-year-old should only be added if you're confident that your team will be in the playoffs and if you have a deep bench or an open roster spot. Even if that's the case, Gordon could prove to be an untenable option as he hasn't played since the 2015 season.
So theoretically Gordon would be eligible:
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) November 1, 2017
Week 13 @ Chargers
Week 14 vs. Packers
Week 15 vs. Ravens
Week 16 @ Bears
Week 17 @ Steelers
Fantasy players are flocking in droves to pick up Gordon in their leagues, which may have caused the ESPN fantasy app to crash Wednesday evening. Is the idea of the 2013 Gordon outweighing the actual player now? No one knows if Gordon is going to resume his 2013 form, where he caught 87 passes for a league-best 1,646 yards and nine touchdowns in 14 games. Gordon recorded 24 receptions for 303 yards in five games in 2014 - incidentally, the last time anyone has seen him play. Extrapolated over a 16-game sample, Gordon would be on pace for 76 catches and 909 yards - decent numbers to be sure, but now he's three years removed from NFL action.
It's not like Gordon is likely to receive any help from his teammates as the 0-8 Browns struggle to find their footing amid a protracted rebuild. The Browns are content to run the modern version of the circus, flipping between rookie DeShone Kizer (who leads the NFL with 11 interceptions), Kevin Hogan, and Cody Kessler at quarterback, seemingly on a moment's whim. There are few, if any, receivers that would be able to meet their potential in a passing game devoid of consistency and talent, with Gordon certainly not immune to this notion.
The memory of Gordon torching defenses on breakaway runs is as captivating as it gets. Memories fade, however, and so do players if they haven't seen meaningful action in three years. Gordon last dominated during the infancy of Barack Obama's second presidential term, and he's only worth adding if your fantasy team is cruising to the playoffs and you have the roster space to take a calculated risk. Otherwise, keep clear of the Browns wideout and use the roster spot on a player who can help you now.
