Fantasy Football Update: What is Josh Gordon's fantasy outlook after signing with Chiefs?

Jackson Sparks

Fantasy Football Update: What is Josh Gordon's fantasy outlook after signing with Chiefs? image

Josh Gordon has been reinstated by the NFL after serving yet another substance-abuse-related suspension, and it didn't take long for him to find a new home. According to reports, Gordon has signed with the Chiefs and will join Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill, and Travis Kelce in an explosive offense. He'll undoubtedly be a hot name on the waiver wire, as many will view him as a rest-of-season sleeper, but what is his fantasy outlook moving forward? We'll dive into that below and set expectations for his 2021 season.

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Josh Gordon Fantasy Outlook

Many have wondered when the Chiefs would bring in a real No. 2 wide receiver, and perhaps Josh Gordon's arrival to Kansas City could be what they've been waiting for. However, we must keep our expectations for Gordon realistic. Especially for fantasy, we'd love to see him return to his rookie and sophomore form when he totaled 2,451 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. The problem is, he's had the chance to do that already and hasn't been successful. His star turn for the Browns when he led the NFL in receiving yards happened in 2013 -- yes, 2013. Since then, he's struggled with injuries and sobriety, sitting out significant chunks of every season since.

WEEK 4 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

In the last season we saw him play (six games with NE, five games with SEA) in 2019, he averaged just 38.7 receiving yards per game on 27 total catches and one touchdown. He had some moments in '18 when he caught 40 passes for 720 yards and three TDs in 11 games with the Patriots, but Gordon hasn't had many fantasy-relevant moments since '13.

Additionally, there hasn't been much on the bone for pass-catchers in the Chiefs offense other than Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill. Whether it be Sammy Watkins, Demarcus Robinson, or Mecole Hardman, we haven't seen anyone produce at a high level with consistency at the No. 2 WR spot in Kansas City. Gordon could be somewhat of a factor (assuming he stays on the team and stays healthy), but don't go trading away decent players or using a high waiver claim to get him on your roster. Of course, he's worth a cheap flier if you can afford to drop someone, but don't view him as the same receiver he was eight years ago. He might not be completely washed up at age 30, but after his lengthy time away from the NFL and checkered history, he must be categorized as "unreliable."

WEEK 4 PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

Stranger things have happened than Gordon suddenly recapturing his old form for a few weeks, especially when paired with one of the greatest QBs of all-time, but he's already tried that once to limited results, so it would be shocking to see him be a star at this point in his career. Ultimately, his biggest impact might be furthering lowering the value of guys like Hardman and Robinson. Hill and Kelce will be just fine, but the Chiefs secondary receivers are even more unpredictable than ever, with Gordon being chief among them.

Jackson Sparks