The Josh Gordon/Tom Brady Connection - Is It A Trap?

What is there to say which has not already been said about Josh Gordon? Well, nothing really. He has all the talent you would want in a wide receiver or any player on your team. He has the size to be physical at 6’3” and 225 lbs but he also has the speed to be a deep threat for your offense.

He is the total package when it comes to a receiver. Much in the mold of a Calvin Johnson, he can take over a game if needed. The only issue with Gordon is off the field and apparently in the locker room as well. It is never a good idea to trust someone who has disappointed on so many occasions. Whether it be in a relationship or on a fantasy football team, there are rarely people who change their ways after failing to do so as many times as Josh Gordon.

Everyone deserves a second chance and Gordon has been given even more. He has been suspended on multiple occasions, so what makes us think this time will be any different? If he is getting the help he needs and stays on the straight and narrow, much like Cris Carter after his release to Minnesota, he will be a number one receiver and a cheap get, again, for the Patriots. If he is not fully invested in his sobriety, all it costs is a fifth-round pick and they can part ways quickly. What about fantasy owners? You likely invested much more draft stock in him this preseason. How should you treat him as he begins his tenure in New England?

Flash Gordon Once More?

One look at his on-field ability shows exactly why the Patriots took a shot on the talented Gordon. In his career, he has appeared in 41 games in which he caught a total of 180 passes for 3,106 yards and 16 touchdowns. His 17.3 career yards per catch average shows the downfield threat he can be - a threat in which the Patriots lack this season with the departure of Brandin Cooks to the Rams. The offense is showing the effects of this with their slow offensive start thus far in the season, scoring just 10 points against the beleaguered Lions defense. Bringing Gordon in will give the offense much more balance and hopefully let Gronk and company face fewer double coverages and free up the skill players.

The running game of Sony Michel and Rex Burkhead has been dampened by injuries early in the season. This means leaning on James White who, while a great pass catcher, is not the prototypical running back you want as his actually rushing ability leaves a lot to be desired.

Gordon, especially after the return of Julian Edelman, will create a monster third receiving option. He will severely limit the role of Chris Hogan, sorry Hogan truthers, as he is more talented and should stay healthy through the season unlike Hogan. Edelman and Gronk are going to continue to feast for as long as Tom Brady is the quarterback, but don’t forget the type of numbers Cooks put up in this offense last season when looking to see the numbers you can expect from Gordon. In 2017, Cooks had 65 receptions and 1,082 yards on 113 targets for the Patriots which, even if you take away three games from Gordon means a season of 50 receptions for 850 yards on 90 targets is in the cards.

Does this make Gordon a number one receiver? No. But the fact Gordon is 6’3” and 225 lbs compared to Cooks at 5’10” and 185 lbs means Gordon should also get more red zone and end zone targets making his touchdown ceiling higher than that of Cooks in the offense. With the recent news that Burkhead will be heading to injured reserve, the Patriots will now count even more on the arm of the ageless wonder Tom Brady. With this being taken into account, look for Gordon to be on the brink of the top 12 to 15 receivers for the rest of the season as long as he is on the field.

As said above, we need to be careful trading for Josh Gordon because we truly don’t know what to expect from, him but if you have him already, keep him. If he is healthy both physically and hopefully mentally as well, he could easily still return value on your fourth or fifth round investment from fantasy drafts. New England is lost right now. Both on offense and on defense and this only means more opportunity for Gordon and others to make plays as the Patriots look to reclaim the AFC mountain by the end of the season. If Gordon is available for a song? Trade for him. If you have him? Keep him. Otherwise stay pat as you don’t want to ruin your season on a dart throw, even if the dart throw is a potential wide receiver one.