News Flash: Seahawks claim Josh Gordon
Over the past six or seven years, there have been few players as polarizing as wide receiver Josh Gordon. When the Cleveland Browns took him as a supplemental draft choice back in 2012, few believed he’d really amount to much more than a role player. Instead, Gordon posted 50 catches for 805 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie. He then took a massive leap in 2013 with 87 catches for a ridiculous 1,646 receiving yards and nine scores as he catapulted into the elite category for dynasty leagues, even playing with putrid quarterbacks. Everything looked great for what seemed to be a future star.
It wasn’t.
Life unraveled for Flash Gordon right after that magical season. The last six years have been a much different story as he has battled suspensions and addiction, playing in just 28 games in six years. After Cleveland gave up on him, the New England Patriots took a chance and Gordon responded with a solid start to the 2018 campaign by posting 40 catches for 720 yards and three touchdowns. Unfortunately, his inner demons resurfaced and derailed his comeback. After being reinstated this season, Gordon recorded 20 catches for 287 yards and a score in six games before a lower leg issue put him on the shelf. The Patriots put him on IR, then waived him when he got healthy. Today, the Seattle Seahawks claimed Gordon off waivers, adding another chapter to a very strange and unique career. The move has some ripple effects in dynasty leagues, so let’s spin around and see whose dynasty values have been affected.
Josh Gordon, WR SEA
As polarizing and exciting as it may be to wonder just what could have been, the fact is Gordon has one amazing season under his belt and little else. Keep in mind that year was also 2013 – Lance Armstrong was caught doping, President Obama was starting his second term, the Boston Marathon was bombed, we just got the Playstation 4, and Miley Cyrus was twerking for MTV the same year. In short, it’s been a while, folks.
In Seattle, Gordon will likely line up in three receiver sets with DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Going in his favor is the fact Russell Wilson is the best deep passer in football. He’s also the perfect kind of Pete Carroll reclamation project. If there’s any coach who loves to take on troubled players, it’s that one. Unfortunately, the Seahawks are also a run-centric team who doesn’t exactly air it out each and every week. In short, Gordon will have a chance to prove himself and will become a free agent at the end of the season. He remains a dynasty hold, but savvy owners in leagues are likely looking for someone who has a blurred vision of who Gordon is at this point and looking to take advantage of that mindset with a well-timed trade. I would expect Gordon’s ADP to stabilize or rise a bit with this news, but expecting a return to dominance would be short-sighted. In reality, the Seahawks may have just rolled the dice here, knowing they’d get a compensatory pick if and when Gordon signs elsewhere after the season. In short, as Garth from Wayne’s World would say, “Live in the NOW.”
DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett WRs SEA
If anything, the addition of Gordon could represent a buy-low window for this pair of wideouts. Lockett is on pace for a breakout 1,200-yard season and Metcalf has looked the part more often than not this year. In fact, he’s on pace for an 800-yard season as a rookie. Both of these players will continue to be a huge part of the offense moving forward and this really shouldn’t change their ADP very much. In fact, Gordon may even help stretch the field a little and help Lockett get free from the slot a little more often.
Jaron Brown and David Moore, WRs SEA
If there are losers in this situation, it’s likely this pair. Brown has been a free agent bust thus far and Moore has really failed to build on a pretty interesting rookie season. Both of these players likely belong on the dynasty waiver wire at this point. The Seahawks passing offense just isn’t explosive enough to support more than two pass catchers, let alone five.
Russell Wilson, QB SEA
In theory, this could be a nice boost for Russell Wilson. However, he’s on pace for 4,254 passing yards and 34 touchdowns already. Can we really expect the addition of Gordon to make those numbers spike? I have my doubts. While Wilson remains a top-flight QB1 and possible MVP candidate, I have a hard time believing the addition of Gordon is going to take him to Patrick Mahomes-like overall QB1 status.
Patriots Receivers
The Patriots have been churning through receivers the past few years. As it stands, Julian Edelman looks like the only safe bet, with Phillip Dorsett having at least some nice short-term value. When Mohamed Sanu gets up to speed, you’d expect him to get some Tom Brady love as well. Still, the Patriots spread the ball around for better or for worse and the loss of Gordon really won’t change that much.
As fun as it was to refresh Twitter every five seconds after 1:00 today, the realistic likelihood of Gordon going to Seattle being much more than another unfruitful twist in a long, strange trip seems to be slim. However, there’s always that line from Dumb and Dumber that will keep Gordon owners on the hook after holding on to him since Miley was twerking her heart out…
“So, you’re tellin’ me there’s a chance.”
Ken is on Twitter at DLF_KenK
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