Josh Gordon Fantasy Outlook: Best Football WR Week 3 Pick After Drug Suspension Ends

Sep 18, 2013 12:42 PM EDT
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon makes a catch during the 2012 season and now he is back after a two game drug suspension and is the top fantasy football sleeper option for the Browns after the Trent Richardson trade."

The Cleveland Browns offense has not been one of the most efficient in the league over the first two weeks and with the team 0-2, things aren't looking up with Brandon Weeden out, but with wideout Josh Gordon coming back after a two-game suspension, there is a chance things could start moving in the right direction.

Gordon was suspended after failing a drug test earlier in the year and now that he is back with the team, the Browns have their best touchdown threat back for its offense. Weeden will be out after injuring his hand last week and Brian Hoyer will start for the team and now Gordon will be his primary threat. According to Pro Football Talk, with Gordon back in the fold, wideout Greg Little is now bounced back down the depth chart and he will not start the game against the Minnesota Vikings for their Week 3 matchup.

The report says that Gordon and Davone Bess will be the starting receivers on Sunday for the Browns and now Little will be relegated to the third spot after getting to start the first two games. Gordon is a welcome return for the Browns, as he led the team in targets and receptions last season and is by far their most explosive player on offense not named Trent Richardson. Little has had his chances this season so far and he has not made the most of them, as he has been targeted 22 times over the first two games and has just eight catches for 59 yards to show for it and that is why Gordon is a huge addition for fantasy owners.

Jordan Cameron and Davone Bess are leading the Browns in receptions and according to ESPN.com, one of the issues with Little has been drops, as he lost seven last season on over 80 targets. Gordon comes in after being the number one targeted receiver for the Browns last season and his addition makes Little no longer a fantasy option at all, at least in leagues that aren't deep.

Gordon and Little had traffic issues off the field the Gordon knows now too that if he is nabbed again, he will face a yearlong suspension. Gordon made 50 catches last season with over 90 targets from Weeden and other QBs and he averaged nearly 17 yards per catch and now returns as the top deep threat for the team after scoring five touchdowns last year. Gordon has the speed to be a playmaker and since he was drafted by the previous regime, he is on thin ice and will need to be at his best to continue getting playing time and staying on the field.

Gordon has had problems in the past and he knows that one more issue could be it for him with the Browns and with the team ranking 22nd in the league in passing yards per game through two games, they need him to step up big time. Trent Richardson has been hurt by the passing game as well, as teams have been able to stack the box and adding Gordon should open things up for Richardson as well.

New head coach Rob Chudzinski loves speed and Gordon finally gives the team some of that on the outside.

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