Josh Gordon has been oddly quiet so far in fantasy football. He hasn’t been terrible, but with only 14 catches for 221 yards, he definitely hasn’t been what those who drafted him expected in the New England Patriots offense. However, with Tom Brady looking as good as ever, it is only a matter of time before Gordon has a blowup game. And there are plenty of juicy matchups coming for Gordon to reward those who keep him in their lineups.
Fantasy Football: Stay the Course with Josh Gordon
A Big Part of the Offense
Gordon hasn’t quite gone off in a game yet this season, but for the most part, he has been a big part of the offense. His best game so far was week one, where Gordon caught three passes for 73 yards and a touchdown. His touchdown was a nice play as well, where he bodied a few poor Steelers defenders.
Josh Gordon: Beast. Touchdown #Patriots. pic.twitter.com/lXpJdopNtA
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 9, 2019
Gordon’s role was up in the air after the Patriots signed Antonio Brown. That week was Gordon’s worst of the season. He only managed two catches for 19 yards. But with Brown’s tenure lasting only one game, Gordon was put back to the top of New England’s target share. In the past two games, Gordon has seen a healthy 18 targets.
His issue right now is securing the looks he is getting. He did okay week three, catching six of his 11 targets. But he fared much worse against the Buffalo Bills Week 4, going three for seven on his targets. To his credit, he was going mostly against the Bills superstar corner in the making, Tre’Davious White.
Still, Gordon hasn’t scored since week one and hasn’t broken 100 yards in a game yet.
Greener Pastures on the Horizon
Josh Gordon is overdue for a blowup game. And he will have ample opportunity over the next few weeks. Week 5 he goes up against the Washington Redskins, who give up the second-most points to wide receivers in fantasy football. Immediately after he faces the New York Giants, who are also bottom five in points allowed to wide receivers. Then he heads to New York for a rematch against the Jets, where he saw 11 targets last time he was there.
After that, the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens games could be shootouts. Gordon then takes a rest for a bye and goes right up against the burnable Philadelphia Eagles. Don’t forget a game where fireworks are guaranteed to fly then the Kansas City Chiefs come to town Week 14. It will be a game that is either week one of the playoffs, or the final game that could get teams in.
Really, Gordon’s only tough matchup the rest of the year is a rematch with the Buffalo Bills in the fantasy championship.
Gordon and the Patriots: Historically Slow Starters
The Patriots have actually had an odd start to the season compared to recent years. They are 4-0. Historically, they are slow starters. In the past two seasons, they have started 2-2. Stories surfaced both years about Brady and the Patriots being done. About Brady’s age showing. And then they rattle off win after win as they get use the regular season as a warmup for the playoffs.
Gordon’s start with the Patriots last season was similar. His first three games after being traded from the Browns, he didn’t gain over 50 yards in a game. But in his fourth game, he had 100. His chemistry with Brady continued to grow, with Gordon only having two games under 50 yards in his next seven games. Hopefully this year is just another slow start.
No matter what, all signs are pointing to Gordon heating up moving forward.
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