Guess who’s back, back again… Gordon’s back, tell a friend. Embattled WR Josh Gordon is planning to sign with the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad with the intent to promote him to the active roster in short order afterwards.
Now 30 years old, and set to join his 4th NFL team, Gordon is an intriguing fantasy add if for no other reason than because he’ll have Patrick Mahomes throwing him the football. We’re now 8 years removed from his 2013 First Team All-Pro year where he tallied 1646 receiving yards and 9 TDs, though it feels much longer than that.
Coming off his 6th suspension since 2013, the free agent was reinstated by the league following an indefinite leave from the game for substance abuse issues. Most recently Gordon appeared in the Fan Controlled Football League where he played alongside Johnny Manziel. According to his agents, Gordon hopes to be in Kansas City for longer than just the remainder of 2021.
No one has ever doubted Gordon’s talent, however sometimes the greatest ability is simply availability, something the former Brown hasn’t had much of in recent years. KC can certainly afford the gamble, as they hope Gordon can regain some of his former glory under head coach Andy Reid. The Chiefs have been looking for someone to slide into the number 2 receiver role since losing Sammy Watkins to Baltimore in the offseason.
Kansas City has been rotating through combinations of Hardman, Pringle and Robinson so far this season with little success. Their dynamic duo of Kelce and Hill continue to be matchup nightmares for opposing defense, but as the Ravens proved in Week 2, if teams don’t fear the other wideouts, they can afford to blanket Hill in an attempt to slow down the KC offense.
Gordon will be a hot commodity on the waiver wire this week because of his recognizable name, and sizable media fanfare he’s already received. While he’s unlikely to contribute immediately, he could be a good stash for the 2nd half of the season where he’ll be better acclimated in the Chiefs offense.
If you’re expecting him to put up All-Pro numbers right out of the gate, you’re sure to be disappointed. The KC offense will continue to run primarily through Hill and Kelce. However, if you’re looking for a WR3 with upside, or a possible Flex option, there aren’t many players on the scrap heap with more potential. Feel free to cue up a FAAB bid in the $8-12 range and see if you can capture lightning in a bottle.
-Kyle Skinner
Twitter: @JKyleSkinner