Back in 2013, Josh Gordon did something incredible for the Cleveland Browns -- he still found a way to led the league with 1,646 receiving yards on just 87 receptions despite missing two games. That's an average of nearly 19 yards per reception!
And this occurred while playing with a trio of ugly quarterbacks (Jason Campbell, Brandon Weeden, and Brian Hoyer) that the team rotated in and out of the lineup. Yet Gordon saw over 11 targets per game. During a four-game stretch in the middle of the season, he averaged a ridiculous 193.5 yards per game thanks to two consecutive contests in which he exceeded 230 yards. Those are video game numbers.
Issues off the field have plagued Gordon all his life and became the reason why he was taken in the NFL Supplemental Draft. His past has been documented very well in recent weeks by Uninterrupted and Sports Illustrated. After numerous setbacks and suspensions, it appears that Gordon has only got life back on track.
As for football, head coach Hue Jackson has suggested there will not be any limits in terms of Gordon's playing time this week on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Hue Jackson on Josh Gordon Sunday: "Are you kidding me? Yeah he's gonna start, right away. ... Let her rip. Pitch count? With this guy? Nooo."
— Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) November 30, 2017
However, Gordon may have a difficult time suddenly shaking off the rust and excelling in his first NFL game in nearly three full years -- especially since the Chargers are a top-five squad against the pass, per our metrics.
Unlike those past Cleveland teams, this one features another promising target in Corey Coleman. The second-year receiver -- who also played college football at Baylor -- has seen 19 targets in his last two games in his first action since breaking his hand for the second time in as many seasons.
Fingers crossed that, in the end, Gordon proves to be a feel-good story, successful both on and off the field. Making an immediate impact in this return game could prove difficult, however, especially for fantasy owners facing critical start-sit decisions as the fantasy playoffs approach.