Browns Fans, Fantasy Owners Should Temper Expectations for Josh Gordon in 2016

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon is finally on the verge of making his NFL return. There are still some obstacles in front of him—like an offseason quad injury and a looming four-game suspension—but Gordon has been reinstated by the NFL and should soon see the field for the first time in more than a year.

According to a statement released by the NFL, Gordon is being reinstated on a conditional basis. He will be suspended for the first four games of the 2016 season, but he will be allowed to participate in training camp and the preseason and can be involved in non-practice activities during his suspension. If all goes well, Gordon will be playing in Week 5 against the New England Patriots.

Obviously, this is a wonderful development for the Browns and for potential fantasy owners. Gordon led the NFL with an impressive 1,646 receiving yards in 2013. He accomplished the feat while only appearing in 14 games that season. Gordon has the potential to be a true difference-maker, and he’ll have a chance to re-establish himself as on of the league’s top offensive weapons this year.

However, those expecting Gordon to immediately leap back into the ranks of the elite should stake a step back first and re-evaluate their expectations. Though he is on the edge of completing his journey back into the NFL, Gordon still faces a long path back to being a top-tier NFL receiver.

We’re going to examine the various reasons why.

A Year Off

Gordon has been away from the playing field for more than a year. He has also been away from the Cleveland franchise during that time. Even if Gordon has been working out on his own—and his well-publicized relationship with Johnny Manziel makes one question how much actual work Gordon’s been doing—he hasn’t been in a game or practicing in a team environment for a long, long time.

There is a massive difference between being in good physical shape and being in true game shape. There’s a strong chance that spending a year away from the playing field has prevented Gordon from staying in peak physical form.

Just consider the fact that Gordon spent the first 10 games of 2014 on suspension and away from the team. When he finally returned, he was expected to provide a possible playoff boost for the then-6-4 Browns, but Gordon returned as a shadow of his 2013 incarnation.

In five games in 2014, Gordon produced just 24 receptions and 303 yards with no touchdowns. His yards-per-reception average plummeted from 18.9 in 2013 to 12.6 in 2014. The former Baylor standout was rated 14th overall among all wide receivers by Pro Football Focus in 2013. He was rated 49th …

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