Josh Gordon, Tom Brady and Le’Veon Bell all are facing four-game suspensions. Let’s discuss the fantasy impacts these suspensions carry for these popular fantasy football names. The missed games will affect fantasy football rankings and average draft position not only for the three aforementioned players but also their teammates.
NFL Reinstates Josh Gordon
Josh Gordon has been reinstated on a conditional basis and will be suspended for the first four games of the season. The last time Flash Gordon played in an NFL game was December, 2014 but the last time he was an elite wide receiver was 2013. He not only missed the entire 2015 season but missed the first 10 games the year before. Gordon was out of sync and rusty when he returned from that lengthly 10-game suspension in 2014. Even though he was targeted 47 times, he only reeled in 24 catches and failed to score a single touchdown for that five-game span in 2014. Josh Gordon was the No. 1 fantasy wide receiver during his 2013 campaign and that’s what gives him that tremendous upside for fantasy drafts.
I always had players like Corey Coleman, Gary Barnidge and Robert Griffin III ranked lower than the consensus, so their positions on my rankings are not significantly affected.
I have Josh Gordon as a late 6th-rounder, but I would probably take him the in the 7th or 8th round. Even though I project Gordon will have an ADP as a 6th round pick in PPR leagues and a 7th round pick in non-PPR leagues, it might be smart to wait longer. Gordon is going to miss 25% of the season due to suspension, then there will a period of time that it will take him to get acclimated, and then you have that risk of him getting suspended or injured. If you are in a league with a shallow bench or you are drafting other players that are expected to miss time, then it may be best to avoid Josh Gordon all together.
Le’Veon Bell
Bell was quoted saying that he’s not going to miss any games this year, but I don’t know about all that. There is a chance he can win his appeal and the NFL will overturn or reduce the ruling, but if we drafted today, we have to draft assuming Bell will be on our benches until Week 5. According to Sports Injury Predictor, Le’Veon Bell is the 4th most likely running back to get injured this season. His injury risk, coupled with his suspension causes Bell’s ranking to drop. He drops from No. 3 overall (RB1) to No. 12 overall (RB5) on my rankings, while DeAngelo Williams moves up from RB56 to RB39. I’m setting the over-under for how many games Le’Veon Bell misses at 5.5. Let me know: over or under?
Tom Brady
It may be best to completely avoid Tom Terrific this year. The Patriots rank dead last when it comes to strength of schedule for fantasy quarterbacks. With the quarterback position being so deep this year, I would rather wait later in the draft for a QB. Currently his ADP is QB7 which is ridiculous since I have him ranked more of a backup fantasy QB this year and he is sure to get drafted well before I’m prepared to take him in drafts.
These suspended players have more value in leagues with deep benches and in leagues with IR spots. If you’re in a league with limited bench spots and no IR spot, having suspended players taking up valuable roster space, even as a reserve, can be quite the nuisance.
