5 Reasons to Draft Josh Gordon in Your Fantasy Football League

The Cleveland Browns took a chance this summer at the NFL's supplemental draft, handing over a second-round choice in the 2013 NFL draft for the rights to former Baylor receiver Josh Gordon. 

While Gordon has immense physical skills, the fact remains that he hasn't played since 2010 and comes into the NFL as an unfinished product. 

However, does that mean you should avoid Gordon in your 2012 fantasy football drafts?

We say no, and in the following slides, we give you five reasons why you shouldn't avoid Gordon either.

Already Impressing QB Brandon Weeden

Gordon hasn't been around rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden very long, but he's already made a big impression on the Browns starter.

According to the Canton Rep, Weeden is already sold. 

“It’s amazing how far he has come since Day 1,” Weeden said. “I saw some of it when he was at Baylor when he ran by a lot of guys ... the guy can flat out play.”

No one expected Weeden to say Gordon couldn't play out of the gates, but this kind of high praise is a good sign for his early impact potential. 

In Line to Be a Browns Starter

Despite not playing in two years, Gordon has begun Browns' camp as a starter in the team's three-wide sets. 

According to the Akron Beacon Journal, Gordon has been lining up outside while Greg Little shifts inside to the slot. 

From Browns coach Pat Shurmur:

"

I think that’s one way for us to get three of what we consider our better receivers on the field. We do use a lot of three wide receiver sets, and today because we were working in two minute, it probably showed up that way quite a bit, probably more than maybe some other practice.

"

You don't need to read between the lines of Shurmur's comment to understand what they think of Gordon. At some point this season, and maybe even to start the year, Gordon is going to play a big role. 

The Browns Have Precious Few Other Options

Possibly one of the more promising signs for Gordon's fantasy potential is the talent level of the receivers around him. With precious few playmakers on the receiving depth chart, Gordon has a solid chance of making an impact right away. 

Greg Little is a nice player who hasn't come close to his ceiling, but he's probably better suited to play inside and not as the No. 1 option. Josh Cribbs is a special teamer who the Browns tried to fit into the offense at receiver. And Travis Benjamin was the only other true upgrade Cleveland made this offseason. 

There isn't a name on the Browns receiver depth chart that possesses the kind of skill set Gordon does. At some point, that skill set is going to force the Browns' hand. 

The Browns Have a Player at Quarterback

We can't be certain how good Brandon Weeden really is, but there are few who doubt he's not going to be an upgrade over Colt McCoy. And for fantasy owners deciding whether or not to risk it with Gordon, that's a good thing. 

McCoy was a fine player—a perfectly capable backup quarterback in the NFL. But Weeden possesses the arm talent to deliver the football to any part of the field. McCoy simply couldn't do the same. 

If anyone could benefit from that extended passing tree, it could be Gordon. 

Why Not Take the Risk?

If you plan on drafting Gordon, don't worry about pulling his name out of the pile early. He's going to last awhile. 

According to ESPN, Gordon's average draft position (ADP) is currently at 170. Seventy-seven receivers rank ahead of him, and in most drafts, Gordon isn't even being selected. 

With one of your last picks, why not take the chance? The end of the draft is for taking low-risk, high-reward players. I'd say Gordon qualifies.