The newly approved NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement will eliminate suspensions for positive marijuana tests. Does this have any impact on the Josh Gordon fantasy 2020 outlook?
Yes! Someone get Josh Gordon’s agent on the phone!
It’s busy? Keep dialing!
For the upcoming season, players will only be tested for marijuana during the first two weeks of training camp and the threshold for testing positive has been raised from 35 to 150 nanograms of THC. Players will no longer be suspended for crossing the threshold of 150 nanograms, but will instead be offered personal counseling and/or clinical assistance if a board of professionals decide that it’s necessary.
Note: the new CBA clearly states you can’t play high and/or be high while at team facilities
Translation: Marijuana is totally ok now!
Popeye’s Spinach?
If there ever was an athlete whose talent stemmed from THC, it’s Josh Gordon. Popeye the Sailor was relatively ineffective until he got his spinach, perhaps we are looking at a similar situation here?
Sadly, the new NFL CBA does not change any procedures for reinstatement (Gordon is currently suspended indefinitely), but this will surely become a consideration in the coming months.
A story of two Josh Gordons
Let’s make a comparison just for fun. Obviously, there are far more variables than Gordon simply being high or not, but for entertainment’s sake let’s go ahead and make the comparison anyway.
In a 2017 interview with GQ, Gordon admitted to being high before (and after) games with the Browns, even during his 200-yard performances. Let’s take his word for it and accept that he played those games high.
He has still had problems with drug abuse since leaving Cleveland, but a spotlight has been on him so he has had to play (mostly) sober.
| Josh Gordon | Games Played | Targets/ game | Rec/ game | Yards/ game | TDs/ game |
| While High | 22 | 13.72 | 7.31 | 125.18 | 0.63 |
| While Sober | 24 | 6.66 | 3.58 | 62.41 | 0.25 |
| Percent change | – | -51.46% | -51.03% | -50.14% | -60.32 |
Josh Gordon fantasy 2020 implications
It is far too early to make any Josh Gordon fantasy 2020 decisions. That said, if your fantasy league drafts early, we recommend picking him up instead of a kicker just in case we hear any news about reinstatement.
If you’re drafting in late August or early September, he is worth adding to your watchlist.
Another slightly more devious strategy is to share the above chart in the group chat with your league-mates and see if you can dupe someone into reaching for him in the draft, giving yourself a slight advantage and weakening a competitor. Football is a game of inches.
But beware… this could backfire!
Read more 2020 Fantasy Analysis
