Should you drop Melvin Gordon? Fantasy outlook explained

The Melvin Gordon of yesteryear would have scoffed at adversity. The Gordon of 2016 would have broken through any barrier and the Gordon of 2018 was inspirational. So what happened along the line? How did one of the past decade's premier ball carriers hit such a steep decline, sliding down the depth chart of the worst offensive side in the NFL? In short, what is going on with Melvin Gordon and the Denver Broncos?

Over the years, Melvin Gordon has been a reliable fantasy football pick thanks to his versatility, stamina, and penchant for having incredible match days. However, it seems like that version of the running back is long gone. The forlorn and emotional figure we saw on the sidelines during Denver's loss to the Los Angeles Chargers did not inspire confidence.

We recommend that you trade Melvin Gordon for a more useful running back or bench him until a later date.

Why it is time to trade Melvin Gordon

Indianapolis Colts v Denver Broncos

Melvin Gordon joined the Broncos in 2020, and signed a two-year, $16 million contract. When he signed, it looked like a steal for the franchise as they seemed to be getting a solid runner a few years removed from his second Pro Bowl selection. His first two seasons yielded almost twenty rushing touchdowns and a fistful of receiving ones. However, in the 2022 NFL season, Melvin Gordon looks a shadow of his former self.

Gordon doesn't seem to fit into the offensive scheme that rookie head coach Nathaniel Hackett is trying to implement in Denver. The system does not cater to his strengths, so it was no surprise when he was placed behind Javonte Williams on the depth chart.

However, Williams suffered a horrible knee injury that put a screeching halt to his season. This unfortunate situation ought to have given Gordon an opening to prove Hackett wrong. Instead, Gordon has fallen further. After fumbling four times in the opening four weeks, Denver might lack trust in Melvin Gordon. When Williams went down, they signed Latavius Murray to compete for the starting role.

It seems the Broncos may prefer Murray. Gordon rushed for a head-scratching eight yards in three attempts against his former side, the Los Angeles Chargers. Whereas Murray had 15 attempts for 66 yards. This change-around of touches has led to questions as to the future of Gordon in Denver.

Possible trades, pickups and plans for Melvin Gordon owners

San Francisco 49ers v Denver Broncos

While Gordon has slid down the depth chart at Denver, there is no need to panic. His trade value has quickly plummeted after peaking barely a week ago. If you are looking to trade him, you will likely not get much in return or will have to package him with other players.

If you are looking for a great back like Leonard Fournette (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) or Alvin Kamara (New Orleans Saints), you will have to hand over Gordon and other assets to sweeten the pot. If you do not have such an asset on your bench, it may be worth holding on to Gordon for now.

Gordon will likely have a similar value to Chase Edmonds (Miami Dolphins), who has also lost the starting role. If Edmonds is rostered in your league, it is likely his manager will be willing to trade him. It's really a case of who do you think has a chance at regaining the starting role, which is an uncertain science at best.

A reasonable strategy is to look at running backs that are getting injured frequently this season and look at their backups. Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts has been out a lot, as has their second-string back Nyheim Hines. Looking at Hines and third-string Deon Jackson (who had a great game in Week 6) is a viable target and they may well be available on waivers. Streaming backs in this way might be a decent option going forward

The obvious player to chase right now is Latavius Murray. There is a small chance he isn't rostered, and if he is available you should pick him up. If you cannot get a good replacement through trades or waivers, it might be best to hold onto Gordon and see what the future holds. Things can change quickly in the NFL, Melvin Gordon has risen and fallen once already, he might just rise again.