Phillip Dorsett Fantasy Outlook Improves With Josh Gordon on Injured Reserve

Despite being banged up and often serving as the New England Patriots' No. 3 WR, Phillip Dorsett has already made a solid impact this season with 243 yards and four touchdowns on 18 receptions.

Following the announcement that Josh Gordon was placed on the injured reserve list Wednesday, Dorsett looks set to generate even more fantasy football value moving forward.

#Patriots WR Josh Gordon was placed on Injured Reserve today because of two bone bruises in his knee that he dealt with before the injury against the #Giants, sources say. His time in NE is likely over as they are moving on. He’ll be waived off IR when fully healthy.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 23, 2019

Gordon and Dorsett played four full games together to start the season, and in that sample, Dorsett still averaged 5.8 targets and 13.7 PPR fantasy points. Gordon averaged 6.8 targets in those games, and a significant portion of those should go to Dorsett as the other outside WR threat in New England.

The Pats trading for Mohamed Sanu will take some of the potential volume away, but Sanu works mostly from the slot, not filling the same role as Gordon and Dorsett.

The Patriots are averaging the NFL's most points per game (31.9 PPG), and that means that Dorsett's upside should stay strong all year, even if Sanu soaks up more volume than expected. Averaging five to six targets per game from Tom Brady in an offense that is regularly in scoring position is a terrific spot to be in for fantasy football purposes.

Josh Gordon to IR should lock in Phillip Dorsett as #Patriots primary perimeter WR.

Julian Edelman & Mohamed Sanu can be used interchangeably as slot/flankers. (As can No. 4 Jakobi Meyers.)

* Tom Brady has thrown 7 TDs to Dorsett in their last 9 full games together.
— Evan Silva (@evansilva) October 23, 2019

Dorsett and the Patriots have a favorable matchup on tap in Week 8, taking on a Cleveland Browns team that ranks 21st in Football Outsiders' pass defense DVOA rankings. With the potential for increased volume in a favorable matchup, we have Dorsett at WR36 in our Week 8 PPR fantasy football rankings, making him a viable WR3 or FLEX option.

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Jason Schandl is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Jason Schandl also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username Jaymun. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.