The New England Patriots and fantasy owners find themselves scrambling for answers after Josh Gordon announced Thursday that he is stepping away from football to focus on his mental health.
With Gordon unavailable for the Pats' Week 16 game against the Buffalo Bills, fantasy owners will need to turn elsewhere in what is the championship game in most leagues.
The Patriots took a flier on Gordon when they acquired him from the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 17 for a fifth-round draft pick.
While he is leaving at an inopportune time, the move paid off for New England for much of the season, as he made 40 receptions for 720 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games and developed into one of quarterback Tom Brady's favorite targets.