It’s safe to say Melvin Gordon hasn’t been a fan favorite since arriving in Denver two years ago.
In his first season with the team, Broncos fans were upset that Gordon was taking away carries from hometown fan-favorite Phillip Lindsay. This year, some Denver fans (and fantasy football managers) are upset that Gordon is taking away carries from exciting second-round draft pick Javonte Williams.
Gordon has had some fumble woes, but besides that, the running back has been productive for the Broncos and some of the criticism he’s faced has been unwarranted. He’s scheduled to become a free agent in 2022 and he’d like to return, but the running back knows that might not be a popular idea.
“I’d love to be here, I want to be here, [but] I don’t think many people want me here,” Gordon said with a laugh during his Friday media availability. “As far as the fans, man, I’ve just seen a lot of stuff. And I understand, I understand, I get it, but I love it here …. love the fans, regardless of the hate right now. I think it’s mostly because of fantasy, honestly. The fantasy football, man, it gets people a little tight in the rear end.”
Melvin Gordon, on the possibility of coming back to the Broncos next year: “I’d love to be here,” he says of that. Then he continues, “I don’t think many people want me here, as far as the fans, man, I’ve been seeing a lot of stuff.” pic.twitter.com/bZSNtBVbCi
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) December 9, 2021
Because the Broncos run so often, Gordon and Williams can both have productive days for fantasy football managers. They both scored two touchdowns on Sunday and they are each within reach of rushing for 1,000 yards this season.
Fans in Denver might not love Gordon, but he has totaled 2,026 yards from scrimmage and scored 19 touchdowns in 27 games. Those are respective numbers — both in real life and in fantasy — and Gordon probably deserves more love from Broncos fans. He certainly deserves more respect.
There’s room for both Gordon and Williams in Denver’s backfield.
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