RADIO
BALLER MOVE: Target in Late Rounds
Current ADP: 165 STD, 158 PPR
ANALYSIS: Maybe everyone was a year too early on Ladarius Green. The hype train got a little out of control by the end of the 2014 preseason and Green was being taken over Antonio Gates a lot of the time! Green did put up some ridiculous numbers in limited time in 2013 but couldn’t repeat last year. Things seem to be lining up for Green to become a post-hype sleeper following Gates’ 4-game suspension.
Even if Green is only relevant for those four games he is still worth grabbing in deeper leagues. He could be a real difference maker. Not many 6’6” guys can run a 4.53 40 time. Similar to Jordan Reed, Green’s numbers last year don’t impress while on the field. Green didn’t even play enough snaps to qualify in the yards per route run rankings, but if he did he would have been right behind Jordan Reed and Greg Olsen with the 6th most.
I expect low-end TE1 numbers for those first four games but it’s entirely possible the production keeps going. There are two reasons this might happen. First, Green might play so well that the Chargers feel forced to keep him in a relevant role even with Gates becoming starter. Second, Gates is 35 years old. A lot of people predicted a major decline last year and it didn’t happen. This might be the year. It’s possible that Gates puts up another TE1 year but Ladarius Green is basically free and should be decently productive for four games with a chance for more. That’s somebody I’d like to grab late.
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