Ladarius Green‘s time to shine has finally come. And it’s only happening a year late.
After pulling in 17 catches for 376 yards and three touchdowns in limited time during the 2013 season, the now 25-year-old was a popular breakout candidate entering last year. And it wasn’t difficult to see why. Incumbent tight end and future Hall-of-Famer Antonio Gates was getting older. Green, much like Gates, had size, speed and big-play ability. It was obviously time to pass the torch.
Instead, Gates led NFL tight ends with 12 touchdowns, Green barely topped that number in receptions (19) and fantasy owners promised themselves, ‘never again.’
Well, it’s time to hop right back up on the bandwagon. The NFL suspended Gates for four games on Thursday, leaving the starting job to Green for the first month of the regular season.
At 6’6″ and 240 pounds with speed and receiving skills, Green is a physical specimen built in the new-era tight end mold. But he’s more than just for show. As 4For4.com’s John Paulsen noted, he has produced when given the chance:
Ladarius Green has seen more than 3 targets in 5 career games & posted 3.4-66-.40 (on 5.4 T/G) in those games. Those are solid TE1 numbers.
And now, really for the first time in his career, he’ll have the opportunity for consistent snaps and targets. Pro Football Focus’ Mike Clay projects he’ll be a top-10 fantasy tight end for as long as that happens:
Of course, that’s only part of the equation when deciding where to draft the Louisiana-Lafayette product. He’s going to be serviceable while Gates is out, but it’s unknown what happens when the 35-year-old returns from his suspension. Does Green carve out a larger role, or does he go back to being mostly an afterthought in the passing game? Moreover, Philip Rivers has a handful of weapons at wide receiver that could eat into his targets even when starting.
Ultimately, though, you always want to bet on talent, and this guy has oodles of it along with the ever-important opportunity. Green, who isn’t being drafted among the top 23 tight ends on average, needs to be selected as a high-end backup tight end on draft day.
At the very least, you’ll be getting a cheap and talented TE1 for the first month of the season, and a backup with an immensely high ceiling for the remainder of the year.