Tight end Ladarius Green, formerly of the San Diego Chargers, agreed to terms with the Pittsburgh Steelers Wednesday, the first day of the new league year. Green replaces the retired Heath Miller in the Pittsburgh offense.
Fantasy impact of Ladarius Green free agent signing
The former San Diego tight end replaces a retired fan favorite in Pittsburgh. We break down the fantasy implications.
Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Green had four touchdowns and 304 yards in his first six games in 2015 -- filling in for suspended/injured starter Antonio Gates during some of that time -- but didn't score or go over 27 yards again the rest of the season, as Gates grabbed hold of the starter slot again while Green struggled with his health. Miller, in his last season, had 535 yards and two scores in 2015 for Pittsburgh.
Fantasy impact: Able to escape Gates' shadow, Green in 2016 should have a chance to fulfill the promise he showed in the back half of the 2013 season, when he had three touchdowns down the stretch and had 80-plus yards in two different game. The problem for Green could be the huge number of mouths to feed in Pittsburgh. Wide receivers Antonio Brown and Martavis Bryant and running back Le'Veon Bell will definitely get their fair share, leaving Green, wide receiver Markus Wheaton and running back DeAngelo Williams to share the scraps.
Green will almost certainly have occasional big games, just as Miller would sometimes pop up before him. The problem is, though, that they aren’t likely to be predictable, leaving fantasy owners frustrated as often as they are elated with Green. He’s likely nothing more than a mid-range TE2, but does carry upside.
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