Training Camp Daily Dose: Dose: What’s Up with Ladarius?
There’s not a ton to be gained from watching HBO’s Ballers. It’s essentially an Entourage retread set in Miami with Dwayne Johnson (the man who gave us The People’s Elbow) playing the lead role of Spencer Strasmore, a financial advisor who once played for the Dolphins. It’s not particularly original but occasionally the show will touch on some interesting topics. Take this recent plotline for example. One of the lead characters suffers a season-ending Achilles injury in a freak paintball accident. Rather than telling the truth, the team holds a press conference to explain that he injured himself while “training.”
I don’t pretend to know what goes on in an NFL front office. Josh Norris might be a better guy to ask—he did some scouting work for the Rams a few years back. But I tend to think this sort of thing happens on a fairly regular basis. In fact, it might be going on in Pittsburgh right now.
Something very strange is happening with Ladarius Green. The Steelers tight end still isn’t practicing and his return date remains a mystery. Coach Mike Tomlin insists that he’s recovering from offseason ankle surgery (which happened seven months ago) but that’s not what others are saying. NFL Network’s Aditi Kinkhabwala reported last week that Green’s absence was actually related to recurring headaches, a symptom of the many concussions he’s suffered throughout his career. According to Mike Florio over at ProFootballTalk, the 26-year-old has even considered retirement if his symptoms persist.
If the reports are true, it’s unclear why the Steelers would go out of their way to craft a different narrative. Head injuries are a touchy subject but if Green is still experiencing symptoms, what’s the use in hiding it? Coaching today has become an exercise in vagueness with Bill Belichick and others providing as little information as possible in the interest of maintaining a “competitive advantage.” Misleading us is one thing but if the reports from Kinkhabwala and Florio are true, then the Steelers are openly lying about Green’s condition.
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Aside from Pittsburgh’s puzzling lack of transparency, Green’s slow recovery suggests he won’t be much of a fantasy factor this year. It’s a disappointing turn of events for both the Steelers and the fantasy community as a whole. Green has always been an impressive athlete but he never got the opportunity to truly shine in San Diego while playing behind Antonio Gates, a touchdown-catching behemoth who is likely headed for the Hall of Fame.
Upon reaching free agency, Green quickly left San Diego to play for one of the league’s premier passing offenses in Pittsburgh. Green was tabbed as the successor to retired tight end Heath Miller, a known favorite of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Fantasy owners were bullish on Green and Martavis Bryant’s suspension only added fuel to the fire. When we held our draft for the magazine two months ago, Green was the fourth tight end taken ahead of both Greg Olsen and Coby Fleener.
Now the landscape has shifted dramatically. Green’s consensus ADP on FantasyPros has plummeted to 127 and soon he could be off the board altogether. Even if Green’s concussion symptoms are exaggerated, his surgically-repaired ankle is still a concern. ESPN’s Matthew Berry has always preached that the key to fantasy success is minimizing risk. If you subscribe to that theory, Green won’t be on your team this season.
With Green’s return date (and possibly career) in question, Jesse James will look to pick up the slack at tight end. A 6’7” goliath out of Penn State, James tallied just eight catches for 56 yards and one touchdown as a rookie last year but should be more involved this season, particularly if Green faces a lengthy absence. “Ever since Heath retired, it has been a role that I have expected to be able to handle and take,” said James. “Nothing changed when Ladarius was signed.”
James probably won’t draw many targets but his overwhelming size could lead to some looks inside the red zone. Depending on the matchup, he could make for an interesting GPP play in DFS while serving as a touchdown-or-bust TE2 in season-long leagues. James will be off the radar completely if Green makes it back for Week 1 but I wouldn’t hold my breath.
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Gabbert In the Lead
Let me preface this by stating the obvious: the 49ers aren’t going to be very good this year. No amount of Chip Kelly pyrotechnics can change that. Of course, winning and fantasy production don’t always correlate. For example, the Jaguars were forced to play from behind constantly last year, a trend that resulted in consistently great numbers for Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns and Blake Bortles. It’s a simple concept, really. If you fall behind, the easiest way to catch up is by airing it out.
That’s called game script and it plays a huge role in fantasy. It’s why owners should be shying away from running back Carlos Hyde, a two-down grinder who probably won’t be able to take advantage of the Niners’ many garbage-time opportunities this season. He’s being drafted as a mid-range RB2 but I don’t expect to have many Hyde shares this year.
Whoever the Niners choose to be their quarterback this year will see plenty of volume. But who will it be? Blaine Gabbert’s showdown with Colin Kaepernick is one of the few actual quarterback battles being waged this summer (Denver also has one). Unfortunately for those of you who seek drama, it’s not much of a contest. Gabbert has the gig all but sewn up, which shouldn’t be a surprise given that he took Kaepernick’s job last season. The surprising part is just how far Kaepernick has fallen. Kaepernick can’t even practice right now due to a nagging shoulder injury. He’s also dealing with a “dead arm,” an issue major league pitchers often encounter during spring training.
Even if his injury is only of the day-to-day variety, it’s already cost Kaepernick a valuable preseason game that he sorely needed. Kaepernick needs all the reps he can get right now with Gabbert pulling away in the quarterback race. ESPN’s Adam Caplan called Gabbert a “landslide” favorite to win the job while Mercury News beat writer Cam Inman agreed that the Niners’ quarterback competition has already “ended.” Gabbert could have cemented his status with a strong showing in the 49ers’ preseason opener but he fell flat, producing just 63 yards on 4-of-10 passing in a loss to Houston. The door is open a crack but Kaepernick has little margin for error and will need to get healthy in a hurry if he wants to have any shot at retaking the starting job.
Quick Hits: Leonard Hankerson got the axe Monday just two days after a dismal showing in Buffalo’s preseason opener against the Colts. Coach Rex Ryan called Hankerson’s drop-filled performance “horrible” … Karlos Williams is no longer on the NFI list after passing his physical. He’ll miss the first four games of the year while serving a four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy … The Lions signed Andrew Quarless on Monday, possibly as insurance for Eric Ebron, who is out with an ankle injury. Quarless has to serve a two-game suspension to start the year for violating the league’s personal conduct policy … Carson Wentz is hoping to return by the end of the preseason. The No. 2 overall pick suffered broken ribs in Thursday’s preseason loss to the Buccaneers … The Bills waived IK Enemkpali, though it’s unlikely anyone will claim him after he suffered a torn ACL in Saturday’s preseason opener. Assuming he goes unclaimed, Enemkpali will head to the Bills’ injured reserve list … Thad Lewis tore his ACL in Sunday’s preseason loss to the Texans. With Lewis out for the year, rookie Jeff Driskel will slide in as the Niners’ No. 3 quarterback … The Buccaneers inked defensive tackle Demar Dotson to a three-year, $16.5 million extension on Monday. Dotson is back at full strength after struggling with knee issues off and on throughout the 2015 campaign … The Ravens activated Terrell Suggs from the PUP list on Monday. He’s coming back from a torn Achilles … Jeff Janis underwent surgery to repair a broken index finger and will miss 4-6 weeks. Janis had an outside shot to win the No. 3 receiver job in Green Bay but now that post will likely be filled by Davante Adams … DeAndre Smelter remains out indefinitely with an “undisclosed condition.” At least two 49ers beat reporters have predicted that Smelter will spend the entire year on injured reserve … Coach Gary Kubiak confirmed that Ronnie Hillman isn’t a lock to make the Broncos’ 53-man roster. Hillman led Denver with 863 yards and seven touchdowns last year but has already fallen behind C.J. Anderson and could be losing ground on rookie Devontae Booker … Vance Walker was carted off with a torn ACL at Monday’s practice. His season is over … Rob Gronkowski left Monday’s practice after he pulled up trying to make a catch. The Patriots aren’t saying what the injury is but NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport believes it’s only a “minor” issue … Malcolm Mitchell was back practicing in full pads on Monday. That’s a shocker after Mitchell dislocated his elbow in ugly fashion Thursday against the Saints … The Browns activated Josh Gordon from the NFI list on Monday. Gordon was out of shape when he reported to camp but coach Hue Jackson finally seems to be satisfied with his fitness. He was also dealing with a quad injury … Kelvin Benjamin has struggled with his conditioning at Panthers camp and has been getting “winded” after running deep routes. Benjamin is understandably rusty after missing all of last year with a torn ACL … Saints first-round pick Sheldon Rankins suffered a broken fibula at Monday’s practice and will now miss 6-8 weeks. A similar injury sidelined Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey for all of 2015 … The NFL is still trying to interview James Harrison, Clay Matthews, Julius Peppers and Mike Neal in connection with an Al-Jazeera report that linked them to PEDs. Anyone who doesn’t agree to meet with the NFL before August 25 will be subject to a suspension.
