AFC Championship at New England
Look for Green to possibly have a limited role - 10 to 15 plays this week - if he can pass through the concussion protocol. The Steelers will definitely throw three or four passes his way if he does play, so keep him on your back burner and see if he's ready to go Friday. If he's questionable, there's a good chance he plays. He missed practice Thursday because of the stomach flu, not because of the concussion.
Wild Card Round vs. Miami
The last time we saw Green three weeks ago, he caught five passes for 72 yards in a win at Cincinnati before leaving in the fourth quarter with a concussion. After practicing all week, however, he was out Friday and is now questionable to play Sunday. That's not a good sign.
Week 15 at Cincinnati
Green had just two catches for 25 yards last week but was second on the team to Antonio Brown with six targets. And that was despite the Steelers throwing the ball just five times in the second half. He's Pittsburgh's No. 2 receiver. And Cincinnati has allowed seven TE touchdowns this season and some flat-our monster games to the position against New England, Washington and Philadelphia. Green should have a decent amount of success this week, perhaps just enough to be a low-end fantasy starter.
Week 14 at Buffalo
Better late than never. Green got a season-high six catches for a career-high 110 yards and his first TD with the Steelers in his fourth game back. He has 11 catches over the past four games and now has five receptions at least 15 yards down the field. Considering Buffalo allows an average of just under 14 yards per catch to tight ends this season - the worst in the NFL - Green could have some success if the weather permits. The Steelers are excited about continuing to ramp up his playing time. He's a low-end No. 1 TE right now with plenty of upside.
Week 13 vs. Giants
Green had three targets last week and turned them into two catches for 67 yards. He played just 14 snaps last week and Mike Tomlin said he wants to start ramping that up. With increased snaps will come increased opportunities to catch the ball. Green isn't a fantasy starter just yet, but he could be nearing that status as we get into the fantasy playoffs.
Week 12 at Indianapolis
Green got another red zone look last week in his second game back but was unable to come down with the ball. But Indianapolis has given up at least seven TE receptions and 73 yards to the position in each of the past five games. The Steelers are going to keep trying to get Ben Roethlisberger and Green on the same page. He could be a sneaky start this week.
Week 11 at Cleveland
Green played just 12 snaps last week against Dallas, but produced just three receptions for 30 yards on five targets. The Steelers are intent on using him in the middle of the field and his workload will continue to increase each week. Cleveland has allowed nearly 77 yards per game to opposing tight ends, which is the second-most in the league. Green could be a nice bye-week start this week. The Browns have given up eight TDs to opposing tight ends this season.
Week 10 vs. Dallas
Green will likely be activated by the Steelers on Saturday and make his debut with the team. Dallas has allowed quarterbacks to complete 47 of 53 pass attempts to opposing tight ends this season. That makes Green an attractive sleeper play. He can get down the field, something the Steelers have been missing at the position,.
2016 Fantasy Outlook
Green comes to the Steelers as the replacement for retired Heath Miller, but he's also something of a replacement for Martavis Bryant. The Steelers signed Green to be a downfield threat, and his 14.1 yards per catch average for his career suggests that the big tight end can do that. He had 37 catches on 63 targets last season in San Diego and should push his target total to the 80 that Miller had last season, if not more. A season with 50 or more catches, which would shatter his career high is certainly within sight. That should put him in range of being a top-10 fantasy tight end, if he ever comes off the PUP list.
Week 16 at Oakland
Ladarius Green caught just two balls for 13 yards last week on three targets. He's a lower-end TE2 option, but realistically, Green just hasn't been a big factor since Week 7. Since that point, in six games, he's averaging less than two catches a game so he's just not a safe fantasy option.
