Mike Wallace's struggles in 2013 forced the Miami Dolphins to make moves this offseason. The team was hoping the wide receiver would bring explosive plays to the offense, but instead he simply struggled to create chemistry with quarterback Ryan Tannehill and then complained about it. The result was the Dolphins drafting Jarvis Landry out of LSU and the wide receiver is impressing early.
Landry and Odell Beckham Jr competed for the highest ratings in the NFL Draft this season. The two LSU standouts appeared NFL ready and so far, Landry is proving that analysis true. Three weeks into training camp, Beckham Jr is just getting on the field after suffering an early injury while Landry has been dominating for the Miami Dolphins. The coaching staff was more than pleased with what Landry showed against the Atlanta Falcons, getting praise for his solid hands and route running abilities. Could he be the star of the offense this season?
According to the Miami Herald, Landry has been taking all first-team reps in training camp. He is currently competing with the likes of Wallace, Brandon Gibson and Brian Hartline for the attention of Tannehill. So far, the second-round draft pick is winning out and leaving some to believe he is an early candidate for Rookie of the Year. Landry notes he has been capitalizing off early injuries from Wallace and Hartline, noting the competition for the top wide receiver is getting heated.
"It's very stiff, very stiff," Landry said, via FOXSports.com. "We have a lot of guys in here that are competing for jobs. With those guys down, it gave me a fortunate opportunity to play another position and give other guys opportunities to play other positions, too. So it helped us learn the offense a little bit more and prepare differently and be able to expect that, if anybody goes down, you can put guys in there that know what they're doing to make plays."
Fantasy owners looking for a sleeper pick at wide receiver would be wise to take a glance at Landry. The LSU standout proved to be a big playmaker in college and his already-developed chemistry with Tannehill will only help him continue that. Early reports regarding Wallace are still not positive. The Miami Herald reported that because of injuries, he and Tannehill are still struggling to connect, especially on the deep ball. If Landry continues to shine, he will be the new threat for Miami.
