A second-round pick, LaPorta is expected to start right away in the Lions offense and contribute much in the same way T.J. Hockenson did. In seven games before he was traded last year, Hockenson averaged 6.1 targets per game, but caught only 3.7 per for 56.4 yards on average and three scores. That came out to an average of 12.2 PPR points per game, which isn't far off from Hockenson's 11.7 PPR points per game in 2021. Unfortunately, LaPorta isn't a replica of Hockenson -- he was a strong tight end for Iowa but only scored once over 58 receptions in 2022 and totaled five touchdowns while averaging 11.7 yards per catch over 46 career games. LaPorta is agile, but not fast, so he'll need really good volume to make an impact. Typically rookie tight ends do not make an impact, plus the Lions offense will be more explosive than ever this year. Don't get too excited about LaPorta -- he's worth a late-round flier at best in seasonal leagues but does have long-term appeal in rookie-only drafts after 15th overall.
LaPorta caught four of five targets for 56 yards during Thursday's 34-20 win over Green Bay.
LaPorta looked like he was on his way to a big night after getting loose for a 35-yard gain within the game's opening minutes. While he received another four targets before halftime, he didn't see another pass come his way in the second half with Detroit protecting a large lead with the run game -- and successfully limiting Green Bay to less than three minutes of fourth-quarter offense in the process. While this muted finish is disappointing for LaPorta's production, through three weeks only 12 other tight ends have a per-game target average that is at or above the rookie's first-half involvement from Thursday, which also ties the rookie's minimum number of targets from his Week 1 professional debut. With only Zach Ertz seeing a larger team target share among all tight ends, the ascending LaPorta will be a high-quality fantasy option when Detroit reconvenes for a Week 5 matchup with Carolina.
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Lions' Sam LaPorta: TEs to Start
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LaPorta has been impressive to start his career with at least five catches in each of the first three games, and he just had eight catches for 84 yards and a touchdown on 11 targets in Week 3 against Atlanta. He's become a must-start Fantasy tight end heading into Week 4 at Green Bay, and the Packers have already allowed three tight ends to score at least 8.0 PPR points this season. I like LaPorta as a top-five Fantasy tight end in all leagues.
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Lions' Sam LaPorta: Start Him (Lineup Decisions)
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With at least 11 PPR points in each of his past two, there's no sense in overthinking it on LaPorta. The rookie has evolved into Goff's second-most trusted target in the offense and should have a size advantage every week. He has become a must-start Fantasy tight end until further notice. He could even be considered a flex in PPR over D.J. Moore, Miles Sanders and Kyren Williams.
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Lions' Sam LaPorta: Continues to impress
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LaPorta caught eight of 11 targets for 84 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 20-6 win over the Falcons.
LaPorta got wide open for a 45-yard touchdown during the second quarter, marking the first end-zone trip of his bright young career. The rookie second-rounder has increased his targets and yardage in each week this season, emerging as an immediate contributor behind top wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown in the passing game. With his stock on the rise, LaPorta faces a quick turnaround ahead of Thursday night's game at the Packers.
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Lions' Sam LaPorta: TEs to Start
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LaPorta is off to a good start through two games with 10 catches for 102 yards on 11 targets, and he scored 11.3 PPR points in Week 2 against Seattle. He should continue to improve as the year goes on, and it's time to consider him a weekly starter in PPR heading into Week 3 against Atlanta. The Falcons clamped down on Luke Musgrave in Week 2, holding the Packers tight end to two catches for 25 yards. But in Week 1, Hayden Hurst had five catches for 41 yards and a touchdown on seven targets, and I like this matchup for LaPorta.
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Lions' Sam LaPorta: Makes five grabs
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LaPorta caught five of six targets for 63 yards in Sunday's 37-31 overtime loss to the Seahawks.
LaPorta was one of four Lions pass catchers with at least five grabs. The rookie second-rounder has immediately emerged as a nice complementary target for quarterback Jared Goff, hauling in 10 of his 11 looks thus far. That dependability puts LaPorta's value on the rise ahead of Week 3's matchup versus the Falcons.
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Lions' Sam LaPorta: TEs to Start
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I like how involved LaPorta was in Week 1 at Kansas City with five catches for 39 yards on five targets in his NFL debut. He should continue to get more work moving forward, and this is a great matchup against Seattle. While the Seahawks held Tyler Higbee to minimal production in Week 1 (three catches for 49 yards on three targets), Seattle was among the worst teams at defending tight ends in 2022. And last year, the Lions used T.J. Hockenson to beat up this Seahawks defense in Week 4 with eight catches for 179 yards and two touchdowns on 12 targets, so consider LaPorta a low-end starter in all leagues in Week 2.
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Lions' Sam LaPorta: Operates as clear No. 1 tight end
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LaPorta caught five of five targets for 39 yards during Thursday's 21-20 win over the Chiefs.
Although he may not be a significant fantasy factor yet, LaPorta looked like a natural receiver in his first career regular-season game. It could be an issue for fantasy purposes if he has more blocking responsibilities than most stars at the tight end position considering LaPorta only ran a route on about 70 percent of his snaps, but the Iowa product drew a target on about a fifth of them en route to finishing fourth in targets behind Amon-Ra St. Brown (nine), Josh Reynolds (seven) and Marvin Jones (six). If his volume improves just a little bit one way or another, LaPorta could easily enter the conversation as a low-end fantasy starter.
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Lions' Sam LaPorta: Sleepers (Start/Sit)
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It might not be the best idea to trust a rookie tight end on the road in his first NFL game, but I'll use LaPorta as a starter in deeper formats this week at Kansas City. This game is expected to be a high-scoring affair with an over-under of 54.5, and the Lions could use LaPorta with a thin receiving corps behind Amon-Ra St. Brown. It helps that Jared Goff will have time to throw in this matchup with Chris Jones out for the Chiefs, and Kansas City was tied for fifth last season with nine touchdowns allowed to opposing tight ends.
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Lions' Sam LaPorta: Week 1 Waiver Priority List
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I love the upside for LaPorta in Detroit this year, and he has the chance to be a breakout candidate in all leagues. If he's still available on waivers then add him for up to 10 percent of your remaining FAB. He should see a healthy amount of targets to open the season with Jameson Williams (suspended) out, and he could prove to be a starter in all formats throughout his rookie campaign. It wouldn't be a surprise if LaPorta finished the season No. 2 in targets for the Lions behind Amon-Ra St. Brown.
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Lions' Sam LaPorta: Should contribute in Year 1
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LaPorta has made the most of his first-team reps with quarterback Jared Goff this summer and is projected to be an immediate starter as a rookie, according to Eric Woodyard of ESPN.
LaPorta having emerged as Detroit's top option at tight end is a notion echoed by Kyle Meinke of Mlive.com, who previously suggested that the second-rounder out of Iowa has claimed the starting job and thus should be a featured weapon in the team's passing game in 2023. While it remains to be seen how much volume LaPorta sees out of the gate, the 6-foot-3, 245-pounder has a chance to make a fantasy splash as a first-year pro if things continue to click with him and Goff as the campaign progresses.
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Lions' Sam LaPorta: Goose egg in first game
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LaPorta didn't catch his only target in Friday's 21-16 preseason win over the Giants.
LaPorta has been working with the first-team offense in training camp, but the rookie second-round pick failed to make much of an impression in his first NFL action. The tight end will look to get more involved in Detroit's second preseason game against the Jaguars as he looks to earn a prominent role in the offense out of the gate.
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Lions' Sam LaPorta: Headed for big role
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Lions tight end coach Steve Heiden said that LaPorta is expected to play a big role in the offense from the start of the season, Tim Twentyman of the team's official site reports.
Detroit's second-round pick has impressed throughout spring practices and minicamp as a do-it-all tight end. While LaPorta will probably have a harder time standing out when the pads come on in training camp this upcoming week, the presence of incumbent starter Brock Wright could at least allow the rookie time to grow into his blocking responsibilities. Since LaPorta may have a shallower learning curve as a receiver, the Iowa product could realistically complement the blocking-proficient Wright from the get-go. However, it is unknown whether LaPorta's role will quickly translate to fantasy-worthy numbers, and it may be a stretch to think he can instantly replicate the 6.1 targets and 56.4 receiving yards per game that T.J. Hockenson was seeing in eight games next to Wright during the first half of the 2022 campaign.
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Lions' Sam LaPorta: Going to Detroit
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The Lions selected LaPorta in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, 34th overall.
LaPorta (6-foot-3, 245 pounds) is smallish by tight end standards, but he offsets that with plus speed (4.59-second 40) and quickness (6.91-second three-cone drill, 4.25-second 20-yard shuttle). LaPorta's overall athletic profile is no worse than average by starting tight end standards, and his production at Iowa clearly indicates a plus skill set otherwise. LaPorta excels after the catch in a way very few tight ends do, making him a good H-back type from some alignments and a viable slot receiver at other times. His blocking is more of a question mark for the time being and could keep LaPorta from earning an immediate starting role, but when the ball is in the air few tight ends in this class are as effective.
