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Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta caught nine of his 11 targets for 65 yards in the win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Divisional Round game. LaPorta entered Sunday's contest with a "questionable" tag due to a knee injury he suffered in Week 18, but he ultimately suited up and was clearly good to go. Barring any setbacks with his knee, the rookie from Iowa will remain on the fantasy radar against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. The 49ers allowed the 11th-fewest fantasy points per game to tight ends during the regular season, but he's proven to be virtually matchup-proof.
Jan 21, 2024 6:44 PM EST
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (knee) is active for Sunday's playoff game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He had been listed as questionable. While there never appeared to be major concern about the rookie's status, it should be noted that he did downgrade to a limited participant in practice on Thursday and Friday. Nevertheless, he's active for the Divisional Round and will presumably handle a full workload. LaPorta registered three catches, 14 yards, and one touchdown in last week's playoff game, and he remains an intriguing option for fantasy managers and bettors ahead of kickoff Sunday.
Jan 21, 2024 1:35 PM EST
Detroit Lions rookie tight end Sam LaPorta (knee) is officially listed as questionable to play on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. LaPorta suffered a hyperextended knee and a bone bruise in the Week 18 regular season finale but then played through a questionable tag in the wild-card win over the Los Angeles Rams. In that game, the 23-year-old played 80 percent of the offensive snaps and found the end zone on three catches. We'd be surprised if he wasn't active against the Buccaneers, a team that allowed the second-most half-PPR points to opposing TEs during the regular season. LaPorta was the top-scoring fantasy tight end in 2023, but he's going to carry some more risk in DFS this weekend because of his knee. DraftKings has him listed at $5,900, the second-most expensive TE behind Travis Kelce.
Jan 19, 2024 3:55 PM EST
Detroit Lions rookie tight end Sam LaPorta (knee) was downgraded to a limited practice participant on Thursday after he was listed as a full participant on Wednesday. Instead of suffering a setback with his hyperextended knee, the Lions were most likely resting the 23-year-old after he played through his knee injury in last weekend's wild-card win over the Los Angeles Rams. LaPorta played 45 of 56 offensive snaps last Sunday and caught all three of his targets for 14 yards and a touchdown. Unless he suffers a setback in practice on Friday, LaPorta should be good to go for the Divisional Round against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Even though the Buccaneers have been gouged by opposing tight ends all year, LaPorta will still carry plenty of risk as the second-most expensive TE on DraftKings for this weekend, behind only Travis Kelce.
Jan 18, 2024 4:38 PM EST
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (knee) practiced in full to begin the week leading up to the NFC Divisional Round contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Barring any setbacks, he should not be at risk of missing Sunday's game, and he should be more involved in the offense. The rookie saw just three targets in the win over the Los Angeles Rams, but he caught all three for 14 yards and a touchdown. The Buccaneers allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends during the regular season, so with a favorable matchup and improved health, the volume is likely to go up. He remains a solid DFS option for cash games and GPP tournaments.
Jan 18, 2024 2:22 PM EST
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said that rookie tight end Sam LaPorta (knee) is "coming along" and making progress after hyperextending his knee and suffering a bone bruise in the Week 18 regular season finale. LaPorta was questionable going into the wild-card round game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night but ended up playing and caught three passes for 14 yards and his first postseason touchdown in the one-point win. The impressive rookie TE wasn't 100 percent in that game, but Campbell said LaPorta feels better than he did at this point last week, so that's encouraging for fantasy managers setting DFS lineups that want to use the 23-year-old in an excellent Divisional Round matchup against the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Unless he has a setback later this week, LaPorta should be ready to play and should be more involved.
Jan 17, 2024 4:05 PM EST
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta caught all three of his targets for 14 yards and a touchdown in the NFC Wild Card win over the Los Angeles Rams. The rookie was questionable to play on Sunday due to a knee injury he suffered in Week 18, but he ultimately gutted it out and proved to be a difference-maker by securing a touchdown reception on fourth down. LaPorta played 80% of the team's snaps and wasn't a target hog like usual, but his contributions obviously loomed large in the end. Next week, he'll face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Philadelphia Eagles. Tampa Bay allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends during the regular season, while Philadelphia allowed the 13th-most. Either way, LaPorta will have upside, and he'll get a full week to heal up further before taking the field next weekend.
Jan 15, 2024 9:41 AM EST
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (knee) is officially cleared for Sunday's meeting with the Rams. The rookie caught five of seven targets for 29 yards and a touchdown in the Week 18 win over the Minnesota Vikings. But his day came to an end after he suffered multiple knee injuries. At any rate, LaPorta was initially expected to miss at least a game, maybe more. However, he's in the lineup, although the knee ailments could certainly limit his DFS potential, which isn't ideal, considering he's the costliest tight end on Sunday's slate.
Jan 14, 2024 7:03 PM EST
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (knee) is trending toward being active for Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Rams, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. As it stands, LaPorta is currently listed as questionable. He injured himself in last Sunday's regular-season finale and missed two consecutive practices before returning in a full capacity on Friday. Rapoport notes that the breakout rookie will likely wear a brace versus the Rams, but he wants to be on the field and help his team extend its playoff run. The former Iowa Hawkeye is a very intriguing option in fantasy leagues and sportsbooks given his huge year and the Rams' struggles to defend tight ends.
Jan 14, 2024 9:08 AM EST
Detroit Lions rookie tight end Sam LaPorta (knee) is officially listed as questionable to play in Sunday night's wild-card playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams. After missing practice on Wednesday and Thursday, LaPorta went through a full practice on Friday for the first time this week, giving him a chance to suit up this weekend. In other Lions tight end news, James Mitchell (hand) was ruled out, so if LaPorta doesn't get the green light, Brock Wright (hip) should serve as the Lions' primary pass-catching tight end. Wright missed the final three games of the regular season but has been cleared to play against LA. The 23-year-old LaPorta was the top-scoring TE in fantasy leagues in his first year in the NFL, but he's trending as a high-priced DFS risk/reward for this weekend if he's able to play through a bone bruise and a hyperextended knee that he suffered in Week 18.
Jan 12, 2024 4:00 PM EST
Detroit Lions rookie tight end Sam LaPorta (knee) said he got in some repetitions at practice on Thursday and is "optimistic" about playing in Sunday's wild-card playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams. LaPorta was officially listed as a non-participant for the second straight day at Thursday's practice, but the talented 22-year-old tight end isn't giving up hope that he can play in his first career postseason game this weekend. He suffered a hyperextension of his left knee and a bone bruise in the Week 18 win over the Minnesota Vikings. LaPorta, who was the top-scoring fantasy tight end during the regular season, will be extra risky as a high-priced DFS play in the wild-card round if he plays and is limited. If he's not ultimately cleared to play, Brock Wright (hip), who missed the last three games of the regular season, would serve as Detroit's No. 1 TE.
Jan 11, 2024 6:15 PM EST
Detroit Lions rookie tight end Sam LaPorta (knee) remained sidelined at practice on Thursday for the second straight day. LaPorta injured his left knee in the win over the Minnesota Vikings in the Week 18 regular season finale on Sunday and is up in the air to play on Sunday in the wild-card playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams. The 22-year-old was diagnosed with a hyperextended knee and a bone bruise and was given an outside chance of playing this weekend. The second-rounder was the top-scoring fantasy tight end in his first year in the league, so Detroit would be losing a key weapon in the passing game if LaPorta is unable to practice on Friday and play on Sunday night. Brock Wright (hip), who missed the last three games of the regular season, is practicing in full and would serve as Detroit's primary pass-catching tight end on Sunday if LaPorta is sidelined.
Jan 11, 2024 3:31 PM EST
Detroit Lions rookie Pro Bowl tight end Sam LaPorta (knee) didn't take part in the team's practice on Wednesday, but he was in attendance. LaPorta hyperextended his knee in the Week 18 regular season finale against the Minnesota Vikings and suffered a bone bruise on Sunday. The Lions initially believed he would miss the wild-card game this Sunday night against the Los Angeles Rams, but LaPorta has improved enough to take part in a walkthrough this week and has an "outside chance to play, according to head coach Dan Campbell. "He's improving. He was out there in walkthrough. I don't foresee us knowing anything or feeling like we have a real good picture until Friday afternoon. But he's improving," Campbell said. LaPorta was the No. 1 fantasy tight end in his first NFL season, but he'll carry extra risk in DFS lineups if he's active and playing at less than 100 percent.
Jan 10, 2024 3:11 PM EST
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (knee) was carted off the field with a knee injury during Sunday's Week 18 win over the Minnesota Vikings. He has been diagnosed with a hyperextended knee, and head coach Dan Campbell said he has an "outside shot" to play against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Wild Card contest on Sunday. Campbell mentioned that LaPorta is more day-to-day than week-to-week, but his status is still up in the air for Detroit's first home playoff game since 1994. It sounds like he'd be ready to go for the Divisional Round if the Lions advance, but fantasy managers and DFS gamers will need to check back on his status throughout the week. If he can't play, Brock Wright (hip), who is expected to be ready to go on Sunday, will likely start at tight end.
Jan 8, 2024 2:19 PM EST
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (knee) didn't return to Sunday's NFC North matchup with the Minnesota Vikings. The rookie had played well before being carted off, catching five of seven targets for 29 yards and a touchdown. Head coach Dan Campbell indicated that LaPorta's injury wasn't as severe as initially believed. Fortunately, Campbell was correct, with an MRI revealing a hyperextended left knee and a bone bruise. Of course, things could have been worse. However, LaPorta will likely miss time, meaning Brock Wright would be the Lions' starting tight end to begin the postseason. That said, LaPorta has been a top fantasy tight end throughout the 2023-24 campaign, so Wright atop the depth chart would be a significant downgrade.
Jan 7, 2024 5:52 PM EST
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (knee) didn't return to Sunday's NFC North showdown with the Vikings after getting carted off because of a knee injury. Head coach Dan Campbell provided an update while speaking to the media after the game, indicating that the rookie's "injury isn't as bad as it looked." However, he'll need more tests on Monday to determine the severity of the ailment, so his status for the postseason will remain a mystery until then. LaPorta has been a top fantasy tight end all year, and he will finish the regular season with 86 receptions for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns. If he misses time, Brock Wright would presumably fill the void, although it would be a significant downgrade for the Lions offense.
Jan 7, 2024 5:14 PM EST
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (knee) has been downgraded to out for the remainder of Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings. He initially exited during the second quarter and was carted to the locker room. There is concern for a serious knee injury here, though additional testing will be required before the Lions provide an official diagnosis. LaPorta's foot appeared to snag the ground while he was being tackled, which led to his knee hyperextending. With both LaPorta and Brock Wright (hip) sidelined, the Lions will turn to James Mitchell as their top tight end.
Jan 7, 2024 2:50 PM EST
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (knee) exited during the second quarter of Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings. He was carted to the locker room and is officially questionable to return. LaPorta's foot seemed to snag the ground while he was being tackled, which led to his knee hyperextending. It was a concerning sight for the young playmaker, who just minutes earlier set the rookie tight end record for receptions with his 10th touchdown. With Brock Wright (hip) also sidelined, the Lions will turn to James Mitchell as their top tight end.
Jan 7, 2024 2:30 PM EST
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta was listed on this week's injury report with an ankle injury, but he's cleared to go and will look to finish his spectacular rookie season on a high note. The second-round pick has hauled in 81 of his 113 targets for 860 yards and nine touchdowns. Those numbers are almost unheard of for rookie tight ends, and he's arguably been the best player at the position in 2023. Needless to say, he remains a must-start and strong DFS option against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 18. Although Minnesota has been stingy against tight ends, he's virtually matchup-proof.
Jan 5, 2024 4:07 PM EST
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (ankle) was once again a limited participant during practice on Thursday. The rookie tight end has now been limited through the first two practices of the week. Despite that, fantasy managers shouldn't be too worried heading into Week 18. The limited sessions are likely just the Lions being cautious with their big tight end. The expectation is that LaPorta will be completely fine in time for the regular season finale against the Minnesota Vikings. LaPorta is coming off an 84-yard performance and he'll look to build on that this weekend.
Jan 4, 2024 9:31 PM EST
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