Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta hasn't had the monster season that many were predicting but he has made some strides over the last few weeks. Ahead of Week 16 at the Chicago Bears, LaPorta is looking like a good option at the tight end position. The Iowa product scored two touchdowns in the Thanksgiving matchup between the Lions and Bears in Detroit. The Bears are about middle of the pack against tight ends in fantasy points allowed, so LaPorta looks like a promising threat to score a touchdown in this matchup. In his last four games, LaPorta has seen at least six targets in each game and saw 10 targets against Buffalo last week. An increased role along with his red-zone prowess makes LaPorta a favorable start at the tight end position in the fantasy playoffs.
Dec 21, 2024 9:17 AM EST
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta saw a season-high 10 targets in Week 15's loss to the Buffalo Bills. LaPorta caught seven passes for 111 yards in the contest but did not find the end zone. It was his first game this season with more than 100 receiving yards and the seven catches were also a season-high. LaPorta had a productive game in this one as the Lions were forced to throw the ball a lot in this game. The versatile tight end was held out of the end zone but had his most productive statistical night of the season. In a thin tight-end landscape for fantasy, LaPorta looks like one of the more reliable options at the position.
Dec 15, 2024 8:50 PM EST
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta has seen an uptick in targets lately but his fantasy success is largely based on whether he finds the end zone in a given week. He has seen at least six targets in four of his last five games, but his high for receiving yards was 66 against the Texans in Week 10. Against the Bears, LaPorta scored 15.60 fantasy points in PPR leagues when he caught three passes for six yards and two touchdowns. LaPorta is fighting for looks in the crowded Lions' offense but is still a nice red-zone threat. The tight-end landscape is very thin, so LaPorta still makes for a decent play at the position against a Bills defense that is good at limiting damage to opposing tight ends. The Bills defense is allowing the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season. LaPorta will reward fantasy managers if he finds the end zone, but that is a risky proposition this week.
Dec 14, 2024 9:43 AM EST
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta caught five of his seven targets for 54 yards in a 34-31 win over the Packers on Thursday night in Week 14. LaPorta finished second on the team in receiving, continuing his recent surge in production. After a largely underwhelming season, the veteran tight end seems to be finding his rhythm, recording double-digit fantasy points in back-to-back games for the first time this year. With three touchdowns and two games of at least 54 yards over his past four contests, LaPorta has worked his way back into the low-end TE1 conversation. He'll look to stay productive as the Lions host the Buffalo Bills in Week 15.
Dec 6, 2024 10:45 AM EST
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta will remain a focal point in Jared Goff's passing attack as the Lions gear up for a Thursday night showdown with the Packers in Week 14. LaPorta is coming off a mixed outing against Chicago, where he turned three receptions into just six yards but salvaged his fantasy value with two touchdowns. While his yardage production has dipped this season averaging 35.5 yards per game compared to 52.3 as a rookie LaPorta's red-zone presence keeps him relevant in fantasy. Green Bay presents a favorable matchup for tight ends, allowing the sixth-most receptions and yards per game to the position. This could be the perfect opportunity for LaPorta to build on his 2024 campaign.
Dec 4, 2024 8:52 PM EST
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta caught three passes for just six yards but managed to find the end zone twice in the Lions' 23-20 win over the Chicago Bears in Week 13. LaPorta's touchdowns were crucial for both the Lions' victory and his fantasy output, tying his second-highest fantasy performance of the season. While the volume left much to be desired, his red zone involvement keeps him as a streamable option moving forward. LaPorta will look to retain his scoring streak when Detroit hosts the Green Bay Packers on Thursday Night Football in Week 14.
Nov 29, 2024 10:07 AM EST
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta will look to step up as the Lions host the Chicago Bears in Week 13. In his first game back from a shoulder injury, LaPorta was targeted six times third most on the team but managed just three receptions for 19 yards. It marked the fourth time this season he's been held under 30 receiving yards, continuing a season where he's reached double-digit fantasy points only three times. The Bears defense has been vulnerable to tight ends, allowing the 10th-most receiving yards per game to the position. With another week to recover, LaPorta has a favorable matchup to improve his production and return to form as a key part of Detroit's passing attack. In Week 13, he remains a low-end TE option for fantasy managers.
Nov 27, 2024 5:33 PM EST
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta struggled again in the team's 24-6 win over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 12. The second-year tight end caught three of six targets for just 19 yards, continuing a disappointing stretch of performances. LaPorta has surpassed nine fantasy points in only four games this season and has exceeded 50 receiving yards just three times. His limited involvement remains a concern, with only three games featuring four or more receptions. Despite his early promise, LaPorta has been a volatile fantasy option in 2024. He'll aim to turn things around in a Thanksgiving Day showdown against the Chicago Bears in Week 13.
Nov 24, 2024 9:32 PM EST
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (shoulder) is off the injury report and cleared to return to action on Sunday to face the Indianapolis Colts. The sophomore tight end sat out last weekend due to this injury but will return to his starting role on Sunday. LaPorta has struggled to find consistency throughout the season, as he has scored double-digit PPR points on just three occasions and has seen just 3.6 targets per game. Despite his struggles this season, the Detroit offense has remained one of the league's top units, and fantasy should continue to view him as a top-12 option. This weekend, he should have a great opportunity to bounce back against the Colts, who have allowed the sixth-most PPR points to opposing tight ends this season.
Nov 22, 2024 4:31 PM EST
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (shoulder) practiced in full for the second straight day this week on Thursday and appears to be on track to playing this Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 12. LaPorta suffered an AC joint sprain in his shoulder in the Week 10 win over the Houston Texans and was inactive in last Sunday's blowout win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 23-year-old appears to have healed nicely in the week he had to rest, and barring a setback on Friday, he should be able to play this Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium. While LaPorta has mostly disappointed fantasy managers in 2024 after leading all TEs in fantasy points in his rookie season, he'll have an opportunity to produce strong numbers against a Colts defense that has allowed the sixth-most half-PPR points per game to the position this year.
Nov 21, 2024 5:04 PM EST
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (shoulder) was estimated as a full participant on Wednesday during the team's walkthrough practice. LaPorta suffered an AC joint sprain in the Week 10 win over the Houston Texans that caused him to miss last week's blowout win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The week off apparently did the second-year TE well, though, and head coach Dan Campbell is optimistic of LaPorta's chances of returning this Sunday to face the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. All signs are pointing to the 23-year-old's return this weekend, but fantasy managers should have a backup plan just in case. If he returns, LaPorta will be at worst a low-end TE1 for fantasy managers. He certainly hasn't lived up to his high draft stock after finishing as the TE1 in 2023 as a rookie, and he's currently averaging 7.5 half-PPR points, which ranks 16th among TEs in 2024.
Nov 20, 2024 5:09 PM EST
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said that he feels good about tight end Sam LaPorta (shoulder) playing on Sunday versus the Indianapolis Colts in Week 12. As of Wednesday, it's trending in the right direction for LaPorta to suit up after he missed the Week 11 blowout win over the Jacksonville Jaguars due to an AC joint sprain he suffered the week prior. "Questionable to above," Campbell said. It remains to be seen how much LaPorta even practiced on Wednesday, but this is obviously good news for LaPorta's fantasy managers. The 23-year-old has had a sophomore slump in 2024 after leading all TEs in fantasy points a year ago, but he'd certainly at least be a low-end TE1 if he's able to return this weekend to face the Colts. If LaPorta sits a second straight game, backup Brock Wright would once again be in play as a TE2 streamer in fantasy.
Nov 20, 2024 3:14 PM EST
The Detroit Lions have officially ruled out tight end Sam LaPorta (shoulder) for the Week 11 contest this Sunday against the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars. LaPorta suffered an AC joint sprain in his shoulder in the Week 10 win over the Houston Texans last Sunday night and will now miss at least one game. The 23-year-old second-year TE was listed as day-to-day earlier this week, so there is some hope he'll only miss one game and return to face the Indianapolis Colts in Week 12. With LaPorta out this weekend, expect both Brock Wright and Shane Zylstra to see the field more in two-TE sets, with Wright being the better target as a TE2 streamer in deeper leagues and DFS. LaPorta's absence should also mean more targets for receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown, Tim Patrick and Kalif Raymond.
Nov 15, 2024 3:57 PM EST
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (shoulder) was the team's only player that did not take part in practice on Thursday. LaPorta suffered a sprained AC joint in his shoulder in the team's Week 10 win over the Houston Texans and is in danger of missing this Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars after missing practice on both Wednesday and Thursday. The 23-year-old second-year tight end will need to get onto the practice field on Friday to give himself a shot to suit up in Week 11. If he is unable to do so, expect Brock Wright to see an increased role on offense for Detroit, putting him in play as a TE2 sleeper in a game the Lions are favored by two touchdowns. It's been a disappointing sophomore year for LaPorta fantasy-wise after he finished as the TE1 in 2023 -- he's currently the TE11 in half-PPR scoring -- but he did find the end zone for the third time in Week 10.
Nov 14, 2024 1:20 PM EST
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said that tight end Sam LaPorta (shoulder) remains day-to-day but did not take part in the first practice of the week on Wednesday. LaPorta's status for the Week 11 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars this Sunday is firmly up in the air after he suffered an AC joint sprain of his shoulder in the Week 10 win over the Houston Texans on Sunday night. The 23-year-old second-year tight end will need to return to practice on either Thursday or Friday to have at playing this weekend. As such, fantasy managers should have a backup plan in place in case LaPorta doesn't receive the green light. Brock Wright would most likely have the most upside at the position in Detroit from a fantasy perspective if LaPorta is inactive. Although LaPorta found the end zone last Sunday, he's mostly been a disappointment in his sophomore campaign after finishing as the TE1 in fantasy in 2023.
Nov 13, 2024 3:07 PM EST
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said that tight end Sam LaPorta (shoulder) is considered day-to-day after suffering an AC joint sprain in his shoulder in the Sunday night win over the Houston Texans and is "hopeful" he can play in Week 11 against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. LaPorta didn't suffer a serious shoulder injury on Sunday night, but it could still affect his status for Detroit's next game. We'll have a better idea of the 23-year-old's Week 11 status after the Lions resume practicing on Wednesday. Fantasy managers would hate to see the second-year tight end lose his momentum after catching three of his six targets for a season-high 66 yards and his third TD of the year against the Texans before getting injured. LaPorta remains a TE1 in fantasy when he's active, but managers might have to go in another direction this week.
Nov 11, 2024 4:54 PM EST
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta made a significant impact in the team's 26-23 win over the Houston Texans in Week 10, catching three of six targets for 66 yards and a touchdown. His performance earned him a TE4 finish for the week, marking his second-highest fantasy output this season. However, LaPorta exited the game early due to a shoulder injury. The Lions later reported an AC joint sprain, so LaPorta's status for Week 11 against the Jacksonville Jaguars remains uncertain. Be sure to keep an eye on practice reports throughout this week.
Nov 11, 2024 11:14 AM EST
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (shoulder) has been diagnosed with a sprained AC joint, head coach Dan Campbell said after Sunday night's win over the Houston Texans. LaPorta exited in the third quarter and did not return. He finished Week 10 with six targets, three catches, 66 yards, and one touchdown. It doesn't sound like LaPorta will be sidelined for too long, but Campbell did note that the tight end could miss Week 11 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. If so, Brock Wright would step up as the Lions' primary tight end, ranking as a low-end fantasy TE2.
Nov 11, 2024 12:26 AM EST
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (shoulder) suffered a shoulder injury in the Sunday night game against the Houston Texans and is considered questionable to return in the second half. The good news for LaPorta's fantasy managers is that the 23-year-old second-year tight end already had a season-high 66 receiving yards on three receptions with his third touchdown of the season before injuring his shoulder. The Texans' defense has made it a point to limit top Lions wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown on Sunday night, which has led to LaPorta being wide open for several big gains on the evening. It's unclear how serious LaPorta's injury is or if it will put him in danger of missing the Week 11 contest next Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars. If LaPorta ends up missing any time with his shoulder injury, Brock Wright and Shane Zylstra will see more snaps, with Wright being the better pass-catching option.
Nov 10, 2024 10:58 PM EST
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta heads into Week 10 with a challenging matchup against a Houston Texans defense that has been particularly tough on tight ends. While LaPorta's route share and target involvement have increased recently possibly due to Jameson Williams' suspension (PED violation) this isn't the ideal week for a breakout. Houston's defense has allowed the fewest fantasy points, yards per reception, and total receiving yards per game to tight ends, and they're second-lowest in yards per pass attempt. After a strong rookie season, LaPorta's production has tapered off in 2024, with fewer catches, yards, and touchdowns on pace compared to last year. He has exceeded 50 receiving yards only twice this season and has topped two receptions in just three of eight games. With all said, LaPorta profiles as a lower-end TE option in Week 10.
Nov 8, 2024 9:02 PM EST