Sam LaPorta

Detroit Lions
Tight End #87
Detroit Lions
Tight End #87

Sam LaPorta News RotoBaller

Sam LaPorta Visits the End Zone for the First Time in 2025

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta caught five of his six targets for 92 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's Week 5 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. He scored his first touchdown of the season on a trick play that involved a pass from running back David Montgomery. By breaking into the end zone, LaPorta turned in his best fantasy outing of the 2025 season. He was the fourth-highest tight end scorer in Week 5 and ranks as the overall TE6 in total scoring this year. While there is some inconsistency in his production week over week, fantasy managers should feel confident that LaPorta is still a top-10 fantasy tight end. He should be started in all leagues ahead of next week's competitive matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Oct 6, 2025 12:40 AM EST


Sam LaPorta Poised for Breakout Game in Favorable Week 5 Matchup?

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta has had an underwhelming season so far in terms of fantasy production, recording 16 catches for 177 yards without finding the end zone through his first four games. After earning nine targets in Week 1, LaPorta has been targeted exactly four times by Lions quarterback Jared Goff in each of the last three weeks. LaPorta has a favorable matchup on paper in Week 5 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Cincinnati has allowed the third-most passing yards (1,089) and fifth-most passing touchdowns (eight) in the league through four games. The Bengals are also allowing an average of 10 targets per game to tight ends, which is the highest mark in the league. Despite the frustrating production he has provided to this point, LaPorta remains a must-start fantasy tight end in Week 5.

Oct 3, 2025 5:11 PM EST



Sam LaPorta Held Under 40 Yards Receiving for Third Straight Game in Week 4

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta recorded three catches for 39 yards on four targets in his team's Week 4 win over the Cleveland Browns. LaPorta has now earned exactly four targets and failed to crack 40 yards in each of Detroit's last three games. For the season, the 24-year-old has logged 16 catches for 177 yards and zero touchdowns on 21 targets. On the bright side, LaPorta is tied for second on the Lions in targets with running back Jahmyr Gibbs, behind only star wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown (32). Still, LaPorta has not been able to provide consistent fantasy production so far in 2025. He has a favorable matchup on paper in Week 5 against the Cincinnati Bengals, but LaPorta may need to find the end zone to be a worthwhile fantasy starter.

Sep 29, 2025 8:29 PM EST


Sam LaPorta Searching for Breakout Game Heading into Week 4

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta has had a quiet start to his 2025 season, recording 13 catches for 138 yards and zero touchdowns on 17 targets so far. Things don't get any easier on paper for LaPorta in Week 4, as he'll face a Cleveland Browns defense that has allowed the fifth-fewest passing yards in the NFL so far this season. On the bright side for the 24-year-old, he still ranks third on the Lions in targets behind wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and running back Jahmyr Gibbs. If Cleveland's fierce pass rush forces Lions quarterback Jared Goff to get the ball out quickly, LaPorta could see a good number of short and intermediate-area pass attempts come his way. LaPorta remains a must-start fantasy tight end in Week 4, but it may be time for fantasy managers to begin adjusting preseason expectations.

Sep 26, 2025 11:01 PM EST


Sam LaPorta Underwhelms for Second Straight Week

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta was held in check by the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night. LaPorta hauled in all four of his targets for 33 yards during Detroit's 38-30 Week 3 win. The third-year tight end now has 13 catches for 138 yards on the season and has yet to find the end zone. LaPorta ranks third on the team in targets behind wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and running back Jahmyr Gibbs. Still, he hasn't been able to translate the target volume into consistent, high-end fantasy production so far in 2025. LaPorta remains a must-start tight end heading into Week 4, but he needs to start earning end zone targets to be a fantasy weapon at the tight end position.

Sep 23, 2025 11:11 AM EST



Sam LaPorta Remains a Must-Start Tight End in Week 3

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta was one of the only Lions not to have a big day in the team's 52-21 Week 2 win over the Chicago Bears. LaPorta recorded just three catches for 26 yards against Chicago, bringing his season totals to nine catches and 105 yards on 13 targets. The 24-year-old now faces the Baltimore Ravens in Week 3 on Monday Night Football. In LaPorta's lone career matchup against Baltimore back in 2023, he recorded six catches for 52 yards on seven targets. He appears in line to battle wide receiver Jameson Williams and running back Jahmyr Gibbs to finish second on Detroit in targets behind wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown. LaPorta is a must-start fantasy tight end.

Sep 20, 2025 9:41 PM EST


Sam LaPorta Records Quiet Week 2 Performance, 2025 Target Volume in Question?

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta missed out on the fun in his team's 52-point performance against the Chicago Bears in Week 2. LaPorta was targeted four times by Lions quarterback Jared Goff out of 28 pass attempts and recorded three catches for 26 yards. Detroit has several formidable offensive weapons, so there's always a risk that LaPorta will fall behind wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams and running back Jahmyr Gibbs in the pecking order for touches. After averaging over seven targets per game as a rookie in 2023, LaPorta has now averaged 5.3 targets per game across his last 18 regular-season contests. He remains a fantasy TE1, but he may be overly reliant on touchdowns as long as Detroit's other pass-catchers remain healthy.

Sep 15, 2025 11:11 PM EST


Sam LaPorta Looking to Build on Encouraging Week 1 Showing Heading into Week 2

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta was one of the few Lions who delivered a decent fantasy performance in Week 1, hauling in six of his nine targets for 79 yards against the Green Bay Packers. LaPorta will now face the Chicago Bears in Week 2, a team he has scored three touchdowns against in four career games played. Chicago allowed just three catches and 15 yards to Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson in Week 1. LaPorta's Lions have health and productivity questions along their offensive line, but that could actually help LaPorta's outlook by forcing Jared Goff to target the short and intermediate areas of the field more often. LaPorta is a must-start fantasy tight end against Chicago in Week 2.

Sep 12, 2025 1:31 PM EST


Sam LaPorta Fully Healthy, Looking for Bounceback Season Heading into Week 1

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta saw a sizable drop in targets, catches, receiving yards, and touchdowns from his rookie campaign in 2023 to his sophomore season in 2024. However, LaPorta battled injuries early in the year and was much better down the stretch, earning at least six targets in each of Detroit's final seven games of the season. LaPorta gets a matchup with the Green Bay Packers in Week 1, whose defense tied for the sixth-fewest touchdowns allowed to tight ends (four) in 2024. The 24-year-old has recorded 16 catches for 185 yards and one score in four career games against Green Bay. Given that the Packers project to have a fearsome pass rush, the Lions may be forced to rely on play-action and passes to the short and intermediate areas of the field. That would likely benefit LaPorta, who is battling with deep-threat wide receiver Jameson Williams for the number two target role in Detroit behind All-Pro wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown. LaPorta is a must-start fantasy TE1 in Week 1.

Sep 5, 2025 5:38 PM EST


Sam LaPorta Returns to Practice on Tuesday

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (undisclosed) returned to training camp practice on Tuesday, according to Colton Pouncy of The Athletic. LaPorta has been held out of practices recently with a minor undisclosed issue, but it was never considered serious. It's unclear if he'll make his debut this preseason in the finale on Saturday against the Houston Texans. The 24-year-old former second-rounder (34th overall) in 2023 out of Iowa put himself on the fantasy map right away in his rookie campaign with an 86-889-10 line in 17 games (14 starts). He took a slight step backwards in his sophomore season with a 60-726-7 line in 16 regular-season starts. LaPorta has plenty of competition in a still stacked Lions offense which will be run by new offensive coordinator John Morton. However, in one of the top offenses in the league, LaPorta should be considered a top-five fantasy TE.

Aug 19, 2025 1:18 PM EST


Sam LaPorta To "Miss a Little Bit of Time"

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (undisclosed) will be sidelined for "a little bit of time here", according to head coach Dan Campbell. The team did not elaborate on LaPorta's injury, only that he'd be held out of joint practices with the Miami Dolphins. He will likely sit out Saturday's preseason game. Campbell said that the injury isn't a major one, so it doesn't appear like LaPorta is at risk of missing any regular-season games. Brock Wright and Shane Zylstra will move up the depth chart and work as the team's top two tight ends until LaPorta returns. The 24-year-old finished the 2024 season as the TE8 with 60 catches, 726 yards, and seven touchdowns, and is ranked as a top-five fantasy football tight end entering his third season.

Aug 14, 2025 11:13 AM EST


Sam LaPorta Has Confidence in New Lions' OC

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta had high praise for first-year offensive coordinator John Morton with the team set to open training camp this weekend. There have been some concerns that the Detroit offense will take a step back now that star play-caller Ben Johnson is the head coach in Chicago, but LaPorta does not share those worries. LaPorta told Jim Rome on Wednesday that Morton is a "brilliant mind" and went on to say, "I think he's gonna call the offense great." It remains to be seen whether Morton changes player roles, usage, and formations in his first year calling the plays, but the Detroit offense is loaded with talented players. Detroit should continue to be a fantasy goldmine for the 2025 season.

Jul 17, 2025 8:36 AM EST


Sam LaPorta Standing Out During Offseason Workouts

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said that tight end Sam LaPorta has been a standout during voluntary organized team activities this offseason. Campbell also praised plenty of other Lions players, but LaPorta is a notable one after he took a step back in Year 2 in 2024 with a 60-726-7 line in 16 regular-season starts. As a Pro Bowler in his rookie campaign, the 24-year-old went for 86 receptions on 120 targets for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns in 17 regular-season games (14 starts). The former second-rounder (34th overall) in 2023 out of Iowa finished the year better, but there are just a lot of mouths to feed in Detroit's offense. The Lions will be run by new offensive coordinator John Morton in 2025, but LaPorta should still be a go-to red zone target for quarterback Jared Goff as a high-end TE1.

Jun 5, 2025 6:21 PM EST


Sam LaPorta Makes Acrobatic Touchdown Catch In Loss

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta caught six of his seven targets for 51 yards and a touchdown during Saturday's Divisional Round loss to the Washington Commanders. His touchdown came at the end of an impressive offensive play in which Jared Goff scrambled, threw while being tackled, and connected with LaPorta, who used his left hand to haul in the football and secure the catch. It was a valiant effort to give the Lions their only receiving touchdown of the game, but it wasn't enough. Detroit fell to Washington by two scores, ending their season shy of a Super Bowl berth once again. With that said, this Lions team continues to show plenty of promise ahead of the 2025 campaign. LaPorta himself was riding a hot stretch when the season ended, catching 38 passes for 392 yards and five touchdowns over his last seven contests. He should continue to rank as a mid-range TE1 ahead of next summer's fantasy drafts.

Jan 19, 2025 12:27 AM EST


Sam LaPorta Looks To Remain Dominant With High Scoring Chance

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta remains a top option for fantasy managers and bettors ahead of Saturday's playoff game against the Washington Commanders. The second-year tight end exploded down the stretch, finishing as the overall TE3 in half-PPR leagues. He had two touchdowns over his final three games, and he amassed 24 catches for 281 yards over his last four contests. The Commanders have performed in a peculiar fashion against tight ends this year, surrendering the third-fewest catches and fifth-fewest receiving yards to opposing tight ends in 2024. Most important, however, is that Washington surrendered the fifth-most touchdowns to the position. LaPorta has a very strong chance to feast, especially as he continues to carve out an even larger role around the goal line.

Jan 17, 2025 1:20 AM EST


Sam LaPorta Hauls In All Seven Targets On Sunday Night

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta caught all seven of his targets for 63 yards during Sunday's Week 18 win over the Minnesota Vikings. LaPorta played a large role in helping the Lions secure the NFC's top seed, both this weekend and over a greater stretch of games. In fact, over the final six weeks of the regular season, he ranked first among tight ends in fantasy points (tied with Trey McBride). It was impressive to watch the 23-year-old overcome a tough start to 2024 and finish the season as one of fantasy football's most productive, impactful tight ends. He should remain in the mid-range TE1 tier for 2025, and this season should serve as a reminder to fantasy managers that LaPorta is a top fantasy option regardless of whether his role in the Detroit offense takes a little while to develop.

Jan 6, 2025 1:09 AM EST


Sam LaPorta Looking For Another Touchdown On Sunday Night

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta played better as a rookie. But after a rough start to the 2024-25 campaign, the 23-year-old has finally put together a decent season, totaling 53 catches for 663 yards and seven touchdowns. He's also found the end zone in each of his previous two contests. With the Minnesota Vikings on tap for Week 18, LaPorta will look to find the end zone for the third time in as many weeks. Granted, he's not as safe as he was last season. Still, LaPorta deserves attention in any fantasy format, especially with increased involvement potentially on the horizon due to the absence of David Montgomery (knee).

Jan 3, 2025 9:02 PM EST


Sam LaPorta's Hot Stretch Continues With Touchdown On MNF

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta caught six of his eight targets for 64 yards and one touchdown during Monday's Week 17 win over the San Francisco 49ers. LaPorta had a relatively quiet and inconsistent start to the season, but he has come on incredibly strong lately, posting double-digit fantasy points in each of his last five contests. In fact, he ranks as the overall TE1 since Week 13, scoring 6.6 points more than the second-highest tight end scorer, Trey McBride. As long as the Lions' offense keeps surging, LaPorta should remain an integral contributor within the passing attack. His ability to command targets, catch passes, rack up yardage, and score touchdowns parallels the NFL's elite tight ends, like McBride, Travis Kelce, George Kittle, and Brock Bowers. Fantasy managers should continue to view LaPorta as a mid-to-high TE1 option for Week 18 against the Minnesota Vikings.

Dec 31, 2024 12:33 AM EST


Sam LaPorta A Top Option Vs. SF

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta is a strong play in Week 17 when his team lines up against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football. The second-year pro began the year dreadfully slow but has come around of late. LaPorta had not earned more than six targets in a game this season until Week 14 and has now done so each week since. Additionally, he's recorded four or more receptions in all three games -- something he'd done just three times prior this season. He'll get a tough outing this week in a San Francisco defense that's allowed the third-fewest fantasy points per game to tight ends (9.1). Still, the Iowa alum has received more work recently and is the TE3 in PPR formats since Week 14. Fire him up as RotoBaller's PPR TE5 ahead of this week's slate of action.

Dec 27, 2024 9:07 PM EST


Sam LaPorta Hauls In Memorable Touchdown Reception At Chicago

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta found the end zone once again against Chicago as the Lions defeated the Bears 34-17 on Sunday afternoon. LaPorta caught four passes for 43 yards and a touchdown. He hauled in a 21-yard touchdown pass on a memorable fake which saw quarterback Jared Goff stumble and running back Jahmyr Gibbs dive on the ground as if the ball had been fumbled. Goff then regained his feet and threw a dart to LaPorta for the touchdown in what appeared to be a planned misdirection. Last game against the Bears in Detroit in Week 13, LaPorta scored two touchdowns and he was able to add another one this week in Chicago.

Dec 22, 2024 6:43 PM EST