Who Should I Start? A.J. Brown or Sam LaPorta
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14.8 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 4.9 | 70.0 | 0.5 |
A.J. Brown News
Sunday, June 28, 11:28 AM
After spending the last four seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, veteran wide receiver A.J. Brown is entering his first campaign with the New England Patriots in 2026. Across 15 games with Philadelphia in 2025, Brown recorded 78 receptions for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns on 121 targets, finishing as the WR11 in per-game PPR scoring. Brown's target volume in the Eagles' run-heavy offense was a point of discussion all year long, as the wideout publicly agitated for more opportunities at multiple points throughout the season. While Brown profiles as the clear number one option in the Patriots' passing game, New England was also a run-heavy offense in 2025, ranking 25th in the NFL in pass rate. Brown is also entering his age-29 season and has had durability issues in recent years, missing six games over the last two seasons due to knee and hamstring issues. While Brown should be a productive player for fantasy managers in 2026, he may be slightly overvalued as the WR8 by current average draft position.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.2 | 48.5 | 0.3 |
Sam LaPorta News
Wednesday, July 1, 7:31 PM
ESPN's Ben Solak thinks the Detroit Lions should trade tight end Sam LaPorta as they stare at upcoming big contract extensions for him, star running back Jahmyr Gibbs, and safety Brian Branch. The Lions are also carrying sizable second contracts at quarterback (Jared Goff), wide receiver (Amon-Ra St. Brown), edge rusher (Aidan Hutchinson), and offensive tackle (Penei Sewell). Gibbs is probably untouchable as one of the best dual-threat backs in the NFL. LaPorta had an eye-popping rookie season with 86 catches, 889 yards, and 10 touchdowns, but he's lost some volume in Detroit's passing attack as receiver Jameson Williams has developed into the team's WR2. In the last two years, LaPorta's 25% target per route fell to 19.7%, and Williams has produced more yards per target, yards per route, and explosive receptions per target. The 25-year-old former second-rounder is now the clear fourth target in an explosive Lions offense, which makes him somewhat expendable. Additionally, LaPorta isn't a very strong blocker. Solak predicts that the Carolina Panthers, a team that hasn't had a difference-making pass-catching tight end since Greg Olsen, could come calling if the Lions are willing to listen.
A.J. Brown vs. Sam LaPorta
Still trying to decide between Brown and LaPorta? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that A.J. Brown is projected to score 14.8 points this week while Sam LaPorta is projected to score 11.2 points.
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