Who Should I Start? George Kittle or Sam LaPorta


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
10.0 0.0 0.0 3.7 42.8 0.3

George Kittle News

49ers Place George Kittle on PUP List to Start Training Camp

Saturday, July 25, 10:46 AM

The San Francisco 49ers placed tight end George Kittle (Achilles) on the Physically Unable to Perform list on Saturday for the start of training camp, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports. Kittle is not ready to join the rest of his teammates for the start of camp after suffering a torn right Achilles tendon in the wild-card victory over the Philadelphia Eagles back in January. He is optimistic that he will be ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener in Australia against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams, but fantasy managers shouldn't be nearly as optimistic. The 49ers can activate Kittle from the PUP list at any time this summer. If the 32-year-old veteran is not ready for the beginning of the 2026 season, Jake Tonges will step in as the team's top pass-catching TE. Kittle, a seven-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro, is a risk/reward low-end TE1 target as he heads into his 10th year in the NFL. He'd be a massive value at the position if he returns to his pre-injury form, but the odds are against that, and he could miss the first couple of weeks of the 2026 season.


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

Sam LaPorta Fully Cleared for Training Camp

Tuesday, July 21, 4:05 PM

Detroit Lions Pro Bowl tight end Sam LaPorta (back) was fully cleared earlier this month and will be ready to go for the start of training camp, a source told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. The Lions will determine LaPorta's level of involvement early in camp, but he's expected to be a full-go after having surgery to fix a herniated disc in his back last year that limited him to only nine starts and a 40-489-3 line in his third year in the league. The 25-year-old former second-rounder in 2023 out of the University of Iowa was limited during offseason workouts, but as long as he doesn't suffer a setback with his back in camp, he'll be ready to roll for the 2026 regular-season opener and should once again be a key cog in Detroit's pass-happy offense. And because of his season-ending back injury a year ago, he's heading into the summer as an underrated TE1 in fantasy. Don't forget that LaPorta recorded 146 receptions on 203 targets for 1,615 yards and 17 touchdowns in 33 regular-season games in his first two years in the league. LaPorta is shaping up as a potential TE1 steal in drafts at his pre-camp ADP.


George Kittle vs. Sam LaPorta

Still trying to decide between Kittle and LaPorta? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that George Kittle is projected to score 10.0 points this week while Sam LaPorta is projected to score 11.2 points.