Who Should I Start? Sam LaPorta or Brock Bowers

Tuesday, October 21, 1:24 PM

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta was held in check by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 7, recording three catches for 15 yards on three targets in his team's 24-9 win. LaPorta had recorded back-to-back games with five catches, 50-plus receiving yards, and a touchdown leading into Week 7, so his showing against Tampa Bay is a letdown for fantasy managers. LaPorta has recorded 29 receptions for 339 yards and two touchdowns on 36 targets across seven games so far this season. With an average of just over five targets per game, LaPorta will likely remain heavily reliant on touchdowns for fantasy production. Detroit has its bye in Week 8 before hosting the Minnesota Vikings in Week 9.

Wednesday, October 29, 3:27 PM

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (knee) will be a full participant in the team's first practice of the week on Wednesday, according to Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team. Meanwhile, head coach Pete Carroll said that Bowers has "looked great" and is "playing at full speed," per ESPN's Ryan McFadden. The Raiders were saying before their Week 8 bye that the second-year TE was expected back in Week 9 to face the Jacksonville Jaguars, and a full practice for Bowers on Wednesday confirms that. The 22-year-old initially suffered a PCL injury and a bone bruise in the season opener and tried to play through it. He hasn't played since Week 4, though, so fantasy managers are certainly itching to get him back into their starting lineups. As long as Bowers doesn't suffer a setback with his knee in practice this week, he should start on Sunday against the Jags, where he'll be a TE1 in all fantasy formats.