Who Should I Start? Sam LaPorta or C.J. Stroud

Saturday, December 21, 9:17 AM

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.

Thursday, December 19, 7:20 PM

The struggling Houston Texans' passing game combined with the blitz-happy Kansas City Chiefs should have fantasy managers dialing back expectations for quarterback C.J. Stroud in Week 16. The second-year quarterback has been sacked the fifth-most times in the league this year, which is not a great sign against a Kansas City defense that knocks down quarterbacks and blitzes at the second-highest rate in the NFL. Last year's Rookie of the Year hasn't logged a top-10 quarterback finish since Week 4 or passed for 300 yards since Week 5. The fantasy playoffs and a game at the defending champs probably is not the time or place to bet on a rebound for managers in one-QB formats.