Who Should I Start? Sam LaPorta or Drake Maye

Friday, September 5, 5:38 PM

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.

Saturday, September 6, 9:32 AM

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye will open his second pro season against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. Maye showed several flashes of potential last year, and there's optimism that his accurate passing skills and mobility could make him a fringe top-12 quarterback this year. He definitely has top-12 upside in Week 1 against the Raiders, who allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks last year. It also helps that Maye is playing with the best receiver group of his career, headlined by veteran Stefon Diggs. Maye should be started in all two-quarterback formats, and he's even a strong option in deeper single-quarterback leagues.