Who Should I Start? Sam LaPorta or Harold Fannin Jr.


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 Resumes Work After Hip Issue

Tuesday, August 25, 11:42 AM

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (hip) returned to practice Tuesday, according to Richard Silva. LaPorta had been sidelined since last week after taking a hit to the hip that caused the issue to flare up. Head coach Dan Campbell said Thursday that Detroit felt good about LaPorta's long-term outlook but couldn't guarantee he would be ready for Week 1. Getting him back onto the field five days later is an encouraging development, though his level of participation Tuesday was not immediately clear. LaPorta was limited to nine games last season, catching 40 passes for 489 yards and three touchdowns. His return doesn't lock in his status for the opener, but it moves things in a much better direction after Detroit spent the end of last week resting him.


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
11.3 0.8 0.0 4.5 47.4 0.3

Harold Fannin Jr. News

Harold Fannin Jr. Could Be on the Verge of a Superstar Breakout

Sunday, August 23, 12:36 PM

Cleveland Browns tight end Harold Fannin Jr. had an impressive season as a rookie in 2025, recording 72 catches for 731 yards and six touchdowns on 107 targets across 16 games (13 starts). Entering 2026, Fannin Jr. now looks like the undisputed top tight end in Cleveland following the offseason departure of longtime Browns tight end David Njoku. Cleveland did use a pair of top-40 selections in the 2026 NFL Draft on wide receivers KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston, adding some increased target competition for Fannin Jr. The 22-year-old's fantasy value is also clouded by the Browns quarterback situation, which features a pair of underwhelming options in Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson. Still, Fannin Jr. has proven that he can be a high-volume safety blanket in the short and intermediate areas of the field. Entering his second NFL campaign, Fannin Jr. should be viewed as a steady TE1 option for fantasy managers.


Sam LaPorta vs. Harold Fannin Jr.

Still trying to decide between LaPorta and Fannin Jr.? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Sam LaPorta is projected to score 11.2 points this week while Harold Fannin Jr. is projected to score 11.3 points.