Who Should I Start? Sam LaPorta or Ja'Tavion Sanders
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Sam LaPorta News
Tuesday, March 24, 5:27 AM
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta entered the league with a bang, finishing his 2023 rookie season as the TE1 and working his way to the top of most dynasty value charts. After a disappointing sophomore season and a 2025 campaign ended by a back injury after only nine games, his value sits as low as it has since he's taken a snap in the NFL. The Lions have made a change to their coaching staff for 2026, bringing Drew Petzing in from Arizona to serve as their new offensive coordinator. While the target competition in Detroit is much stiffer than what Petzing left behind in the desert, his tight end-friendly system was a not-insubstantial factor in Trey McBride's breakout, spraying his dominant fourth-year player with 302 targets over the past two seasons, including 163 for a record-breaking TE1 finish in 2025. LaPorta has already proven his ability to feast off a high-volume attack, and with his value still suppressed by injury, he's a high-upside buy-low candidate heading into his fourth season.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Ja'Tavion Sanders News
Thursday, April 9, 6:47 PM
Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders has struggled to emerge as a relevant fantasy option through his first two seasons in the NFL. He showed some upside near the end of his rookie campaign in 2024, but he has yet to finish higher than TE36 in PPR leagues. It's not for a lack of talent, as Sanders was an early fourth-round pick and has flashed impressive receiving skills. However, Carolina's offense doesn't seem to prioritize getting the ball to its tight ends. In fact, we haven't really seen the Panthers have a legitimate fantasy threat at tight end since Greg Olsen in 2016. It's unlikely that will change next season, but there is hope. Head coach Dave Canales recently turned offensive play-calling duties over to offensive coordinator Brad Idzik, so perhaps that will lead to more tight end targets for Sanders. Still, we wouldn't bet on an immediate breakout for the 23-year-old. Rostering Sanders will require patience, and he's more of a hold than a buy or sell in dynasty leagues at the moment.
Sam LaPorta vs. Ja'Tavion Sanders
Still trying to decide between LaPorta and Sanders? 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 0.0 points this week while Ja'Tavion Sanders is projected to score 0.0 points.
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