Who Should I Start? Sam LaPorta or Ricky Pearsall

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, 7:05 AM

Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall is poised for a strong start to his sophomore season in a Week 1 matchup against the Seahawks. With Deebo Samuel now gone, Brandon Aiyuk (knee) on the PUP list, and Jauan Jennings (calf) having spent most of the preseason nursing an injury and engaged in a contract dispute, Pearsall is now a key player on the 49ers' offense. Over the last two weeks of the 2024 season, Pearsall showed us what he is capable of when he is featured, catching 14 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns. Pearsall is projected as a borderline WR3/4, but Christian McCaffrey's (calf) status might force San Francisco to rely more on their pass game, which could further benefit Pearsall's production.