Who Should I Start? Sam LaPorta or Theo Johnson

Sunday, November 2, 8:59 PM

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta caught six of his eight targets for 97 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's Week 9 loss against the Minnesota Vikings. His best play of the game was a 40-yard touchdown in which he withstood a bombardment of Vikings tackles and plowed his way across the goal line. The 24-year-old now has three touchdowns over his last four games and ranks as the overall TE7 in PPR leagues with 35 catches, 436 yards, and three scores in 2025. He should continue to be viewed as a top-10 fantasy tight end heading into Week 10 against the Washington Commanders.

Saturday, November 1, 3:13 AM

New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson enters Week 9 as the TE16, with his fantasy viability heavily reliant on scoring after accumulating four receiving touchdowns on just 23 catches this season. Johnson maintains a significant role with a 78.7% snap share and 37 targets through eight games, but the upcoming matchup presents a challenge against the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers defense is tough against tight ends, ranking as the 10th-ranked fantasy defense and limiting the position to an average of only 11.95 points per game. Although the 49ers' pass rush ranks 31st in the NFL with nine sacks, allowing quarterback Jaxson Dart time, San Francisco's solid Red Zone Defense ranks 7th, making Johnson's primary source of fantasy value--touchdowns--more difficult to come by. Therefore, Johnson remains a low-floor, touchdown-dependent TE2 for Week 9.