Who Should I Start? T.J. Hockenson or Sam LaPorta

Monday, January 6, 12:28 AM

Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson brought in 2-of-8 targets for nine yards in his team's 31-9 loss to the Detroit Lions. The Lions weren't messing around on Sunday night and were a brick wall on defense for the first time in a few weeks. Hockenson was consistently targeted on third down by quarterback Sam Darnold, but Detroit was there time and time again to break up the pass. It's the Iowa alum's worst outing since his return from injury in a game when the Vikings scored their fewest points of the season. Darnold had pressure in his face all night, and the Lions' defensive backfield was equally impressive in their coverage. Unfortunately for Minnesota, they'll prepare for a road tilt with the Los Angeles Rams next Monday night in lieu of a week off and home-field advantage. LA allowed the sixth-most fantasy points per game to TEs in the regular season, so Hockenson stands a good chance at a productive day during Wild Card Weekend.

Monday, January 6, 1:09 AM

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta caught all seven of his targets for 63 yards during Sunday's Week 18 win over the Minnesota Vikings. LaPorta played a large role in helping the Lions secure the NFC's top seed, both this weekend and over a greater stretch of games. In fact, over the final six weeks of the regular season, he ranked first among tight ends in fantasy points (tied with Trey McBride). It was impressive to watch the 23-year-old overcome a tough start to 2024 and finish the season as one of fantasy football's most productive, impactful tight ends. He should remain in the mid-range TE1 tier for 2025, and this season should serve as a reminder to fantasy managers that LaPorta is a top fantasy option regardless of whether his role in the Detroit offense takes a little while to develop.