Who Should I Start? Travis Kelce or Sam LaPorta

Friday, October 17, 11:19 PM

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce will face the Las Vegas Raiders at home in Week 7. Kelce caught six passes for 78 yards as he led the Chiefs pass catchers against the Detroit Lions in Week 6. The veteran tight end has strung together back-to-back good games, but that solid production could be coming to an end. Rashee Rice is set to return from suspension in Week 7, which could negatively impact Kelce's offensive contributions. Rice had an outstanding start to the 2024 season, averaging over 20 PPR points per game, but Kelce was not effective during that span. At the beginning of the 2024 season, the Chiefs tight end had eight catches for 69 yards through three games. Kelce and Rice win in the same areas of the field, and the latter is much more explosive at this point. It remains to be seen how the usage will be divided amongst the Chiefs pass catchers, so Kelce should still be a viable starter against Las Vegas this week. The Raiders have allowed the eighth-fewest points to opposing tight ends this season, but that does not mean it will be a bad matchup for Kelce. He can find success against the Raiders if Patrick Mahomes decides to feed him. Kelce is ranked TE8 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, making him a solid TE1 this week.

Monday, October 13, 11:03 AM

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta hauled in a touchdown catch for the second straight week in Week 6 against the Kansas City Chiefs, finishing with five catches for 55 yards and a score on six targets. The 24-year-old has 26 catches for 324 yards and two touchdowns on 33 targets for the season. He's shown signs of increased usage over the past two weeks, earning 12 targets and recording 10 catches for 143 yards and two scores. LaPorta and Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams appear to be battling to be the second option in Detroit's passing game behind star wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown. Either way, fantasy managers have to be encouraged by LaPorta's production over his past two games, and he profiles as a must-start tight end heading into a Week 7 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.