Sam LaPorta DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said that tight end Sam LaPorta (hamstring) could be back on the training camp practice field as early as next Sunday after the preseason finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers this Saturday. LaPorta has been dealing with a hamstring ailment since earlier this month and has missed valuable reps in practice, but the Lions have given us no indications that his availability for the Week 1 regular-season opener is in jeopardy. The 23-year-old burst onto the scene in 2023 as a rookie and immediately became a high-end TE1 in fantasy, catching 86 passes (120 targets) for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns in 17 regular-season games. No other TE had more than six touchdowns last year. As long as LaPorta's hamstring issue doesn't linger into the regular season, fantasy managers should feel comfortable taking him as either the first or second TE off the board in upcoming drafts.

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (hamstring) has been suffering from a hamstring injury which has kept him working on a side field with a trainer. LaPorta missed a second-straight practice on Tuesday, but Lions head coach Dan Campbell stated that he doesn't expect this injury to be a long-term issue. It would be reasonable to assume that LaPorta will miss Thursday's preseason opener against the New York Giants due to this minor injury. The Lions will choose to err on the side of caution with LaPorta, who set the fantasy world ablaze with his fantastic rookie season in 2023. The former Iowa Hawkeye set a rookie record for most receptions by a tight end with 86 last season and should follow with another excellent season in 2024. Many view LaPorta as the top fantasy tight end in fantasy drafts and while he faces stiff competition from Travis Kelce for that title, LaPorta has the slight edge as overall TE1.

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (toe) did not participate in the team's joint practice with the New York Giants on Monday, as he is reportedly dealing with a toe injury. However, head coach Dan Campbell said the ailment is not a concern. At this point in the offseason, teams are likely to be extra cautious with their key players, but this should not ding LaPorta's standing ahead of the 2024 fantasy football season. The 2023 second-round pick out of Iowa set the record for the most receptions by a rookie tight end (86) last season and finished the year as the overall TE1. Detroit failed to add significant pass-catching weapons behind star wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown this offseason, so many view LaPorta as the clear TE1 in upcoming fantasy drafts.

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta caught nine of his 13 targets for 97 yards in the 34-31 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. The rookie has been dealing with a knee injury during the postseason, but it has seemingly not slowed him down. Through his first three playoff games, he caught 21 passes for 176 yards and one touchdown. His 21 catches rank sixth all-time for tight ends in a single postseason, trailing only Travis Kelce (four times) and Dan Ross (1981). Needless to say, the Iowa product had an amazing rookie season, and he is now viewed as the dynasty TE1 in fantasy football. There's a chance he will be the consensus TE1 in 2024 fantasy football drafts.

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (knee) did not practice on Wednesday, got in a limited session on Thursday, and practiced in full on Friday. The rookie is still dealing with the knee injury he suffered in Week 18 against the Minnesota Vikings, but he does not carry an injury designation into Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers surrendered the 11th-fewest fantasy points per game to tight ends during the regular season, but LaPorta has proven he has upside in all matchups. He's the third-most expensive tight end option behind Travis Kelce and Mark Andrews in FanDuel DFS contests on Sunday, so he remains a strong consideration in lineups.