Sam LaPorta DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (shoulder) is off the injury report and cleared to return to action on Sunday to face the Indianapolis Colts. The sophomore tight end sat out last weekend due to this injury but will return to his starting role on Sunday. LaPorta has struggled to find consistency throughout the season, as he has scored double-digit PPR points on just three occasions and has seen just 3.6 targets per game. Despite his struggles this season, the Detroit offense has remained one of the league's top units, and fantasy should continue to view him as a top-12 option. This weekend, he should have a great opportunity to bounce back against the Colts, who have allowed the sixth-most PPR points to opposing tight ends this season.

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (shoulder) practiced in full for the second straight day this week on Thursday and appears to be on track to playing this Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 12. LaPorta suffered an AC joint sprain in his shoulder in the Week 10 win over the Houston Texans and was inactive in last Sunday's blowout win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 23-year-old appears to have healed nicely in the week he had to rest, and barring a setback on Friday, he should be able to play this Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium. While LaPorta has mostly disappointed fantasy managers in 2024 after leading all TEs in fantasy points in his rookie season, he'll have an opportunity to produce strong numbers against a Colts defense that has allowed the sixth-most half-PPR points per game to the position this year.

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (shoulder) was estimated as a full participant on Wednesday during the team's walkthrough practice. LaPorta suffered an AC joint sprain in the Week 10 win over the Houston Texans that caused him to miss last week's blowout win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The week off apparently did the second-year TE well, though, and head coach Dan Campbell is optimistic of LaPorta's chances of returning this Sunday to face the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. All signs are pointing to the 23-year-old's return this weekend, but fantasy managers should have a backup plan just in case. If he returns, LaPorta will be at worst a low-end TE1 for fantasy managers. He certainly hasn't lived up to his high draft stock after finishing as the TE1 in 2023 as a rookie, and he's currently averaging 7.5 half-PPR points, which ranks 16th among TEs in 2024.

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said that he feels good about tight end Sam LaPorta (shoulder) playing on Sunday versus the Indianapolis Colts in Week 12. As of Wednesday, it's trending in the right direction for LaPorta to suit up after he missed the Week 11 blowout win over the Jacksonville Jaguars due to an AC joint sprain he suffered the week prior. "Questionable to above," Campbell said. It remains to be seen how much LaPorta even practiced on Wednesday, but this is obviously good news for LaPorta's fantasy managers. The 23-year-old has had a sophomore slump in 2024 after leading all TEs in fantasy points a year ago, but he'd certainly at least be a low-end TE1 if he's able to return this weekend to face the Colts. If LaPorta sits a second straight game, backup Brock Wright would once again be in play as a TE2 streamer in fantasy.

The Detroit Lions have officially ruled out tight end Sam LaPorta (shoulder) for the Week 11 contest this Sunday against the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars. LaPorta suffered an AC joint sprain in his shoulder in the Week 10 win over the Houston Texans last Sunday night and will now miss at least one game. The 23-year-old second-year TE was listed as day-to-day earlier this week, so there is some hope he'll only miss one game and return to face the Indianapolis Colts in Week 12. With LaPorta out this weekend, expect both Brock Wright and Shane Zylstra to see the field more in two-TE sets, with Wright being the better target as a TE2 streamer in deeper leagues and DFS. LaPorta's absence should also mean more targets for receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown, Tim Patrick and Kalif Raymond.