Sam LaPorta DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (shoulder) suffered a shoulder injury in the Sunday night game against the Houston Texans and is considered questionable to return in the second half. The good news for LaPorta's fantasy managers is that the 23-year-old second-year tight end already had a season-high 66 receiving yards on three receptions with his third touchdown of the season before injuring his shoulder. The Texans' defense has made it a point to limit top Lions wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown on Sunday night, which has led to LaPorta being wide open for several big gains on the evening. It's unclear how serious LaPorta's injury is or if it will put him in danger of missing the Week 11 contest next Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars. If LaPorta ends up missing any time with his shoulder injury, Brock Wright and Shane Zylstra will see more snaps, with Wright being the better pass-catching option.

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta heads into Week 10 with a challenging matchup against a Houston Texans defense that has been particularly tough on tight ends. While LaPorta's route share and target involvement have increased recentlypossibly due to Jameson Williams' suspension (PED violation)this isn't the ideal week for a breakout. Houston's defense has allowed the fewest fantasy points, yards per reception, and total receiving yards per game to tight ends, and they're second-lowest in yards per pass attempt. After a strong rookie season, LaPorta's production has tapered off in 2024, with fewer catches, yards, and touchdowns on pace compared to last year. He has exceeded 50 receiving yards only twice this season and has topped two receptions in just three of eight games. With all said, LaPorta profiles as a lower-end TE option in Week 10.

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta struggled in Week 9, posting just two receptions for 28 yards in the team's 24-14 victory over the Green Bay Packers. After a season-best performance last week, LaPorta fell short again, marking his third game with fewer than five PPR fantasy points and his sixth single-digit fantasy outing in eight games. Even with Jameson Williams out (PED violation), LaPorta was largely uninvolved, as the Lions continued to rely heavily on their rushing duo of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. Despite his early-season promise, LaPorta remains a volatile option with Detroit's offense leaning on its ground game. He'll aim for a rebound in Week 10 against the Houston Texans.

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta heads into Week 9 against the Green Bay Packers with an expanded role due to Jameson Williams' suspension (PED violation). LaPorta is coming off a strong Week 8 performance, turning six targets into six catches for 48 yards and a touchdown. The Packers' defense has struggled against tight ends, allowing the fifth-most receiving yards to the position, which sets up a favorable matchup for LaPorta. Across his last three games, he's averaged 125 receiving yards with two touchdowns. With the Packers ranking high in fantasy points allowed to tight ends, LaPorta remains a dependable TE1 option with the potential for another productive outing.

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta struggled in Week 7, contributing minimally in the 31-29 win over the Minnesota Vikings. LaPorta managed just one catch on two targets for 25 yards, marking another disappointing performance. He has now finished with single-digit fantasy points in five of six games this season, a sharp contrast from his consistency last year. Despite the Lions' offensive success, LaPorta's role remains limited, leaving fantasy managers searching for answers. The Lions will aim to get him more involved in their Week 8 home matchup against the Tennessee Titans.