Sam LaPorta DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (ankle) is officially off of the Week 4 injury report and is set to suit up against the Seattle Seahawks on Monday night. LaPorta was battling an ankle injury that caused him to leave the team's win over Arizona early last week. The Iowa product has not been as heavily involved this year as he was last year but this is a good sign that he will be back for this game. So far, he has eight catches for 94 yards in three games. Fantasy managers will want to be patient with the talented former second-round pick as one good game could spark his resurgence. LaPorta should be locked and loaded in lineups as a starting tight end this week now that he has shaken off the injury.

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said that tight end Sam LaPorta (ankle) is good to go for the Week 4 contest on Monday night against the visiting Seattle Seahawks. LaPorta had to be carted to the locker room in the Week 3 win over the Arizona Cardinals due to an ankle injury, but he later returned and now is in the clear to play in Week 4 after he practiced in full on Friday. The 23-year-old has been a disappointment through the first three weeks of his sophomore season after being the most valuable fantasy tight end in his rookie campaign. He's caught eight of his 10 targets for 94 yards and no touchdowns so far, but fantasy managers that drafted him early need to stick with him as a must-start TE1 now that he's in the clear with his ankle injury. The good news for LaPorta is that the Seahawks have allowed the 10th-most half-PPR fantasy points to the TE position early on this year.

With Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (ankle) returning to practice on Friday and the Lions playing on Monday night against the Seahawks in Week 4, it makes for a risky proposition to start LaPorta on fantasy teams. The Iowa product has not had a large role in the Lions' offense so far and coming off the injury he could remain a secondary target for Jared Goff against Seattle. LaPorta's season-high in targets was five in Week 1 against the Rams. It is worth monitoring Saturday's practice to make sure he is a participant. If he is, that is a good sign he will be able to suit up after getting in a Friday practice. It is tough to move off of LaPorta and onto another tight end with all the injuries at the position so far this season. It is understandable for fantasy managers to want to pencil in LaPorta for Monday night if he practices on Saturday. But he has yet to show the same target share as last season.

After missing practice on Thursday, Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (ankle) was back at practice on Thursday. LaPorta was likely a limited participant, but either way, the fact that he's back on the practice field is a great sign and will give him a chance to suit up in Week 4 on Monday night against the visiting Seattle Seahawks. However, if LaPorta is ultimately questionable and up in the air to play, it will present fantasy managers with a difficult decision with Detroit's game this week coming on Monday. The 23-year-old was carted to the locker room after injuring his ankle in the Week 3 win over the Arizona Cardinals but eventually returned. LaPorta has disappointed with only eight catches for 94 yards and no touchdowns in three games in 2024, but if he's on track to play, he needs to remain locked into all fantasy lineups. If LaPorta cannot play against Seattle, Brock Wright would again see a role boost.

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (ankle) did not practice on Thursday due to an ankle injury, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. The sophomore tight end suffered a low-ankle sprain in last week's game against the Arizona Cardinals and was forced to leave the game early. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to the injury report throughout the week as it should provide clarity on his status heading into the weekend. However, the Lions will face the Seattle Seahawks on Monday night which will provide the Iowa product an additional day to recover. Even though he has had a disappointing start to the season, the former second-round pick should still be viewed as a TE1 given his excellent rookie campaign. If LaPorta happens to miss Monday's game, Brock Wright should be viewed as a TE2 with upside.