Sam LaPorta Fantasy Overview

Production & Fantasy Finishes

LaPorta was excellent when on the field last season.

He totaled 106.9 PPR points in nine games, averaging 11.88 per game. That ranked sixth among TEs in PPR points per game.

His receiving line was strong: 40 catches, 489 yards, and 3 TDs.

The weekly production backed it up. LaPorta posted five top-10 TE finishes, with only two games outside the top 24.

Usage & Role

LaPorta had a real receiving role, not just a touchdown-dependent TE profile.

He drew 49 targets in nine games, which works out to 5.4 per game. LaPorta averaged 5.44 targets, 54.3 yards, and 2.00 yards per route run across eight games.

LaPorta also ran a route on 85% of his pass plays. That ranked 27th among TEs with 40+ targets.

LaPorta ranked second on the team in target share while active at 17.8%. Amon-Ra St. Brown led the team by far at 29%, but LaPorta beat out Jameson Williams’ 15.6% target share.

Efficiency & Regression

LaPorta’s efficiency was excellent.

He caught 81.6% of his targets with a 17.8% target share (ranked 10th among TEs) and averaged 12.2 yards per catch, and produced 2.00 yards per route run. He also had zero drops.

LaPorta earned an 82.0 total-offense grade, fourth-best among TEs with 30+ targets, and an 83.2 receiving grade (seventh). Goff also posted a 134.2 QB rating when throwing to LaPorta (fifth highest among TEs with 40+ targets).

But there is some regression risk. An 81.6% catch rate and 134.2 targeted QB rating are difficult marks to repeat.

Offensive Context

Detroit is one of the best environments for a fantasy TE.

Crowded target tree or not, this offense gives LaPorta enough efficient volume to stay in the TE1 mix.

The Lions ranked fifth in total yards per game, third in passing yards per game, third in passing TDs per game, fourth in yards per pass attempt, and eighth in EPA per play.

Goff also gives LaPorta a stable QB. He threw for 4,564 yards and 34 TDs while completing 68.0% of his passes. He has thrown for at least 4,400 yards and 29 TDs in each of the past four seasons. That fits LaPorta’s game well because Detroit’s passing attack is built on timing, accuracy, and yards after the catch.

Target shares broke down as follows:

No other player topped 5.5%.

LaPorta’s number represents just the nine games he played, of course, and ranked 10th among TEs for the season. It also aligns with his previous shares.

LaPorta’s target share is in line with his career:

• 2023: 19.5%
• 2024: 15.3%

Jameson Williams also saw his target share increase while LaPorta was out.

With LaPorta (Weeks 1-9), Williams averaged 10.94 PPR points, 4.78 targets, and 52.67 yards per game.

Without LaPorta (Weeks 10-17), he jumped to 15.08 PPR points, 7.38 targets, and 79.38 yards per game.

Injury History & Durability

LaPorta missed the final nine games of the season with a fully herniated disc in his back.

He is expected to be fully healthy for training camp and the start of the season.

Projected Role & Competition

LaPorta should remain one of Detroit’s primary passing-game options.

The role is valuable, but it is crowded. St. Brown is the clear No. 1 target after catching 117 passes for 1,401 yards and 11 TDs. Williams gives Detroit a dangerous field-stretching WR. Gibbs is one of the league’s best receiving backs.

That competition showed up in the splits.

With LaPorta active, Williams averaged 4.78 targets and 10.94 PPR points per game. Without LaPorta, Williams jumped to 7.38 targets and 15.08 PPR points per game.

LaPorta and Williams were fairly equal in target share through the first 10 weeks when both played (17.8% vs. 17.0%). That ticked up for LaPorta compared to 2024 where Williams led in target share (17.6% vs. 15.3%).

LaPorta’s target share continuing to climb in 2026 could be a path to continuing his fantasy production.

Supporting Cast

The supporting cast is a major strength.

Goff’s accuracy and low-aDOT profile fit LaPorta well. Detroit ranked 31st in team aDOT, and Goff’s intended air yards sat at 6.8. That favors players who can win quickly and create efficient completions.

St. Brown helps keep the offense on schedule. Williams stretches the field. Gibbs draws defensive attention underneath and out of the backfield.

That gives LaPorta room to work the seams and intermediate areas without needing to be the entire offense.

The downside is that Detroit has a lot of mouths to feed. LaPorta’s ceiling depends on whether Petzing raises the overall pass volume enough to support everyone.

Coaching & Offensive Scheme

Detroit’s 2025 offense was excellent, but not especially aggressive. The Lions ranked 24th in PROE and 31st in aDOT while still finishing top-five in total yards, passing yards, passing TDs, and yards per pass attempt.

That style worked for LaPorta. He averaged 12.2 yards per catch and 2.00 yards per route run despite a 5.7-yard PFF aDOT.

Now new OC Drew Petzing arrives after his most pass-heavy season. His pass rate over expected also climbed over his three years calling plays as the Cardinals HC:

Under Petzing, TE Trey McBride ranked as follows in PPR points per game:

• 2023: TE10
• 2024: TE2
• 2025: TE1

Petzing does know how to utilize the TE position as a pass catcher. The situations are a bit different with the Cardinals lacking the true high-end receiving talent that the Lions have in St. Brown and Gibbs.

That is good news for LaPorta if the efficiency holds. More plays and more passes would help offset Detroit’s low TE target share.

Paths To Ceiling

LaPorta’s ceiling path is a healthy season continuing his production from the first half of last year.

He already ranked sixth among TEs in PPR points per game while averaging just 5.4 targets per game, which ranked 14th among TEs.

The offense is good enough to support that upside. Detroit ranked third in passing TDs per game in 2025 and have ranked near there in past years. They ranked fourth in 2024 and fifth in 2025.

If LaPorta’s target share continues to climb as it has over the past two seasons within the productive Lions’ offense, he has a path to being a consistent top-five fantasy TE.

Risk Factors

The risk for LaPorta lies in his loaded offense. Perhaps this year’s Lions decide to keep targeting Williams more like they did while LaPorta was out last year. Such a shift would likely hurt the TE’s volume.

Ultimately, LaPorta remains a strong TE1 bet with a fairly high floor. But his 2026 value depends on health, pass volume, and his specific role in the new offense.