Favorite TE: 15.9 PPG at 75%+ route share (TE2 pace); undervalued vs. Williams; back injury risk.
Ryan Heath's favorite tight end pick and flag plant for the year. Over his career with 75%+ route share, LaPorta has averaged 15.9 fantasy points per game across an 18-game healthy sample, which would have ranked as TE2 behind McBride last year. He is tied with or ahead of Jameson Williams in targets per route run and target share in all-pro route stats, yet the market is drafting Williams as the clear Lions WR2 when LaPorta is healthy. New offensive coordinator Drew Petzing has maintained Trey McBride above 75% route share in each of his last 29 games, suggesting LaPorta's route and target volume could increase. With the Lions having the highest implied Vegas points per game total of any team, LaPorta has outlier touchdown upside and is positioned as an underrated middle-to-late-round tight end target. LaPorta also has significant contingent upside if either Amon-Ra St. Brown or Jameson Williams gets injured; his weekly projection increases by three to four points in those scenarios. However, LaPorta is recovering from a back injury and avoided the PUP list, though there is some concern about his health status.
Captured by STACKED 21 hr after posting
View Sam LaPorta 2026 fantasy football value pagePlayer profile with fantasy value, ADP, projections, news, and source-backed STACKED insightsVery easily my favorite is Sam Leaporta... he's going to be like a flag plant for me this year... he's averaged 15.9 fantasy points per game, which would easily have been the tight end two behind McBride last year... he is either tied with or just ahead of Jameson Williams in targets per out run in target share... he has amazing contingent upside as well maybe more so than any other tight end. Like either one of Aman Ross St. Brown or Jameson Williams get injured. Sam Leaport's weekly projection goes up by three to four points.
Sam LaPorta fantasy football FAQ
- What did Fantasy Football with Ian Hartitz say about Sam LaPorta?
- Ryan Heath's favorite tight end pick and flag plant for the year. Over his career with 75%+ route share, LaPorta has averaged 15.9 fantasy points per game across an 18-game healthy sample, which would have ranked as TE2 behind McBride last year. He is tied with or ahead of Jameson Williams in targets per route run and target share in all-pro route stats, yet the market is drafting Williams as the clear Lions WR2 when LaPorta is healthy. New offensive coordinator Drew Petzing has maintained Trey McBride above 75% route share in each of his last 29 games, suggesting LaPorta's route and target volume could increase. With the Lions having the highest implied Vegas points per game total of any team, LaPorta has outlier touchdown upside and is positioned as an underrated middle-to-late-round tight end target. LaPorta also has significant contingent upside if either Amon-Ra St. Brown or Jameson Williams gets injured; his weekly projection increases by three to four points in those scenarios. However, LaPorta is recovering from a back injury and avoided the PUP list, though there is some concern about his health status.
- Is this good or bad for Sam LaPorta's fantasy football value?
- STACKED tags this as a negative fantasy football signal for Sam LaPorta (TE DET). Favorite TE: 15.9 PPG at 75%+ route share (TE2 pace); undervalued vs. Williams; back injury risk.
- Where can I see Sam LaPorta's full 2026 fantasy outlook, projections, and ADP?
- Sam LaPorta's complete 2026 fantasy football outlook — projections, ADP movement across every platform, injury context, and all source-backed STACKED insights — is on their STACKED player profile.