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Sam LaPorta fantasy football news and podcast insights

Source-backed player signal from monitored fantasy football podcasts, shows, videos, articles, and social posts.

TEDET40 insightsLatest Aug 1, 2026
20
Positive signals
4
Negative signals
12
Sources
Aug 1, 2026
Latest update
PositiveBreakoutJul 31, 2026Fantasy Football with Ian Hartitz
Favorite tight end pick and flag plant for the year; drafted several rounds later than historical ADP despite excellent full-time role production. In 18-game sample of games with 75%+ route share, averaged 15.9 PPG—which would have been TE2 behind McBride last year. Tied with or ahead of Jameson Williams in targets per route run and target share on all-pro route stats, yet Williams is drafted as clear Lions TE2 option. Undervalued relative to production when healthy and on field.
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NegativeProjectionJul 31, 2026Fantasy Football with Ian Hartitz
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.
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PositiveValueJul 31, 2026ESPN Fantasy Football
Tristan Cockcroft identifies LaPorta as a prospective bargain tight end despite comeback concerns from a herniated disc requiring microdiscectomy; fully cleared for training camp per Jeremy Fowler. Set single-season rookie TE record with 239.3 fantasy points in 2023. Currently going 65th overall and TE7 in early mocks, but went 87th in recent mock and eighth round or later in four of past four mocks and nine of ten May mocks. In down 2024-25 seasons, averaged 11.3 fantasy points (sixth-best among TEs with 20+ games), more than Loveland, Warren, Pitts, and Kraft; had 14 weeks as top-10 TE scorer despite 12.3% target share. Qualifies as prospective bargain if healthy.
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PositiveValueJul 31, 2026Yahoo Fantasy Football - Josh & Hayden
TE15 in expected half-PPR points last year with 5.4 targets per game through 10 games before back injury; ranked second in success rate, fourth in EPA per target, and fifth in yards per target. Despite being drafted as TE5-7 while finishing TE15 in expected points, the source identifies multiple upside paths: Lions' dome games, weak divisional defenses, and scheme fit. The source states 'I really like his price tag' and is 'in love with Sam LaPorta this year,' citing coaching tree context (Drew Pettigrew, Kevin Stefanski, Norv Turner) that historically targets tight ends at 32-34% rates, similar to Trey McBride's breakout season. He needs more volume than current ADP suggests to pay off, but the source sees the Lions' heavy use of 13-personnel sets (third most over last two seasons, second most passing plays, tied for most 15+ yard passing plays with 28) positioning LaPorta as the lead pass catcher in explosive moments alongside Amon-Ra St. Brown.
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PositiveProjectionJul 30, 2026Fantasy Football Today
Laporta's career averages exceed Trey McBride's career highs across key efficiency metrics: 8.3 yards per target (vs. McBride's 7.8 career high), 7.9% touchdown rate (vs. McBride's 6.5% career high), and 2.05 fantasy points per target (vs. McBride's 1.87 best). If Laporta receives McBride's volume, he projects as tight end one; even with Amon-Ra St. Brown present, he could see 120 targets (his rookie volume when he finished TE1).
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PositiveProjectionJul 30, 2026Yahoo Sports NFL
LaPorta was limited to nine games last season before being sidelined by a back injury, but the source suggests a strong bounce-back effort might be in the cards. New offensive coordinator Drew Petzing had an established affinity in Arizona for heavily involving tight ends in his passing attack, and LaPorta should see a volume of targets at least in line with what he received in his first two-and-a-half seasons. The source notes his well-rounded approach has enabled him to become a highly efficient asset for the Lions' aerial attack.
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