Fantasy Football Player Notes

Sam LaPorta sustained an ankle injury last year that haunted him for much of the season before he exploded down the stretch, looking closer to full health. Overall, he finished the TE8 in fantasy points per game, but it was very much a Jekyll and Hyde season. In Weeks 1-10, he had a 64.8% route run rate with a 10.9% target share, 40.1 receiving yards per game, a 12.6% first-read share, and 0.095 first downs per route run as the TE16 in fantasy points per game (per Fantasy Points Data). After Week 11, people got to see the version of LaPorta that they were paying up for in draft season. In Weeks 12-18, he had a 77% route run rate with an 18.6% target share, 51.4 receiving yards per game, an 18.5% first-read share, and 0.100 first downs per route run as the TE7 in fantasy points per game. The talent is still there. After a disappointing 2024 season, LaPorta should be drafted as a top-five option at tight end this season. The bounceback is incoming.