Sam LaPorta

After finishing TE1 in fantasy scoring as a rookie in 2023, Sam LaPorta has been less productive the last two seasons, although he hasn't been *that* much less productive on a per-game basis, and injuries may partly explain the dip. LaPorta played through a sprained ankle early in the 2024 season and missed one game that November with a sprained AC joint in his shoulder. In 2025, he herniated a disc in his back in Week 10 and missed Detroit's last eight games. After scoring 10 touchdowns as a rookie, LaPorta had seven TDs in 2024 and three in 2025. But LaPorta hit career highs in catch rate (81.6%), yards per target (10.0) and yards per route run (2.00) last season, suggesting there has been no drop-off in his quality of play. But after averaging 7.1 targets per game as a rookie, LaPorta has averaged only 4.9 targets in his 27 regular-season games the last two years. Perhaps he'll see a target uptick under new Lions offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, who was calling the plays in Arizona the last three years while Cardinals TE Trey McBride blossomed into a superstar.

Sam Laporta returned to practice on Tuesday after suffering a hip injury last week.

Fantasy Impact

Laporta's hip injury has made his status for Week 1 murky, but his returning to practice this early is a good sign. The tight end will likely be limited as he builds back up, but he could be in line to start the season barring any setbacks.