Sam LaPorta Caps Off Rookie Season With 13 Targets
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta caught nine of his 13 targets for 97 yards in the 34-31 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. The rookie has been dealing with a knee injury during the postseason, but it has seemingly not slowed him down. Through his first three playoff games, he caught 21 passes for 176 yards and one touchdown. His 21 catches rank sixth all-time for tight ends in a single postseason, trailing only Travis Kelce (four times) and Dan Ross (1981). Needless to say, the Iowa product had an amazing rookie season, and he is now viewed as the dynasty TE1 in fantasy football. There's a chance he will be the consensus TE1 in 2024 fantasy football drafts.
Sam LaPorta Remains Strong DFS Consideration In Tough Matchup
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (knee) did not practice on Wednesday, got in a limited session on Thursday, and practiced in full on Friday. The rookie is still dealing with the knee injury he suffered in Week 18 against the Minnesota Vikings, but he does not carry an injury designation into Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers surrendered the 11th-fewest fantasy points per game to tight ends during the regular season, but LaPorta has proven he has upside in all matchups. He's the third-most expensive tight end option behind Travis Kelce and Mark Andrews in FanDuel DFS contests on Sunday, so he remains a strong consideration in lineups.
Sam LaPorta Logs Limited Practice Session On Thursday
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (knee) was listed as a non-participant on Wednesday's estimated practice report, but he was upgraded to a limited participant on Thursday. The rookie, who posted 86 receptions during the regular season, suffered a hyper-extended knee and bone bruise against the Minnesota Vikings in the season finale. Still, he was healthy enough to suit up for the Wild Card and Divisional rounds. Detroit will likely be careful with his practice reps throughout the week, but he should be fully expected to play against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday.
Detroit Lions rookie tight end Sam LaPorta (knee) was listed as a non-participant at practice on Wednesday. LaPorta suffered a hyperextended knee and a bone bruise in his left knee in Week 18 against the Minnesota Vikings, but the 23-year-old has been able to play in both of Detroit's playoff games and has caught 12 of his 14 targets for 79 yards and a touchdown. He scored in the wild-card win over the Los Angeles Rams, but he was much more involved in the Divisional Round, catching nine of 11 targets for 65 yards in the victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. LaPorta, who was the top fantasy tight end during the regular season, should return to practice later this week and play in Sunday's NFC Championship contest versus the San Francisco 49ers. In the last five weeks of the regular season, San Fran's vaunted defense allowed the third-most half-PPR points to opposing tight ends.
Sam LaPorta Hauls In Nine Passes In Victory Over Buccaneers
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta caught nine of his 11 targets for 65 yards in the win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Divisional Round game. LaPorta entered Sunday's contest with a "questionable" tag due to a knee injury he suffered in Week 18, but he ultimately suited up and was clearly good to go. Barring any setbacks with his knee, the rookie from Iowa will remain on the fantasy radar against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. The 49ers allowed the 11th-fewest fantasy points per game to tight ends during the regular season, but he's proven to be virtually matchup-proof.
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (knee) is active for Sunday's playoff game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He had been listed as questionable. While there never appeared to be major concern about the rookie's status, it should be noted that he did downgrade to a limited participant in practice on Thursday and Friday. Nevertheless, he's active for the Divisional Round and will presumably handle a full workload. LaPorta registered three catches, 14 yards, and one touchdown in last week's playoff game, and he remains an intriguing option for fantasy managers and bettors ahead of kickoff Sunday.
Detroit Lions rookie tight end Sam LaPorta (knee) is officially listed as questionable to play on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. LaPorta suffered a hyperextended knee and a bone bruise in the Week 18 regular season finale but then played through a questionable tag in the wild-card win over the Los Angeles Rams. In that game, the 23-year-old played 80 percent of the offensive snaps and found the end zone on three catches. We'd be surprised if he wasn't active against the Buccaneers, a team that allowed the second-most half-PPR points to opposing TEs during the regular season. LaPorta was the top-scoring fantasy tight end in 2023, but he's going to carry some more risk in DFS this weekend because of his knee. DraftKings has him listed at $5,900, the second-most expensive TE behind Travis Kelce.
Detroit Lions rookie tight end Sam LaPorta (knee) was downgraded to a limited practice participant on Thursday after he was listed as a full participant on Wednesday. Instead of suffering a setback with his hyperextended knee, the Lions were most likely resting the 23-year-old after he played through his knee injury in last weekend's wild-card win over the Los Angeles Rams. LaPorta played 45 of 56 offensive snaps last Sunday and caught all three of his targets for 14 yards and a touchdown. Unless he suffers a setback in practice on Friday, LaPorta should be good to go for the Divisional Round against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Even though the Buccaneers have been gouged by opposing tight ends all year, LaPorta will still carry plenty of risk as the second-most expensive TE on DraftKings for this weekend, behind only Travis Kelce.
Sam LaPorta Should See More Action In Divisional Round Contest
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (knee) practiced in full to begin the week leading up to the NFC Divisional Round contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Barring any setbacks, he should not be at risk of missing Sunday's game, and he should be more involved in the offense. The rookie saw just three targets in the win over the Los Angeles Rams, but he caught all three for 14 yards and a touchdown. The Buccaneers allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends during the regular season, so with a favorable matchup and improved health, the volume is likely to go up. He remains a solid DFS option for cash games and GPP tournaments.
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said that rookie tight end Sam LaPorta (knee) is "coming along" and making progress after hyperextending his knee and suffering a bone bruise in the Week 18 regular season finale. LaPorta was questionable going into the wild-card round game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night but ended up playing and caught three passes for 14 yards and his first postseason touchdown in the one-point win. The impressive rookie TE wasn't 100 percent in that game, but Campbell said LaPorta feels better than he did at this point last week, so that's encouraging for fantasy managers setting DFS lineups that want to use the 23-year-old in an excellent Divisional Round matchup against the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Unless he has a setback later this week, LaPorta should be ready to play and should be more involved. UPDATE: LaPorta practiced in full on Wednesday.
